How To Paint Plastic

For a true artist, almost anything can make for a canvas. From an actual canvas, to a piece of paper or even plastic, anything goes. Artists painting on canvas or maybe even paper may not catch you off your guard, but what about people painting on plastic? Well, the act of painting on plastic sure is pretty popular. It’s just that people don’t care enough to talk much about it. The best part about painting on plastic, however, is that you don’t necessarily need to be an artist for this. All you need to know is how to go about the whole process and it's then just you and your creativity. Take the time and read on to discover step-by-step instructions on how to paint a plastic item. If you believe you have it in you to paint on a plastic item, be it large or small, then the instructions that are to come will surely help you get that much closer to your dreams.

Painting On Plastic 

You Will Need 

• A Plastic Item
• Fine-Grit Sandpaper
• Dish Soap
• Pencil
• Liquid Sander
• Brush with Natural Bristles
• Plastic Flex Additive
• Paintbrush
• Paint
• Plastic Adhesion Primer
• Paint Brush
• Soft Rags

• The process of painting plastic begins when you decide to prepare the plastic item you have chosen for the painting that is to come. It is extremely important to do this because; only this will ensure the paint actually stays on when it is painted on to the plastic item chosen.
• You can begin preparing the plastic item by putting to effective use ordinary dish soap and warm water. This is a must to do because this will guarantee you a plastic item free of grease. This is what will also help the paint stick on to the plastic item for that much longer.
• Once you are done washing the plastic item with ordinary dish soap and warm water, you can move on to getting the best out of the soapy water and a soft brush. If your plastic item is small, dip it into a sink full of soapy water. However, if the plastic item you chose is large, wash it with a bucket of soapy water. You can then move on to using the soft brush. You will then have to scrub well the plastic item and then wash off the soapy water with clean and fresh water. With this done, make it a point to allow the plastic item to dry out completely.
• Proceed to remove the shine on the surface of the plastic object. It is a must to do this because the shinier the surface of the plastic item, the more difficult will it be for the paint to stick on to the same. You can remove the shine by using sandpaper. Make it a point to remove the coating of ‘glam and glimmer’ by rubbing the sandpaper all over the entire surface of the plastic item. While doing this, take extra care to not scrub too hard, this will only result in scratches all over the entire surface of the plastic item. Also, take extra care to ensure that the entire surface of the plastic item has no shine on it, because even an inch of shine will destroy the purpose behind painting the plastic item.  
• Execute the above mentioned step for the entire plastic item only if you are painting the item in its entirety. However, if it’s for just a portion of the plastic item, scrub off the shine from only that portion of the item.
• With this done, you can begin the sketching. Sketch lightly on the plastic item with a pencil, this is your design and remember, just an outline will do. Proceed to dip an artist’s brush into a liquid sander and then move on to painting the sander inside the border of the design you just sketched. Don’t worry about being too precise with your painting, it will all be fine as long as you don’t stray outside of your outlined boundaries.
• Give the sander some time to stay on the plastic surface. You can then go ahead and wipe it off with a clean soft rag. Wipe it with quick movements. This is what will prevent it from straying out of the boundaries drawn.
• Once done with this, you will have to use primer made specifically for plastic. Primer made especially for plastic can prove to be very effective in providing a porous surface for the new paint. If you know for sure that your plastic object is flexible, make it a point to add a plastic flex agent to the paint. This is as good as a must.
• Go right ahead and spray on the new paint. Alternatively, you can also roll on or bush the new paint. Here, you will have to take extra care to watch for runs. It is also extremely advisable to apply thin coats of paint instead of a single thick coat!