How To Resin ResinTint

Supplies:

• A 12 x 12" wood art panel, painted white
• ResinTint liquid pigments
• ArtResin epoxy resin 
• scissors
• A pair of nitrile gloves, a stir stick and spreader
• a level
• a measuring cup with easy to read measurement lines 
• a mixing container 
• small plastic cups for mixing your ResinTint
• craft or popsicle sticks for mixing your ResinTint
• parchment paper
• a handheld torch like our Artist's Torch
• toothpicks
• an empty plastic tote or cardboard box with the flaps cut off to protect your piece while it dries

Browse our resin art tools & accessories.

1. Use The Resin Calculator

Using our Resin Calculator, simply enter the length and width of your piece to determine how much ArtResin you’ll need.  A standard 1/8" or 3 mm coating for a 12 x 12" panel requires 5 oz resin (2.5 oz resin and 2.5 oz hardener). 

💡TIP: Be sure to measure the lip on your panel.  Our panel's lip measures 1/4".  We will use 5 oz of resin to first create our flow art, and then we'll use an additional 5 oz of resin to seal it. We'll also use an additional 5 oz to create our heart detail. 

2. Measure Accurately & Stir Thoroughly

Wearing gloves, measure accurately ( by volume ) precisely equal amounts of resin and hardener. Stir thoroughly for 3 minutes total, ensuring you scrape the bottom and sides of your mixing container as you go. 

💡 TIP: for our very best measuring and mixing tips, read the blog How To Measure And Mix Resin And Hardener.

3. Add ResinTint

Divide the ArtResin among 8 small cups, allowing one cup per color. Add approximately 15 drops of ResinTint to each cup and stir well with a wooden craft stick to ensure the color is thoroughly mixed. We used red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple and white, but feel free to experiment! Mix colors together, add fewer drops for a more translucent result, more drops for a saturated result, or add a few drops of white to make the epoxy resin color more opaque. The key is to always start with less ResinTint than you think you'll need - you can always add more if necessary.

💡TIP: The general guideline for adding colorant is not to add more than 6% of the total combined volume of resin and hardener. For example, 100 ml of ArtResin, would require a maximum of 6 ml colorant. Please note that if you add more than 6%, it can throw off the delicate balance needed to catalyze the resin and hardener and your resin won't cure properly. This shouldn't ever be an issue, however - ResinTint is so richly saturated, you will likely never need as much as 6%. 

4. Pour your colored epoxy resin

One by one, pour your colored epoxy resin onto the wooden panel to create your design. If desired, include a little bit of clear ArtResin to give you a variety of different shades. Fill in any empty spaces with your white tinted resin.

💡 TIP: There's no right or wrong way to create flow art. You can pick up the panel and tilt it, allowing gravity blend the colors, or you can use a craft stick or toothpick to swirl colors together for more of a marbled effect. Experiment with pouring a little bit of clear ArtResin to give you a variety of different shades.

5. Use your Artist's Torch

Using your Artist’s Torch, hold the flame a couple of inches above the resin surface just long enough to pop the bubbles, keeping the torch moving from side to side at all times. 

💡 TIP: if you're nervous about using a torch, don't be! Read our blog with all you need to know about How To Use A Torch On Epoxy Resin.





6.  Check for any missed bubbles, tiny hairs or dust

Once the piece has been torched, look at the resin in the light for any missed bubbles, tiny hairs or bits of dust, using a toothpick to fish them out. With a plastic tote or a cardboard box (with the flaps cut off) cover your piece and let it sit for 24 hrs until it’s dry to the touch. 

7. Prepare the heart

While your piece is curing, you can prepare the heart.
Lay out 3 separate pieces of parchment paper on your work surface, one for each layer of the heart.
Prepare an additional 5 oz of resin following the directions in step 2. 
Divide the resin among 3 cups (we used 2 oz of resin to mix our black, 2 oz of resin to mix our red and 1 oz of resin for the white teardrop.)
Add in ResinTint to tint the resin and mix thoroughly. 
Spread the red, black, and white resin on the parchment in thin, even layers. 
Cover and allow to dry.


 

8. Transfer your design

Using transfer paper, trace your design onto the dried resin sheets. Peel the parchment paper away from the back. Use scissors to cut your design out and set them aside.

9. Apply a thin layer of ArtResin

Follow the directions in Step 2 to prepare a final 5 oz of ArtResin.  Apply a thin layer of ArtResin to the back of the black heart and mount it in the centre of the wooden panel.  Repeat with the red heart and the white teardrop to assemble the heart. Allow it to dry overnight.

💡 TIP:  Keep in mind that you'll have about 45 minutes of working time before the resin gets too thick to work with, so work quickly.

10. Pour the remaining ArtResin

Once the heart has dried, pour the remaining ArtResin onto the centre of your piece and spread it out to the edges using a plastic spreader or a popsicle stick. 

💡 TIP: Read our blog How To Pour And Spread Epoxy Resin for more resin tips and techniques!





11. Torch Out Bubbles

Using your Artist’s Torch, hold the flame a couple of inches above the resin surface just long enough to pop the bubbles, keeping the torch moving from side to side at all times. 

12. Check for missed bubbles, hair or dust

Once again, after the piece has been torched, look at the resin in the light for any missed bubbles, tiny hairs or bits of dust, using a toothpick to fish them out.

13. Cover your piece and let it cure

Cover your piece and let it sit for 24 hrs until it’s dry to the touch.

14.  Reveal your piece.

After 24hrs has passed, reveal your piece!  

💡 TIP: the resin will be dry to the touch at the 24hr mark.  At this point, you're free to hang and admire your artwork on the wall, absolutely, but if you're planning on packing and shipping your artwork, please wait at least 72hrs until the resin has fully cured.

We hope you found this informative and helpful!
Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes as we take you step-by-step on applying ArtResin over ALL of your favourite art materials. 

Find out if epoxy resin can be tinted. 

ArtResin:  Made For Artists, By Artists.