You can use a variety of materials to color clear epoxy resin , but each material has advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of.
ArtResin is a water-clear formula used to coat paintings, photos, wood, puzzles, etc. But you can use ArtResin for so much more than just coating artwork. ArtResin looks beautiful when tinted and by adding color to clear epoxy resin you can create colorful flow art, ocean art, geode art, petri dish art , jewelry from silicone molds , and the list goes on.
We go over the most common resin dyes and share which ones work well and, more importantly, which ones don't work at all. We also go over some guidelines that apply to all dyes and give lots of tips along the way.
Let's get started!
1. Why is ResinTint the best colorant for resin?
ResinTint was manufactured specifically as a resin dye. It blends seamlessly into ArtResin, retains its shine, and because it's so highly pigmented, a little goes a long way.
ResinTint is non-toxic and non-flammable. This means that the non-toxicity and non-flammability of ArtResin is preserved when ResinTint is added to it.
Keep in mind that ResinTint requires epoxy resin as a binder: it's not meant to be used alone and, when you add it to the resin, make sure you mix it really well so that both parts are properly emulsified.
2. Can you use alcohol ink in resin?
Alcohol ink is a super popular resin dye that offers a gorgeous, rich saturation.
Alcohol breaks down resin, which is why it's so effective at cleaning sticky resin tools and why it's the only dye that can create petri dish art . In petri dish art, the alcohol in the ink breaks down the resin as the droplets move through, creating cool tendrils and crumbles that seem to petrify in place. This effect is enhanced all the more with the use of ArtResin Ink Sinker .
Is it possible to use alcohol ink just to color resin?
Yes, it is, but it's important to remember a few things:
- Alcohol is flammable: while ArtResin is non-flammable in its liquid state, this is not the case when alcohol ink is added. Therefore, never use a gas burner on resin that contains alcohol incl.
- Alcohol is a solvent: adding alcohol ink to ArtResin will compromise ArtResin's non-toxicity and food safety compliance. If you want to use alcohol ink on a piece that is intended to be used as a food contact surface, pour a coat of clear, non-tinted ArtResin as a final top coat.
3. Can you use acrylic paint in resin?
Yes, you can. In fact, acrylic paint is one of the most common dyes used to color epoxy resin. On the plus side, acrylic paint is inexpensive, readily available, and comes in a wide variety of color options.
On the other hand, acrylic paint usually dries with a matte finish which can remove the shine of ArtResin. Acrylic paint is water-based, so using too much can prevent the resin from curing properly. Choose a high-quality, highly pigmented acrylic paint so you only need to use a small amount.
4. Can you add mica pigment/mica to resin?
Yes, mica powder and powdered pigments are really popular additions to resin, especially for geode art. You need to mix in the mica powder carefully or the powder may not dissolve and you may end up with a grainy look to your resin.
The metallics in Mica powder give a rich, luxurious pearlescent effect, but the metallic pigments can sink to the bottom and you can lose that beautiful, swirled look. If you want to keep the swirls, try pouring the metals last, on top of a hardened layer of resin.
5. Can you color resin with glitter?
Glitter is a really popular addition to resin. It doesn't stain the resin, but it really gives a colorful effect. Glitter comes in a variety of colors and sizes - keep in mind that larger glitters may be heavier and may sink to the bottom of the resin.
What colorants should you not add to epoxy resin?
There are various resin dyes that we do not recommend for tinting resin including oil paint, watercolor paint, latex paint, spray paint, nail polish, ground chalk, spices such as paprika and turmeric, and caramel paint.
6. Can you use eye shadow to color epoxy resin?
Pressed powder make-up, such as eye shadow, contains binders to hold it together, making it difficult for the make-up to dissolve; it ends up not mixing in properly and leaves spots throughout the resin. You can use loose make-up pigment but this can be expensive - it is better to use pigment powder.
7. Can ground chalk be used to color resin?
The ground chalk is too coarse to dissolve properly . The ground chalk tends to clump together in the resin, leaving a grainy appearance with large patches.
8. Can I color resin with spices like paprika and turmeric?
Ground spices aren't fine enough and don't dissolve well in epoxy resin, giving you a grainy look. Also, although turmeric, paprika and other spices may provide initial color, it will fade very quickly.
9. Can you use caramel color in resin?
Caramel color can give a good result initially, so it makes sense to think it would be an ideal resin colorant. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Food coloring is not lightfast and the color fades very quickly. 
10. Can you mix oil paint with epoxy?
Oil paint does not blend well with epoxy resin, leaving you with a stringy mess. Once cured, there are visible clumps of paint that don't blend, divots and an oily film on the resin surface.
