Artistro paint pens require a few steps to get them ready for use. Note: Artistro markers include instructions on the pens themselves, inside the box, and on the box of the markers too. Let’s start today’s marker tutorial! 

✔️ Step 1: Shake the marker well to ensure the paint is thoroughly mixed. Always shake the pen before using - especially if it wasn’t used for a while. 

✔️ Step 2: Remove the cap, use it to press slightly on the tip to let the air out. Start pumping the tip this way it activates the pen into the paint itself. As you press down the paint will make its way to the tip. Be patient! Once the tip is in color and you can draw a line without breaking up - it’s ready for use! 

✔️ Step 3: We strongly recommend you to test the ink on a piece of paper first before starting your project to ensure the ink runs smoothly.

Adhere to recommendations and drawing + using paint markers will always be an easy and enjoyable process!

Artistro paint pens work on almost any surface: rocks, ceramic, glass, metal, plastic, vinyl, wood, fabric, canvas, paper,  pumpkins, leaves, denim and etc.

Ideally Artistro Markers should be stored horizontally as this makes re-mixing the color inside the marker easier between uses. Avoid storing them vertically with the nib facing down as dense pigments will collect at the valve, making them susceptible to clogging and re-agitation more difficult.

The range of the tips varies: the extra-fine tip is 0.7mm-1mm, the fine tip is 1mm-2mm, the medium tip is 2mm-3 mm.

How to paint on a T-shirt/fabric and make permanent marker design: 

✔️ Step 1: Wash to remove any shrinking. Even if the label on your fabric says "pre-shrunk," it would still be a good idea to wash it. 

✔️ Step 2: Place a piece of cardboard inside the fabric. It should be about the same size as the fabric. You can also use a folded up newspaper, an old magazine or catalog.

✔️ Step 3: After the paint is completely dry (at least 24 hours), you need to heat set it for permanency and washability.

✔️ Step 4: Most fabrics can be heat set using an iron on medium or high heat (without steam) for 3-5 minutes. Use a cotton piece of cloth between iron and T-Shirt/fabric.

✔️ Step 5: Wash the T-Shirt/fabric 3 days after applying paint (cold water, hand wash preferably). This will remove any potential shrinking and starch. It will make the paint stick to the shirt better.

Use a spray sealant to seal sneakers and shoes. Let your design dry completely before applying.

We advise hand washing in cold water.

How to paint a mug with acrylic paint step by step: 

✔️ Step 1: Choose a workplace and cover it with a newspaper.

✔️ Step 2: Make a design on the ceramic mug with a pencil. You can customize the mug with the picture or with the quote. For dark surfaces choose gold, silver, or white colors. 

✔️ Step 3: After fully dry (at least 24 hours), place your project into a cold oven; Turn oven to 350 ̊F (180 ̊C);

Set a timer for 1 hour; After one hour open the oven; Let the project cool down completely inside the oven.

✔️ Step 4: Hand-washing in warm water is the best option to wash the surface. We do not recommend using a dishwasher or a heavy-duty sponge.

The simplest answer will be the drying time difference. Water-based markers dry fast where oil is not. Also, oil-based markers dry permanently, where water-based dry only water-resistant, thus to make them permanent you have to seal or bake the project depending on the material.

For making the gradient you will need two paint pens in different colors, a paintbrush, and a cup with water. Paint the half of the surface with one color. Take one marker and squeeze out a little paint, then take a different color and also squeeze the paint. Blend it with the wet brush. You need to act quickly because the acrylic paint dries fast. Continue to paint till you get the final result. Artistro markers are based on acrylic ink, that's why they work well with water.

Removing permanent marker from such surfaces as rocks and ceramics is easier than you think, use a solvent or nail polish remover and a cotton pad to get the marker off. 

Enjoy this small trick and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Practice makes it perfect!

To clean the tips of acrylic paint pens, you can run warm water for a minute to wash off any excess paint, or can use a piece of paper towel to clean. Rubbing alcohol can also be used to clean the tips of both the acrylic & oil-based nibs.

No, the markers are odor-free.

No, the markers are non-refillable.

Yes, these paint pens are waterproof.

Yes, the acrylic paint is water-based paint and comes off with water.

To claim markers food safe they should have FDA approval. Those markers have not been sent to FDA for this request. We do not recommend using markers in contact with food.

We do not recommend to put the project in the dishwasher, because of high water temperature. It might not be dishwasher safe. But it is water-resistant, when glass, porcelain, and ceramic projects are properly cured. Just use warm water to wash mugs or cups, it will be safe for design.

Please, wait up to several hours until the paint is completely dry.

It depends on how thin the paper is, and if the paint markers are acrylics or oil-based.

Possible Solution:

A. You can try detaching tips and reattaching and tips and try to prime again. Pressing down on the tip in a pumping motion until there is a consistent flow of paint.

B. You can place tips of pens under running warm water for a minute or 2 remove, wipe the water off and prime and use. Please note that 1 paint pen can activate quicker than another.

You can lightly seal the surface you are working on prior to starting a project, this will create a smooth enough surface and will limit the likeliness of the paint bleeding.  When working on rough surfaces, it’s best to go slow especially if you are using extra-fine tip paint pens.

This could be caused by the pigment settling inside the pens and shaking alone will not help. You can try giving pens a few light taps on a hard surface to help break pigment up for it to be mixed in properly with the liquid agent in pens. At all times, there should be a ball inside each pen that is there to help with the mixing of the paint.  If that ball is not heard, then that paint pen is more or likely defective.

You will need to increase the temperature of the oven and make sure that the paint has dried properly before placing it into the cold oven to bake.

DECO ART MULTI-PURPOSE SEALER

Mod Podge CS11201 Waterbase Sealer, Glue & Decoupage Finish, 8 oz, Gloss, 8 Fl Oz

Krylon K01303007 Acrylic Spray Paint Crystal Clear in 11-Ounce Aerosol 

Mod podge dishwasher safe sealant

Providing the Acrylic Marker is fully dried, it can be used in thin layers underneath oil paint.

Yes, providing the spray paint is thoroughly dry, our Acrylic Markers can be used with solvent-based spray paint.

Yes! Our Acrylic Markers are suitable for both interior and exterior applications.

Yes.

Please let the design dry 24 hours prior to apply resin.

All our products are nontoxic and are certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

No, Artistro does not test on animals.