In the technique of glass painting, there are directions that differ from each other in the materials used, the manufacturing process and the end result. The first technique is painting with covering (opaque) paints, usually acrylic. These paints are easy to mix and give bright colors, and when dry they become strong and stable..
The second technique is painting with stained glass paints themselves. These paints can be divided into fired and non-fired. Fired paints, as the name implies, require firing in an oven at a temperature of 120 to 160 degrees, but it is better to look at the firing time and temperature on the package. Such paints become resistant to water, wiping, although scratching them is still not recommended. It is best to choose them for painting glasses, plates, mugs, that is, for those things that are often washed or come into contact with water. If the design has not yet been fired, then the paint can be easily removed until it is completely dry..
After applying the pattern, the product is placed in a cold oven, and removed when the temperature drops so that there are no sudden changes. You can buy a cuckoo clock and place it over a stained glass painting, it will look great.
The main composition of the fired paints is water, not a solvent, so there is no smell in them. Brushes are easy to rinse with water.
Do not forget that when painting glass, paint alone is not enough, contours will also be needed. With fired paints, the appropriate contour must be used. You can use the contour for both glass and porcelain. Most firms have opaque outlines, but you can also find multi-colored transparent ones..
When using fired paints, it should be borne in mind that they are more matte, not very bright and not transparent, so it will be difficult to see through them, for example, the reverse side of a glass.
Unfired stained glass paints give bright and saturated colors. They are made in a solvent, so you can use acetone or white spirit. Brushes for drawing should be washed with solvent. The drawing technique is as follows: first the contour is applied, and then the paint, which must dry. Sometimes it takes from days to several weeks. For greater brightness and saturation, sometimes a second layer of paint is applied, but not earlier than in a day. Only after complete drying, you can use the product, not forgetting that the durability of these paints is different, in principle, they can be washed without soaking.
