Learn more about our paint and how to use it, and achieve the best results with SneakArts!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PREPARE
Like on most surfaces, you have to prepare the leather or faux leather for the paint to adhere.
Make sure the surface is clean and use our preparer or acetone to remove the factory finish / seal.
To remove dust and factory varnish from the surface of your shoes before painting, you need to use a solvent.
- Acetone contains stronger chemicals that can damage leather by burning or overheating the surface you want to customize.
- Our Preparer is specially designed for leather. It removes the varnish effectively without causing any damage to the leather.
To ensure the best preparation for leather and other surfaces, we recommend following these steps:
- Take our preparer and apply it to the surface using a cotton pad.
- For sensitive areas, such as the front part, or for grained leather, use sandpaper to smooth the surface.
- Remove any dust using a cotton pad and the preparer.
- Ensure the surface is completely dry before painting.
Preparing faux leather is very similar to preparing genuine leather.
The main difference is that the paint or original color on faux leather can be removed much more easily.
For this reason, it is highly recommended to use our preparer instead of acetone. Additionally, it's important to apply a thin layer of light gray or white paint before starting your design, especially if you have removed the original paint.
Always clean suede and nubuck leather with a soft brush or sponge brush.
To dye suede or nubuck leather, you need to dilute the paint to maintain the softness of the material.
You have two options to revitalize the color:
- For suede: Dilute the paint with approximately 50% water. Once the paint is dry, use a brush to restore the softness of the suede.
- For nubuck: Dilute the paint with approximately 70% water.
If you want to transform suede or nubuck into smooth leather, sand the surface using sandpaper. After sanding, always remove the dust using a preparer, and ensure the surface is completely dry.
Next, apply a glossy varnish as a primer before painting. In this case, no dilution of the paint is required.
For fabric and textile customization, no preparer is needed.
However, we recommend applying a white undercoat before adding other paints. This prevents the paint from bleeding and ensures vibrant, long-lasting colors.
PAINTS
SneakArts paint works on a wide variety of surfaces, including:
- leather and faux leather
- suede and nubuck
- fabric and textile
- wood and paper
- resin and plastic
As mentioned earlier, preparation is crucial before painting, especially on shoes or leather/faux leather.
- Use a cotton pad and our preparer to remove the factory varnish or dust.
- For optimal adhesion, lightly sand the surface with sandpaper, focusing on shoe fronts and grained leather.
- Always apply thin layers of paint to maintain durability and flexibility over time.
- Allow the paint to dry between each layer (1-2 minutes with a hair dryer or 10-15 minutes naturally).
- Once the customization is complete, let it dry for 24 hours.
- For extra protection or to modify the sheen of your project, apply a matte or glossy finisher.
No need to prepare the fabric before painting on it, and no need to set the paint with an iron.
- To prevent the paint from bleeding, apply a white undercoat. You can use either the Fabric Primer or standard white paint.
- Apply thin coats of paint for optimal adhesion.
- To keep the colors vibrant, apply a thin layer of finisher once the paint is completely dry.
When painting other surfaces such as plastic, wood, or resin, we recommend sanding with sandpaper.
Plastic or Resin Surfaces
For surfaces like a video game controller, use 600-grit sandpaper and carefully remove all dust with a microfiber towel.Important: Never use the preparer on plastic!
Wood Surfaces
Sand the surface with coarser grit sandpaper such as 80, 120, or 240, and ensure all dust is removed before painting.
Our unique formula is water-based, non-toxic, and allergen-free. It requires no additives to paint on leather, fabric, plastic, wood, and more.
With SneakArts paint, you can dye suede, nubuck, or fabric without the need to purchase additional additives.
All you need to do is dilute the paint with water:
- For suede: Dilute the paint with 60% water or more. Once dry, use a soft brush to maintain the softness of the leather.
- For nubuck: Dilute the paint with 70% water or more, and use a soft brush to keep it soft.
- For shoelaces: We recommend diluting the paint with 60% to 80% water.
- For sockliners: We recommend using 40% to 50% water.
- For watercolor or tie-dye effects: Mix the paint with as much water as needed to achieve your desired effect.
Yes, you can mix all of our paints to create your colors.
If you plan to mix them with other brands, be sure not to overdilute.
Of course, you can dilute SneakArts paint to dye clothing, laces, or sock liners.
With SneakArts, there’s no need to buy additional paint additives.
- For Leather:
You can use Matt Varnish to dilute the paint (no limit) or add 5–10% water to maintain the paint’s flexibility and resistance. The water will make the paint more fluid and slow down the drying process. - For Fabric and Textile:
You can easily add 20–80% water without affecting the paint’s resistance.
The SneakArts paint is highly resistant and can be applied to soles and midsoles when they are clean and properly prepared using sandpaper and a preparer.
However, we cannot guarantee its durability over time.
The SneakArts paints work perfectly with both an airbrush and a paintbrush.
Most colors are fluid enough to be used directly in the airbrush. If the paint is a bit too thick, simply add a few drops of water to make it more fluid.
When using a paintbrush, you only need a few drops of paint to cover a large area, which is especially useful for customizing multiple shoes or accessories.
The UV Paint requires 5 to 6 thin layers with a paintbrush and 2 to 3 layers using an airbrush for a smooth, even result. You can mix it with the white standard paint to achieve a pastel effect or to reduce the number of layers.
Always make sure not to stay too long under UV light, and store the customized item in the dark when not in use.
The Chameleon Paint produces incredible results when applied to a black or dark-colored surface. Apply 3 layers with a paintbrush and 2 layers with an airbrush for an even finish.
The Glow in the Dark Paint requires 5 to 6 layers for an even result. We recommend using this paint with a paintbrush only.
The Thermochromic Paint disappears when the temperature rises above 31°C. Apply 3 layers with a paintbrush and 2 layers with an airbrush for a smooth, homogeneous finish.
The UV Paint can absorb UV rays for approximately 50 hours. The effect will gradually diminish over time. That's why we recommend not overexposing your customization to the sun and storing it in the dark when not in use.
The Thermochromic Paint effect may also diminish after multiple temperature transitions. The paint becomes less transparent when the temperature rises above 31°C.
All other paints do not have a limited lifetime.
PROTECT & CARE
Even if the paint has a very high resistance once dry, you can add an extra protection or change the sheen of your project.
After completing your customization, let it dry for 24 hours. Then, apply our matte or glossy finisher for added durability.
Always apply delicately the finisher using a clean paintbrush or an airbrush.
Of course, once dry, the SneakArts paint is resistant to water and machine washing. It will not crack or peel if you have properly prepared the surface.
Yes, the paint is resistant to washing machines and cleaning products.
We recommend hand-washing leather and faux leather using soap and water.
We suggest using delicate wash cycles (< 40°C) for fabric to preserve the vibrant colors over time.
STENCILS
SneakArts provides an online tool to create your own stencil using your logos or pictures.
We recommend importing high-quality black-and-white images for the best results.Do not hesitate to contact us, our team will be happy to help you.
You can add multiples images, change the size, the position and much more.
A stencil is a sticker you can use to fill with paint. If your surface is not smooth, prepare the area first.
Remove your design from the vinyl stencil.
Use transfer tape if your design has small details or complex shapes.
Apply the stencil to your item and ensure it sticks properly. You can use a credit card or another stiff card to press it down.
Use our sponge to avoid applying a thick layer of paint. You can also apply an undercoat to prevent smudging, especially on grained or non-smooth leather.
Fill the stencil with thin layers of paint, making sure not to leave excess on the edges of the stencil, as this may cause the paint to peel off.
Let it dry before carefully removing the stencil.
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