11. Can you use watercolor paint to color resin?
Watercolor paint does not mix well with resin. It leaves stains throughout the cured resin and splits on the surface.
12. Can you use latex paint to color epoxy resin?
Latex paint is not an effective resin colorant. It's water-based and very fluid, which makes the resin thick and slimy, resulting in a weird cure. It also takes away from ArtResin's shine, leaving the resin with a matte finish.
13. Can you use nail polish or spray paint to color resin?
We do not recommend tinting epoxy resin with anything solvent-based such as nail polish or spray paint. Most importantly, it is flammable, but it also produces a poor result: the color is not deep and it does not mix well into the resin, leaving patches of color throughout.
14. What materials can I add to epoxy resin?
It is best to use a highly pigmented dye designed specifically for use with epoxy resin. It is important to note that when adding anything to the ArtResin formula, do a sample test first to ensure the products are compatible and so you know exactly what results to expect. The most popular additives for epoxy resin include:
- Shades and dyes made especially for resin
- Alcohol incl
- Acrylic paints
- Powdered pigments and mica powder
- Glitter
- Gold or metallic leaf
- Pressed or artificial flowers
- Colorful inclusions such as beads, glass, shells, charms, etc
15. How much paint should I add to epoxy resin?
Do not add more than 6% dye to the total volume of ArtResin, otherwise the resin may not cure properly. For example, if you have 100 ml of resin (which consists of 50 ml each of resin and hardener) do not add more than 6 ml of dye.
Usually a small amount of dye goes a long way. It is best to start with less and add more as needed. Use a highly pigmented dye so you don't have to use as much. If you're not sure if you need more pigment, you can always test the saturation by bringing some of the dye up the side of your mixing cup. pull tinted resin up the side of the mixing cup to test saturation
16. When can I add color to epoxy resin?
It is important to measure and mix the resin and hardener first before adding any colorant. Once the resin and hardener have been combined, add the colorant of your choice, making sure not to exceed 6% of the total combined volume of resin and hardener, and mix it well to ensure it is thoroughly mixed. Adding the colorant to the resin or hardener on its own can throw off the 1:1 mixing ratio needed for the resin to cure properly. always use less resin dye than you think you need
17. How do you prevent resin from mixing colors?
When pouring flow art or sea art, the tinted resin can sometimes mix and create a muddy mess. Many artists like to let the tinted resin thicken a bit before pouring to give control over the flow and prevent the colors from running into each other:
- Prepare the resin according to the instructions on the label.
- Divide it into smaller cups, one per color.
- Add food coloring and mix well.
- Let the resin sit for about 15 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Pour the tinted resin. If desired, you can leave a small space between each color to allow it to spread, especially if you plan to use a hair dryer
18. How do you prevent alcohol ink from spreading in resin?
When making petri dish art, prevent alcohol ink from spreading uncontrollably across the surface with a simple tip: let the resin thicken a bit before adding the dye.
Pour the resin into the coaster molds and let it sit for about 20 minutes before dropping in alcohol ink. Because the resin will have thickened a bit, you'll find that the ink won't spread as easily, giving you much more control and even allowing you to create negative space.
19. Are resin dyes toxic?
Not all dyes are non-toxic and some may even contain solvents - adding dyes such as these will alter ArtResin's non-toxicity, non-flammability and compromise its food safety designation. Choose a non-toxic and non-flammable dye like ResinTint to stay safe.
- 💡TIP: If you want to use tinted resin on a charcuterie board or serving tray that may come into contact with food and you are unsure if your dye is safe, be careful and apply a coat of clear, non-tinted ArtResin as a final top coat. ____________________________________________________________ To summarize, there are lots of resin dyes you can use to color epoxy resin, but regardless of which one you use, there are a few important things to remember:
- Always do a sample test so you know exactly what to expect and to ensure the resin and dye are compatible.
- Always add less dye than you think you need; you can always add more.
- Observe the 6% rule - that is, do not add more than 6% of the total combined volume of resin and hardener.
- Be aware that some dyes can alter ArtResin's non-toxicity, non-flammability and food safety designations. ____________________________________________________________ I hope you found this information useful. If I missed your favorite dye, please leave a comment below!
Interested in using silicone oil with your resin? Again, there are pros and cons... and I have a whole blog post dedicated to that ;)
Learn more about the types of epoxy resin and their uses and read our guides on coloring epoxy resin:
- Can epoxy resin be dyed?
- Color Mixing Guide
- What does light fastness mean?
ArtResin: Made for artists, by artists.