Are you in search of how to fill engraving with paint? You have placed your hands on the right article. We have the perfect answers to your queries. We are going to make a clear concept of engraving color fill on wood & different materials.
Engraving is an excellent way to customize your products and entertain yourself. It’s an outstanding way to utilize time and make it productive. If you have already started your journey on this path, then you must have a brief idea regarding the engraving color fill.If you are going to experiment with engraving for the first time, then this article has got your back too.
Fill Engraving with Paint on Wood & Other Materials
Some people consider coloring as a part of the engraving. But that’s entirely wrong; it’s a complete misconception.
color fill wood engraving
Engraving begins with scratching the surface and ends when you finish scratching. It only involves carving the surface. It does not involve any coloring part.
Once you finish engraving your piece, you should start planning how to proceed with coloring. Well, filling color is an entertaining part and a challenging one.
That’s why once you finish engraving; you should start planning how to color your piece.
If you are ready to proceed, you have to gather the articles mentioned below. These are some basic necessary items. In case you need more, you can arrange that too.
Color Fill Engraving for various Materials
engraving color fill
- Wood (You can start with an inexpensive and readily available piece from any local store). Glass pieces work well too. But as a newbie, it’s better to start work on a wooden surface.
- Thick and heavy body acrylic craft paints. Start with basic and affordable colors.
- Soft brushes. Good brushes are the best, buddy. Make sure you are buying the right ones.
- Denatured alcohol.
- Sandpaper (150 grit and 220 grit).
- X-Acto hobby knife to take out the extra shreds of the mask.
How to Make the Surface Smooth and Nonporous?
These are some preliminary steps that you’ve to keep in mind. Before filling portions with color, the main challenge for you is to prepare the surface. You just can’t simply put color on a rough surface. If you do so, your efforts will go in vain.
You have to make sure that the surface is nonporous. Because coloring a nonporous surface responds well as compared to a porous one.
If your surface is porous, then also you don’t need to worry at all. We have a magical solution for you.
Sanding the Surface: Color fill Wood Engraving
Now let’s get into the process. Here you will be given a clear-cut idea to deal with a wooden plaque.
Please note that sanding is necessary as long as you are dealing with a wooden piece. Sanding is not at all necessary if you are filling color in glass or acrylic surfaces.
You need to choose appropriate sandpaper to get started. Initially, start with 150 grit and finish the later part with 220 grit sandpaper. Once you finish sanding, clear off the fine particles from the surface.
Apply 2-3 layers of polyurethane on the surface for better finishing. Apply a coat and let it dry for 30 minutes, then proceed for the second one. In this way, you can wind up this part.
Applying a Mask
You can apply a mask or sheet to the surface. Make sure to air free on the surface while applying the mask.
Engraving
You have applied a mask on the provided surface, which is why the engravings are not visible as before. You have to make them visible so that you can proceed with colors.
Ready Steady Go: The Color Filling Process
Well, you must be eagerly waiting to know how to fill engraving with paint. Your journey has already started with applying a mask.
You have got plenty of options to paint engraved wood and other materials. Now, let’s learn all the possible methods to color your piece without further ado. The color filling process is a beautiful journey. Don’t worry about the piece that you have. This process works well on wood, glass, and acrylic.
Before engraving color fill in the portions, you have to put pressure on the masked surface with the help of a squeegee (applicable for engraving color fill on wood). It’s done to make sure that the mask has completely adhered to the wooden surface. Sometimes, the mask does not stick to the edges of the designs. This step can provide a perfect surface to proceed further.
Now, it’s time to play with the brushes. Well, you just can’t pick any brushes from the market. You have to be specific while purchasing the brushes. But a bunch of good-quality brushes. Make sure the tips are not too stiff. Soft tips can adjust in a better way.
Now you can fill colors in the engraving. Go for any thick and heavy body acrylic colors. You have simply put colors. No additional precautions are to keep in mind while applying colors. Your surface is fully protected with that mask on. You can simply color the portion that you need. If your colors spill out of the engraving, your mask is there to save your wooden piece.
It’s better to avoid spray colors. It does not work well. It isn’t easy to handle spray colors, it is better to be okay with brushes.
Well, when you finish coloring, just wait for a few more minutes. Wait for the surface to get completely dry. Avoid touching the surface to make sure whether it’s dry or not. You can simply look at it, and once the wet and shiny look is not there anymore, you can take off the mask.
While taking out the back, you have to use gentle pressure. Don’t put pressure to take that out. Slowly and unhurriedly, take that mask out. By this, you are almost close to the end of your job.
How Can You Make Your Piece Look Different?
Now, you can have a closer look at different types of the color filling process. These two methods are the most popular ones. Let’s see what it says.
- Antiquing: Well, if you are dealing with a jewelry piece, you have colored it so that the color must speak a lot. Antiquing is a very effective and simple method. It mainly instructs you to put darker shades in the engraving to make it stand in a crowd. You have to buy the antiquing formula. You can simply apply or run the formula until you completely fill the engraving.
It’s an easy-to-use tool for you. If the formula spills out, you can wipe that out with an antiquing remover. Once it dries, you can see the beautiful piece you’ve created.
- Enameling: It’s also a popular way to fill colors into the engraving. You must have seen pieces of jewelry filled with enamel. It’s not like paints but a kind of paint-like substance. You have to specify which section you are going to out which color. Bingo! You are done.
Please note: You can simply rub the antiquing formula into the engraving in antiquing, but that does not happen here. You can’t rub the enamel. You have to specifically put the color in the specific section only.
Again, you need a lot of patience to apply the enamel. Enameling is comparatively expensive and time-consuming.
- Weeding: You can discover some remaining parts of the mask still adhered to the edges or so. There’s the deal! You have to use a knife to take those pieces out. Not a simple knife; you have to use an X-Acto hobby knife. That’s particularly meant for this job.
Use your knife carefully to wipe them out. All you need is good observation and patience.
These are some crucial points to note before getting started:
All the important points have been revised for you. Have a look at them and try to incorporate them into your learning.
- Don’t proceed with unfinished wooden pieces. You might get into trouble while working with a rough and porous surface.
- Once you make sure the surface is smooth and flat, you are good to go.
- Don’t forget to apply a mask.
- Use good quality brushes. Avoid stiff brushes or spray colors.
- Apply a heavy and thick acrylic color until it completely fills the engraving.
- Use an appropriate knife to take out the remnants of the mask adhered to the surface.
- Provide enough time to dry.
- Have patience; that’s what you need the most.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article on how to fill engraving with paint must have been a good guide in your journey. You must have found a proper explanation for your queries. Does glowforge print color?
Learn the techniques and take time to test the same. You can simply sacrifice a wooden piece or two for your learning purpose. Go for it once you see you can deal with all the steps!
Like it’s always said, it’s never too late to learn something new—all you have to do is start learning. Don’t forget to enjoy the process. Keep on practicing as practice can bring out the better version of you!!!
