Hydro dipping has been around for centuries, but it’s recently become popular with new methods and objects for dipping. It can be a fun way to add cool designs to objects like shoes, cups, wooden signs, or even just paper.
So, how to hydro dip with acrylic paint? To hydro dip with acrylic paint, you’ll need to thin down the acrylic paint and thicken the water base. You can also hydro dip with spray paint, which is easier but requires extra safety gear. Both methods will require you to use a handle to hold the object and submerge it slowly under the water.
There are a lot of factors to hydro dipping correctly, and they all depend on the materials used. Read on to learn all there is to know about how to hydro dip.
What Is Hydro Dipping?
Hydro dipping goes by many names. It’s also referred to as water transfer printing, hydro-graphics, immersion printing, or water transfer imaging.
All of these terms refer to the process of coloring an item using a layer of paint that floats on the surface of a body of water. The paint floats because the paint is thinner and lighter than the water.
Usually, spray paint is used, which is oil-based. The oils in the spray paint cause it to float on the water since oil and water repel each other.
However, regular acrylic paint can also be used if it’s been thinned to be lighter than the water, and if the water has been thickened with another agent such as cornstarch or Borax.
No matter which materials or what method you use, either way, you’ll be using a process that will result in coating an object in paint.
You can choose to do one solid color, or go for the more common method of marbling. This is often called 3D object marbling or paper marbling.
You can hydro dip many different objects. You can use it to color paper, as per the paper marbling method.
More commonly, in today’s crafting world, it’s used to color 3D objects. This includes tumblers, phone cases, wooden signs, plastic toys, shoes, tire rims, Mason jars, and more.
Supplies For Hydro Dipping
To get started with hydro dipping, first grab the supplies on this list:
- Disposable gloves
- Plastic bucket or tub
- Water
- Thickener for water (cornstarch or Borax)
- Acrylic paint (or spray paint)
- Water cups if using acrylic paint
- Pipettes if using acrylic paint
- Respirator mask and goggles if using spray paint
- Toothpicks
- Something to dip (phone case, tumbler, shoes, etc.)
The disposable gloves will protect your hands from getting paint all over them. If you’re using spray paint instead of acrylic paint, you’ll need to use a respirator and goggles to add additional protection against the paint.
The water cups will be used to help you thin down acrylic paint from the bottle, and you’ll use the pipettes to deliver this watered-down paint to your bucket or tub of water.
Some items need a coat of primer before they can be dipped to help them retain the paint. Not every surface will need priming, so consider what you plan to hydro dip and whether it may need a coat of primer.
You’ll also need a handle to hold whatever object you’re dipping. The handle will enable you to completely submerge your object in the water while not leaving any blank fingerprint spaces on the object.
For the handle, you’ll likely have to be creative with objects or items you have lying around the house. There aren’t any perfect or ideal handles, so consider what object you’re dipping and what might hold it best while allowing full paint coverage.
How To Hydro Dip With Acrylic Paint
Hydro dipping with acrylic paint involves a few extra steps compared to hydro dipping with spray paint, but it can be worth it.
You won’t need the extra safety equipment, and you will have more control over where the colors go when you apply them to the water using a pipette instead of spraying.
- Prepare your water base. Start by thickening the water. One option is to mix 1 part Borax to 3 parts hot water. Another option is to make a cornstarch slurry using a ratio of 1 part cornstarch and 2 parts cold water. Stir well, then incorporate to a pot of hot water. The pot should have as much water as you plan to use. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the hot water to thicken the water. Set aside.
- Allow your water base to cool down. While you wait, put on your disposable gloves and begin to prepare your paints and dipping object.
- Thin the paints by adding a small amount of paint to a cup, then adding water. You’ll want to start small and add more as you stir. All your paint colors should be the same consistency when done.
- Prepare your dipping object. Spray or paint with a coat of primer, as needed. If you’re working with wood, you may need to sand before priming. Add your handle to your object.
- Transfer your water base to the bucket or tub you plan to dip in. Using a pipette for each color, add your paint to the water base. If it sinks, it’s still too thick and needs to be thinned more. Add your paint in different areas and angles to accomplish the marble look.
- Stir the surface lightly with a toothpick. If you swirl too hard or press the toothpick in too far, you may disturb the paint and cause it to break up before you dip. Be gentle.
- Holding your object by the handle, slowly dip it into the tub or bucket, swirling as you go. Swish it a little underneath the surface of the water.
- Break up the water using your hand, a chopstick, a pencil, or some other small object. Make sure you have a clear water surface to pull your object back up through.
- Pull the object up and lay on desired drying rack or surface. Allow to dry completely before sealing, as needed.
How To Hydro Dip With Spray Paint
Hydro dipping with spray paint is more simple than hydro dipping with acrylic paint. It won’t require you to thicken the base water or to thin the paints, saving you time and energy in the process.
However, be sure to put on the extra safety gear required when working with spray paint. A respirator mask and goggles are necessary to use spray paint safely.
- Fill a tub or bucket with cold water. You want to have enough water to completely submerge your dipping object. With spray paint, we recommend working outside, so you can use your garden hose to fill up the bucket.
- Prepare your dipping object. This will be the same as the preparation listed above. Add a layer or primer or sand as necessary, depending on your object. Attach your chosen handle.
- Put on your respirator mask, goggles, and disposable gloves, then begin spraying your desired paint colors into the water. Just as with the acrylic paints, you want to spray in different areas and at different angles to achieve proper color marbling. You may notice that the paint on the surface moves away as you spray into the bucket, but it will all combine and swirl when you stop spraying and the water settles.
- Do not swirl the paint on the surface. Trying to marble the paint now will only cause the paint to lift and break up from the surface of the water. Instead, spray more colors in more areas to achieve color patches for marbling.
- Holding your object by its handle, slowly dip it into the water, twirling it as you go. Spinning it while dipping into the paint patches will also help the marbling effect. Swish the object around under the water.
- Break up the water using your hand, a chopstick, a pencil, or some other small object. Make sure you have a clear water surface to pull your object back up through.
- Pull the object up and lay on desired drying rack or surface. Allow to dry completely before sealing, as needed.
For a great video tutorial on hydro dipping with spray paint, check out this video from Making an RN.
Tips & Tricks For Hydro Dipping With Acrylic Paint
Some of the top tips and tricks for hydro dipping with acrylic paint have been mentioned throughout the article.
Ensure you thin the acrylic paint and thicken the water base. This is vital to ensuring the acrylic paint floats on the surface like spray paint.
Clear the surface of the water properly before bringing the object back up. Try to move as much paint out of the way as possible. This will prevent random splotches of broken paint showing up around your object.
Make sure the handle you use to hold the object you dip is secure and easy to hold and manipulate. It should feel comfortable in the hand and give you good mobility to twirl the object.
Don’t dip an object multiple times if it doesn’t turn out right. Either get a new object or strip the paint to try again. Dipping multiple times can lead to layers that don’t look right on a finished product.
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