Customizing your shoes with your designs is a terrific option if you’re an artist or have a creative streak. However, it’s only normal that you want to set yourself up for success before you begin. This includes determining the type of material to paint on as well as the type of paint to use.
Acrylic paint is one of the easiest to work with, especially while it’s wet. Today, we’re answering the question: how to prevent acrylic paint from cracking on shoes?
Is it true that acrylic paint cracks on shoes?
Imagine you’ve completed painting your shoes using acrylic paints and are pleased with how they turned out. You decide to go to a friend’s house nearby since you are eager to wear it to school the next day.
When you step out of your yard and glance down at your shoes, you realize you need to get back to your house since the paint has begun to crack at the tip, at the sole, and all over the shoes.
Awful! However, this is the fact. This is one of the topics I’d like to cover in this post. Acrylic paint is notorious for cracking on shoes.
It hurts a lot when you see your efforts crumble in front of your eyes, as I have. I’ve compiled a list of techniques for preventing acrylic paint from breaking on shoes.
[Methods] for Preventing Acrylic Paint from Cracking on Shoes
Here’s the gist of these strategies before I go into depth about them.
- Always use thin coats of paint.
- Rather than mixing numerous brands of paint, stick to one.
- It should never be dried with heat.
- Seal acrylic paintings using acrylic sealants.
- Pay attention to the angle at which you apply paint.
We’ll go through each of these strategies one by one now.
Method #1: Use Thin Layers of Paint
The first step in dealing with the repercussions is to get it off to a good start. The most crucial element is painting, yet it is also the most overlooked.
You can’t just load up the brush with paint and put it on the shoes without thinking. There’s no reason to speed through this basic stage.
- Instead of putting many strokes on the same portion, take a small amount of paint on your brush and apply it in a single, modest stroke throughout the desired area.
- Wait for the first layer to dry before applying the second.
- If you apply layers on top of layers too quickly, the paint will split as it dries.
- I know it seems like it will take a long time to apply one layer, wait for it to dry, and then apply another. But don’t be concerned. It won’t happen!
If you’re in a rush because you want it to dry fast, acrylic paints don’t take long to dry, so exercise caution while applying them. Take your time and be very careful as you go through this procedure.
Method #2: Focus on a single brand.
I am confident that you will not paint your shoes in a single hue. You’ll need additional colors, so be sure they’re all from the same company.
Though it hasn’t been confirmed, many painters assume that mixing paints from various brands isn’t a smart idea.
You should not take such a risk, especially while painting your shoes and exposing them to the harsh outdoor climate. To be on the safe side, all of the acrylic paints you use must be from the same brand.
Pro Tip: When mixing hues of various colors, make sure you have enough for both shoes at the outset. If it runs out and you make another combination, there’s a risk you won’t get the same hue as before.
Method #3: Avoid Using Heat
Reduce or eliminate any direct contact of painted shoes with heat, as this is one of the leading causes of cracking.
It is a terrible idea to apply heat to a surface in order for it to dry fast. Because acrylic paints don’t take as long to cure as oil paints, there’s no need to speed the process and risk contaminating the final result with cracks.
After a few days of painting your shoes, another issue may occur. You carefully follow all of the directions and the results are flawless.
They don’t crack either after the paint has set and you’ve had them for about a week. However, cracks form on them all of a sudden. You could be perplexed because you can’t seem to find the loose end.
This might be due to the fact that they were exposed to direct sunshine.
Perhaps you used a hairdryer since they were damp the night before.
When you paint your shoes with acrylic paint, you not only make them seem stylish, but you also make them delicate. As a result, you must look after them.
Keep them at a moderate temperature and away from direct sunlight. Ideally, somewhere with decent ventilation!
Method # 4: Use Acrylic Paint Sealant
After you’ve completed painting your shoes, seal them with an acrylic paint sealer. This will prevent further damage or cracking to your shoes and the paint on them. After painting, this is the stage that takes the most time.
