A rise in the number of inquiries about alcohol ink can be traced to the increasing popularity of good, affordable alcohol ink sets among hobbyists and crafters. In the last few months, we’ve noticed an increase in the number of people asking how to make white alcohol ink. We’ve decided to write a dedicated article on how to make your own white alcohol paint at home because the number of people contacting us about how to make white alcohol ink is increasing by the month.
To demonstrate this, we have presented three different methods for making white alcohol ink in our article. If you follow these steps, you can make your own paint quickly and inexpensively, though the first few times may be a little confusing. However, practice makes perfect, as with most things. Let’s find out how.
What is Alcohol Ink
The vibrant and fast-drying properties of alcohol inks make them highly fluid and easy to use. As well as moisture resistance and permanent when dry, they can be applied to almost any clean, oil-free surface. Create your own stamps, scrapbooks, textiles, and fine arts masterpieces with these versatile ink! It is possible to use them on a variety of porous and nonporous surfaces.
It’s possible you may have already seen alcohol inks – they have taken over the art world in a big way. The fluid nature of their compositions and their strikingly vivid colors make them an exciting medium for all types of artists. The versatility of alcohol inks allows you to experiment with abstract or realistic techniques as well as cardmaking or scrapbooking, all of which will add flavor to your projects.
You can create amazing artwork with these inks even from the very first attempt. For beginners, it is better to work loosely and abstractly at first so that you can get to know the unique characteristics of alcohol ink! Increasing your confidence will make it easier to challenge yourself by using a realist approach.
How to Make White Alcohol Ink : 3 Methods
Translucent alcohol ink can be used for a wide range of applications ranging from coloring resins to coloring paper or fabric. Non-porous surfaces are ideal for this product’s use, but it can also be applied to a variety of other surfaces. Inks like these can be pricey, unfortunately. You can make white alcohol ink with these three methods given below.
Method- 1: Using Food Coloring
Make your own white alcohol ink by mixing food coloring with alcohol. To make it, you will need:
- 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- White food coloring
- Mixing Bottles
You’ll need to fill a large portion of the mixing bottle with isopropyl alcohol when making alcohol inks with food coloring. Fill the mixing bottle about 75% of the way with isopropyl alcohol before adding a few drops of white food coloring and properly mix these two until they are evenly distributed.
Because the pigments and ingredients used in various food colorings vary, some may require a higher concentration than others. As a result, we advise you to start with a small amount of white food coloring and gradually increase the amount of isopropyl alcohol.
Your homemade white alcohol ink can be tested on scrap paper to see how it works on paper before making adjustments. In some cases, you may have to add a few more drops of white food coloring and then re-mix everything several times.
Method- 2: Using Acrylic Paint
It is probably going to be easier and more rewarding for most people to make their own white alcohol ink with acrylic paint. It is a simple, fast, and affordable method that people often use to make their own acrylic paints.
You’ll need these supplies:
- 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- White Acrylic Paint
- Mixing Bottles.
Step- 1
You should ensure that your mixing bottle is completely clean before you proceed. In most cases, a quick wash with warm water will remove anything that may be a problem.
Step- 2
Following that, you need to fill the mixing bottle with isopropyl alcohol until it is about 75% full. But keep in mind that the extra 25% will not go for acrylic paint. Rather it will be used for testing and adjustment as well as making mixing more accessible. Since our readers usually underestimate how little acrylic ink is necessary for the process, we always recommend using a large amount of isopropyl alcohol in the beginning.
Step- 3
The next step is to add the white acrylic paint to the isopropyl alcohol. But you can get better results by applying it with a needle-tip syringe, rather than mixing directly in the bottle. The amount of white acrylic paint you need depends on the size of the mixing bottles you’re using. So, we usually recommend starting with a single drop and shaking the bottle with the cap on.
Step- 4
You can check the consistency of your homemade white alcohol ink after you shake the mixing bottle for 30 seconds. On some black paper, you can test it out to see how well it looks and then decide if you want to thicken it up and add white acrylic paint, or if you want to reduce the pigment ratio by adding more isopropyl alcohol.
A homemade alcohol ink that is thinner tends to work better than one that is thicker. As the alcohol evaporates faster and does not cause issues with your paper, thinner alcohol inks are usually much easier to use.
When using white acrylic paint, making white alcohol ink is much easier than using black paint; however, it may not last for very long, even after spray sealing the artwork.
Method- 3: Using Mica Powder
It’s definitely best to create the white alcohol ink yourself by mixing isopropyl alcohol with mica powder, but this requires a lot of testing and adjustments, so if you don’t have the time, it may not be the best option. Because many in the arts and crafts community already have a variety of mica powder on hand, it’s possible to save money by not purchasing any new ones.
You’ll need these supplies:
- 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- White mica powder
- Mixing Bottles.
Your mixing bottle’s amount of isopropyl alcohol is vital to the success of your homemade alcohol ink, so you should pour about three-quarters of the liquid into the bottle. Isopropyl alcohol usually requires less mica powder than you would need for any of the other methods mentioned in our article, so you will only need to add very small amounts of white mica powder.
Add white mica powder to your mixing bottle, shake it for a few seconds to get it mixed, and then check it for consistency. You are encouraged to conduct tests on spare black paper with your homemade white alcohol ink since the ratios of alcohol and mica powder for homemade alcohol ink need to be precise for optimal performance.
Adding a little mica powder to the mixing bottle will give you a more white color. Shake the bottle again and test again. Using alcohol ink in your artwork should be as simple as this until you are confident with the results. Remember that mica powder can thicken your alcohol ink and make it take a long time before the alcohol evaporates. Keep this in mind as you work.
Final Words
We hope find this article helpful to know how to make white alcohol ink if you do not already have it. The process can be applied in other colors as well. It is also important to remember that this procedure must be carried out while observing safety. Alcohol and ink may both be flammable and toxic. It is best to work in an open area that is well ventilated.