Silk Painting How to

Using Water-based Resists

Water-based resists do not have the fumes of solvent-based, but may not hold the resist line as well and sometimes allow the dyes to break through.

Gutta-like water-soluble resists:

• Are fume-free and most are non-toxic.

• Care must be taken to avoid flooding the line with dye or paint which would begin to dissolve the resist line.

• Product is similar to gutta and can also be colored with dyes.

• Gutta consistency is the key to good resist lines. If too thick, it won’t penetrate. If necessary, thin cautiously with water - one drop at a time.

• Water-based resists work well with the iron-set silk paints (such as Dye-na-Flow and SetaSilk).

When used with paints which are not steamed, the resist rinses out nicely. Most brands wash out with warm water. Some may be more resistant after steaming and require some gentle scrubbing while hand washing.

Air dry or some brands recommend heat fixing with an iron for 3 to 4 minutes.

Several brands are available in small applicator tubes. Use directly from the tube or attach a pipette tip to the top.

Be sure to test first on a test silk. Some will not hold a line against the dye/paint but are useful as decorative lines after the work is finished and steam or iron set.

Types of Water Soluble Gutta-like Resist

Metallic Gutta

Gutta is available in metallics including gold, silver, copper, and bronze, available in tubes and jars. The tubes can be used directly as applicators or with a metal tip attached.

• Metallic Guttas will not permanently stay on the fabric if dry cleaned. Dry cleaning removes the metallic color as it removes the gutta.

• If applied to a surface that does not require dry cleaning, the metallics will flake off over time.

• Metallic Gutta will leave a ‘hand’ on the silk, similar to paint.

Jacquard black and colored metallic (gutta-like) resists

Permanent Metallic Water-Based Resists available in Black and seven other colors.

• Metalllic resists hold fine, crisp lines that do not spread.

• They emit no fumes.

• After heat-setting with an iron are completely permanent.

• Can be steamed, washed, or dry-cleaned.

• This resist will leave a “hand” on the silk, similar to paint.

Jacquard water-based resist 

Clear. Less expensive than some others. It washes out easily. Can be used with dyes as well as paints. It can be colored with water based dyes. You will have to then steam set your silk.

Sennelier water-based resist

It is available clear as well as black, gold and silver.

SilkPaint water-soluble resist

A very versatile resist that can be used for the following:

It can be colored with dye, or used as stop-flow thinned with water.It can be used as a fixative, and most important you can apply dye while it is wet. After steaming, remove with cool water. It comes in 2 different colors: clear and black. The black is not as smooth as the clear and tends to bubble more. Keep a constant pressure on the plastic bottle when applying the black resist.

Dupont Serti NO 

It is water-based and clear. It stays in through dry cleaning. Available in Europe.

Dupont Serti metal

A water-based resist made of fine sparkles, set by ironing.

Dupont colored guttas in a tube 

They are water based and set by ironing. Available in a variety of colours, colourless and metalic, they can be applied directly from the soft tube. To achieve varying widths of lines, use screw type metal tips.

Pebeo water-based gutta