Careless application of sealant might result in significant harm, so proceed with caution. Use it in short spurts. Decide on a precise location, spray two times fast, and then move on. Do not saturate the entire surface with it by dragging it. Be patient and take it one step at a time.
The sealer not only protects your shoes’ paint from breaking but also gives them a gleaming appearance. After applying sealant, you may also use waterproof spray.
Pro tip: Make sure your painted shoes are completely dry before wearing them. Allow at least 24 hours for drying before using. This may seem like a long time, but the benefits are well worth the wait.
Method #5: Stroke Angles Should Be Considered
You must be wondering how these paint cracks emerge. Or, more to the point, what is the rationale for them? These fractures commonly appear where the shoe’s material has been twisted.
When it comes to painting these bent areas, most people don’t give a damn. After the paint has cured, these are the areas that exhibit cracks.
This is due to the fact that the paint is not applied in the bending direction. The paint cracks as a result of this misalignment of directions. If you don’t want this to happen, paint in the direction of the flexing.
Observe how the material bends and use strokes that correspond to these flexes.
It does not necessitate any additional work. You’re halfway there if you’re using the first method of applying paint in thin, careful strokes. All you have to do now is keep an eye on where it’s going. This will lessen the likelihood of paint cracking.
How To Prevent Acrylic Paint From Cracking on Shoes?
Acrylics are simple to put on the shoe, but they might be difficult to keep on. Acrylic paint has a tendency to fracture as it dries, ruining your design. When you’re starting to paint, keep in mind how to keep the color from breaking. Here are some pointers:
Paint in small, thin layers. This is not a task to haste, and starting with thick paint will almost certainly result in breaking. Instead, use a small amount of paint on your first stroke, let it dry, and then apply another coat. Acrylics are quick to dry, so it shouldn’t take long.
Paint usually breaks in the areas of the shoe that bend the most, such as the toe box. To avoid this, make sure your strokes are all going in the same direction. Bend your shoes and keep an eye on the lines to see where they occur. In the toe box, for example, you should move across rather than straight down from the top.
Mixing paint brands is not a good idea. Many painters claim that mixing two kinds causes the paint to break more easily, yet this has not been confirmed.
If you want to speed up the drying process, don’t use heat. Avoid using a hair drier or exposing the shoes too bright sunlight since the heat can cause the paint to break. Instead, seek out a location with sufficient ventilation and a pleasant temperature.
After you’ve done your design, seal it using acrylic paint. The key to sealing acrylic paint on shoes is to apply it in short bursts rather than dragging it across the surface. Find a location, perform two rapid spray spurts, and then move on to the next—it’ll take a while, but the results will be worth it.
After the sealant has dried, add a waterproofing spray—any standard rain and stain repellent will suffice. Apply a light coat and let your shoes air dry for at least 24 hours before wearing them.
Avoiding Common Errors
When it comes to painting their shoes with acrylic paint, most individuals make a few basic blunders.
Let’s go through them so you know what to stay away from.
- Heat should not be used to speed up the drying process. Make sure you give yourself enough time to paint the shoes and let the paint dry on its own. Heat can actually make the paint fracture more easily.
- Mixing brands of paint while painting your shoes might cause the paint to fracture faster since the two colors cannot mix.
- Before you begin painting your shoes, ensure sure they are absolutely dry. If your shoes are still moist, the paint will be diluted, and you will need to apply additional coats to achieve the desired effects.
- Make sure you’re using the appropriate paint for the material of your shoes. This will allow the paint to penetrate deeper into the material and prevent breaking.
- Never try to cut corners on the quality of your acrylic shoe paint, since lesser paints will not be able to move with the shoe and will break much more quickly than high-quality paints.
Conclusion
Acrylic paint breaking on your shoes is inconvenient, and it may also make your shoes appear older than they are.
Thankfully, there are a few simple things you may take to avoid unsightly cracks in your newly painted shoes.
These procedures are simple to follow, and while they may take some time to perfect, your shoes will look better than ever if you don’t rush the process.
Shoestorenyc.com hopes you find what you were looking for. Please share it and leave us a comment below.