Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Fabric And Clothing?

I'm sure you've seen some pretty cool hand-painted clothing out there. I, for one, love painting on denim jackets. Fabric painting is a great way to create wearable art!

I've seen mixed results over time and it got me thinking...can you use regular acrylic paint on fabric and textiles? And does it perform better than acrylic paint mixed with textile medium? I decided to conduct a test and the results were very interesting!

Acrylic Paint On Fabric And Clothing

For my test, I tried using acrylic paint, acrylic paint mixed with medium and traditional fabric paints.

Materials Tested:

Acrylic paint: Choose acrylic paint specifically labeled as suitable for fabric or mix acrylic paint with a fabric medium.
Acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium: If not using fabric-specific acrylic paint, you'll need a fabric medium to mix with your acrylics. This helps to make the paint more flexible and durable on fabric.
Fabric paint
Fabric or denim: Any fabric item you want to paint on (e.g., T-shirt, tote bag, canvas shoes).
Paintbrushes: Soft-bristled brushes suitable for acrylic paint.
Palette: For mixing paints if needed.
Masking Tape or Stencils: If you’re using them for creating specific designs.
Water
Paper towels

Before starting to paint on fabric, it is best to ensure your textiles are prepped. For best results, you'll want to wash your garments in hot water. It is a good idea to begin with smooth surfaces which is why so many people prefer painting on denim.

If you're able to collect some old clothing, you can grab a scrap piece of fabric to test out different effects prior to painting onto your clothing.

Steps to take before painting on fabric:

1. Prepare your fabric and workspace:

Wash and dry the fabric item to remove any dirt, sizing, or finishes that might interfere with paint adhesion.

Iron the fabric to remove wrinkles. This ensures a smooth painting surface.

Grab some drop cloths or table coverings and protect your surface.

Place a piece of cardboard or plastic inside the jacket so that the paint does not seep through to the reverse side.

2. Prepare your paint:

If you’re using regular acrylic paint (not labeled for fabric), mix it with a fabric medium according to the instructions on the medium’s packaging. Typically, you'll use a 1:1 ratio of paint to fabric medium.

3. Apply the paint:

Place a piece of cardboard or wax paper inside the fabric to prevent paint from bleeding through.

Use a paintbrush to apply the acrylic paint to the fabric. Apply thin, even layers rather than thick globs of paint. This helps ensure the paint adheres well and dries evenly.

4. Let it Dry:

Allow the painted fabric to dry completely according to the drying time recommended on the paint or fabric medium. This may take a few hours or longer, depending on the thickness of the paint and ambient humidity.

5. Set the Paint (Optional, but Recommended):

To make the paint more durable and washable, heat set it using an iron once it’s completely dry.

Place a cloth or parchment paper over the painted area to protect it, then iron over the backside of the fabric for several minutes on a cotton setting (no steam). This heat sets the paint into the fabric fibers.

7. Finish and Care:

Once the heat is set, wait at least 24 hours before washing the fabric. Wash inside out with a gentle detergent on a cold cycle, and air dry or tumble dry on low heat.

Results of the three tests:

Painting on fabric using regular acrylic paint

For this test, I painted on both a denim jacket and a cotton t-shirt. I used the highest quality acrylic paints and tested the paints on a darker fabric to make the process more challenging.

I did the same thing for all three tests. I did not use any oil paints; only acrylic. I began by sketching out my design onto the fabric.

I used a chalk pastel so that the paint would cover it. Do not use anything permanent. In the past I have also used ink that disappears upon washing (frixion pens work great).

I did an underpainting in white acrylic paint. I did not add any water to the paint. The paint went on smoothly. Very similar to the experience I have when painting on canvas.

Painting on fabric using regular acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium

For my next test, I used a combination of acrylic paint and fabric medium. It is best to use one part fabric medium and one part acrylic paint. This is the universal ratio for all fabrics when textile painting.

If you use too much medium or not enough medium, this will affect the outcome of the experiment. Mix both parts well.

Upon painting, I noticed that the combination of the fabric paint and medium provided excellent coverage and went on very smoothly. The mixture was softer and smoother than just using the acrylic paint.

My jean jacket took about two coats of paint to complete without seeing the darker colors showing through. This was a good option for creating a DIY fabric paint. Make sure to let the paint dry between coats.

Painting on fabric using only fabric paint

There are a lot of fabric paints on the market and it can be very overwhelming to shop for a new fabric paint. From fabric markers to brush-on fabric paint, to spray-on fabric paints, there is a world of possibilities.

Navigating the paint aisle at the craft store can be daunting and overwhelming. Even though there are different types of fabric paint, the process is the same. I painted the lighter colors first and then added the new colors on top to make my jacket.

The fabric paint medium felt a bit different from the mixture I made before. It was slightly thicker but still creamy. I also liked that the brands had different viscosities depending on the end use.

For example, in the past, I used SoSoft fabric paint when making squishies because I didn't want the squishy to crack when squeezed. For this test, I tried out a lot of different brands to find the best fabric paint.

Results of my fabric paint test

In my experience, the actual application of the paints was pleasant for all three tests. Even when I used too much paint, or watered down the paint, the paint felt natural and easy to use.

Looking at the painted back side of my jacket, I determined that all three tests looked good. So I decided to wash my jacket three times in both hot and cold water.

I used a dry iron a few times and a hot iron to test out the textile use since I've used a heat setting process when screen printing in my classes.

After my first test, I noticed some cracking so I decided to try the same process on an old t-shirt, dry shirts, and wet shirts. I tried dark fabrics, light fabrics, natural materials, and pretty much every type of fabric imaginable.

I had a lot of test samples to work with. I treated each garment the same way.

Conclusion: After washing and drying, the store bought fabric paints outperformed the regular acrylic craft paint and the mixture with the one part water and one part textile medium.

I found that while the colors remained vibrant, the textures were very different. The acrylic paint and the acrylic paint/fabric medium cracked easily and also snagged easily on other fabrics. It was incredibly stiff and not flexible.

Which is better: acrylic paint or fabric paint or acrylic paint/fabric paint mixture?

The fabric paint showed no signs of wear and tear and performed much better than the regular acrylic paint and the acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium.

I do not recommend using acrylic paint on fabric or denim. Use fabric paint!

Tips:

Test First: Always test your paint on a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric first to ensure compatibility and desired effect.

Mixing Colors: Blend acrylic colors on a palette before applying them to achieve custom shades.

Layering: Allow each layer of paint to dry completely before adding another layer to prevent smudging or mixing colors unintentionally.

Paint on fabric can be a fun and creative way to personalize clothing and fabric items. With proper preparation and technique, your painted designs can be both vibrant and durable. Just make sure to use fabric paint and not acrylic paint for best results.

Need more painting tips? Check out this post on the best acrylic paints for artists.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Fabric And Clothing?