How to Add Color to Resin

1. 1

   Step 1: Know Your Colorants

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   Before mixing anything, take stock of what you have. The main options are resin pigment ink (an acrylic-base liquid that comes in vivid colors), alcohol ink (a thinner dye-based ink), and mica powder (a shimmery metallic powder). Acrylic paint works too but has some quirks. India inks and pigment powders are also out there worth exploring once you have the basics down.

   Tip:

   Each colorant behaves differently - pigment ink gives strong solid color, mica adds shimmer, alcohol ink creates translucent washes and marbled effects.

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   Used in this stepCrystal Clear Epoxy Resin KitJacquard Pinata Alcohol Ink Set

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2. 2

   Step 2: Mix Resin Pigment Ink

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   Split your mixed resin into small cups, one per color. Add pigment ink a tiny drop at a time - seriously, start with less than you think you need. You can always add more, but once the color is too dark or too concentrated, you're starting over with fresh resin. Stir each cup thoroughly until the color is even and streak-free. These pigment inks give really vivid, saturated results.

   Tip:

   The cups in this demo show blue, purple, magenta, pink, and yellow - each stirred to a uniform color before pouring.

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   Used in this stepResin Pigment Ink SetResin Mixing Cups and Stir Sticks

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3. 3

   Step 3: Try Acrylic Paint

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   Acrylic paint is probably already in your craft stash, so it's a natural first thing to try. The downside: it doesn't fully blend into resin the way liquid pigments do. You tend to get a slightly powdery, uneven texture in the cured piece - small blobs where the paint didn't integrate. Use it in tiny amounts and stir well. It's fine for practice or for pieces where a slightly matte, uneven look is acceptable.

   Tip:

   Don't use too much acrylic paint - excess paint can prevent the resin from curing properly, leaving it tacky.

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4. 4

   Step 4: Add Mica Powder

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   Mica powder (like Pearl EX) mixes into resin beautifully and gives a metallic shimmer that pigment inks can't replicate. Scoop a small amount into your resin cup and stir it in. You can add quite a bit without affecting the cure - the color builds up as you add more. For an extra-intense effect on detailed molds, dust the dry powder into the mold with a soft brush before pouring.

   Tip:

   Brushing mica directly into a mold before pouring highlights fine details in the mold design and gives a beautiful surface shimmer.

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   Used in this stepJacquard Pearl Ex Mica Powder SetSoft Silicone Mold Set

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5. 5

   Step 5: Do a Dirty Pour

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   A dirty pour is when you combine two different colored portions of resin in the same cup and pour them together into the mold without fully mixing them. With mica powder resin this looks especially good because the shimmer catches light differently in each swirl. Tilt the cup gently as you pour to let the colors fold into each other. The result is layered, marbled, and hard to replicate twice.

   Tip:

   Pour from a low height and move the cup slowly to control where each color flows.

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6. 6

   Step 6: Use Alcohol Ink

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   Alcohol ink works differently from the others. Drip it into a cup of clear resin without stirring to create a swirled petri-dish effect - the ink floats and spreads, making gorgeous abstract patterns when poured. If you stir it in, the color becomes more uniform but noticeably lighter than the ink looks in the bottle. Alcohol inks are translucent, so your poured pieces will have a jewel-like quality rather than an opaque look.

   Tip:

   Alcohol inks also tend to shift color over time when exposed to UV light, so keep finished pieces away from direct sunlight.

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   Used in this stepJacquard Pinata Alcohol Ink Set

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7. 7

   Step 7: Let Everything Cure

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   Once you've poured all your molds, set them on a flat, level surface and leave them alone. Most epoxy resins need 24-48 hours to fully cure, and touching them early can leave fingerprints or disturb the surface. Cover them loosely with a box or container to keep dust out - small particles land easily on wet resin and get locked in permanently.

   Tip:

   Warm rooms speed up curing slightly. Temperature around 70-75F is ideal for most epoxy resins.

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8. 8

   Step 8: Demold and Compare Results

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   Gently flex silicone molds to release pieces - they should pop out cleanly if the resin has fully cured. Lay them all out and compare. The acrylic paint pieces show a softer, slightly uneven texture. The alcohol ink pieces look translucent and jewel-like but may appear lighter than expected. The mica pieces catch the light with a metallic shimmer. If any pieces feel slightly tacky on the back, leave them an extra day.

   Tip:

   If alcohol ink pieces have faded or shifted color, that's normal - the ink is not UV-stable in resin. Pigment ink holds color much better long-term.

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9. 9

   Step 9: Show Off Your Pigment Ink Results

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   Resin pigment ink is the standout performer for vivid, true-to-color results. The cured gummy bears and trinkets come out glossy, saturated, and jelly-like. To get softer pastel shades, mix a small amount of white pigment ink into your color before pouring - it tones down the intensity and gives a milky, pastel finish. These pieces hold their color well over time, which makes pigment ink a great default choice for most resin projects.

   Tip:

   Add a thin coat of clear resin as a topcoat to give pieces extra depth and a glass-like shine.

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   Used in this stepResin Pigment Ink SetCrystal Clear Epoxy Resin Kit

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