30/12/2025
I’ve had a few people asking about fabric painting, in general, and using paint markers in particular. The article on the Posca page is quite good around using their paint markers but there are quite a few different brands which are worth experimenting with.
The general rules and tricks for fabric painting apply to using Posca Markers. They are a really good option for lettering or line work on fabric. I’ve added the fabric link from the Posca website but I will add a few tips which aren’t always mentioned.
1) Pre-washing fabrics, as you intend them to be washed, is really important. If the fabric has been previously worn you are also removing hidden dirt. If it’s new fabric then you are removing the industrial dressing used to make the fabric present well for sale. If you don’t have a clean surface then the paint will come off the first time it’s washed. I use a mild detergent and an extra rinse with half a cup of white vinegar added. Don’t use fabric softener as it coats the fibres and prevents them from absorbing the colour.
2) Prepare a base board to place behind the fabric you are working on. I use stiff cardboard, cut to an appropriate size to place inside the garment, which I paper over with fine sandpaper (glue it on firmly with white glue). The sandpaper grips the fabric and stops it moving around while you work on it.
3) Practice holding the marker, or brush, so that your hand isn’t brushing the fabric surface or you might find that you smudge the paint as it doesn’t dry instantly.
4) To increase the intensity of colours you can undercoat with white, allow it to dry for the recommended time (I would leave 24 hours at least), then apply your chosen colours. This really helps with lighter and brighter colours on darker backgrounds.
5) When fabric is worn and washed the fibres twist. This is why painted fabric sometimes looks patchy. Take your time to apply enough paint to completely coat the fibres right through. This is also why you need a backboard as if you are effectively coating the fibres you will also risk paint transferring though to an underlay of fabric (such as the back of a shirt when you are painting the front).
6) Allow paint to dry and cure before heat setting for complete permanence. I heat set with an iron set to the hottest temperature which the particular fabric can take. Place a sheet of good quality silicone coated baking paper over the painted surface and have a piece underneath as well. This prevents the paint from damaging your iron if it should melt.
I hope you find this information helpful when you are planning a fabric painting project.
Whether natural or synthetic, textiles, fabrics and skins are materials with deep roots in all cultures. They are primarily used for clothing, soft furnishings and decoration. POSCA makes it easy to personalise and customise these everyday materials. What’s more, if you follow our fixing advice, y...
