Translucent polymer clay is much like common, coloured polymer clay besides that it’s made with a base that turns extra clear when it’s baked. Most (however not all) manufacturers of polymer clay have a translucent clay of their line. You’ll be able to see a comparability of main manufacturers right here, demonstrating their relative readability. However translucent polymer clay doesn’t must be neutral-colored. A number of manufacturers of polymer clay have a full vary of coloured translucent polymer clay.
Earlier than I get into the specifics of particularly coloured translucent polymer clay manufacturers, let me point out which you could colour common translucent clay any colour that you simply’d like by including numerous colorants (corresponding to common clay, paint, ink, pigment, glitter, and extra). You’ll be able to study extra about that right here, and see a comparability of a number of totally different supplies in translucent Premo polymer clay.
By the way in which, to study extra about polymer clay on the whole, head over to the Translucent Polymer Clay FAQ.
Technical Concerns
Habits
Since translucent polymer clays usually use a distinct base than the corresponding opaque clay strains, they usually behave barely in another way. For instance, Cernit Translucent is thought for being significantly taffy-like and gooey, particularly when recent. Since coloured translucent polymer clay does use a translucent base, these coloured clays will behave extra just like the uncolored translucents than the coloured opaque clays within the model.
The White Tint Impact
Translucent polymer clay, within the block, seems white or buff coloured. After baking, the “whiteness” disappears and the clay turns into extra translucent. Whereas this white colour is just not on account of white pigment, it will possibly nonetheless make the unbaked clay seem just like the tint of a colour. In different phrases, unbaked coloured translucent polymer clay seems pastel coloured, however after baking the colour darkens and intensifies. Generally very dramatically!
Colour Reduces Translucency
The colour that’s been added to coloured translucent polymer clay will barely scale back the translucency of that colour. Mild colours received’t present a lot impression on their translucency, however intense and darkish colours will. Very darkish colours, like Cernit Translucent Blue, might be very tough to see by way of, even when fairly skinny. However they’ll by no means have the flat, uninteresting opacity of standard opaque colours.
Air Bubbles and Plaques
Air bubbles are pockets of air which have been trapped within the clay by improper conditioning or dealing with. Plaques are round flaws seen in baked clay that fashioned from trapped gases because the clay cured. Whereas air bubbles and plaques are various things (and have totally different causes), they’re each equally annoying. They’re current in common clay as properly, however since coloured translucent polymer clay is commonly darkish in colour, they’re much more seen (and annoying).
Fimo Impact
Fimo’s line of particular results clay, known as Fimo Impact, features a vary of translucent colours. Fimo Impact isn’t the clearest of translucent clays, so which means its coloured translucents aren’t terribly clear, both. However they’re good, normal, helpful colours within the basic major and secondary colours. Oddly sufficient, they don’t embrace orange of their vary.
Pardo Translucent Clay
With UNCOLORED Pardo translucent, there are two variations of the clay, Translucent and Agate. Learn right here in regards to the large confusion about these two clays and the way the packaging may be totally different in several nations.
Pardo Coloured Translucent Polymer clay is NOT a part of the Skilled Artwork Clay line, it doesn’t matter what the packaging says. (Oh boy, sure, confusion abounds. And no, I don’t know why this choice was made by Viva Decor.) The coloured translucents, just like the uncolored Agate colour, are a part of the “Jewelry Clay” line (that’s generally labeled as plain “Pardo Polymer Clay”.) Sure, this clay physique is NOT the very clear and fairly crumbly Pardo Skilled Artwork Clay (regardless that it says that on the label). These coloured translucent are comprised of the softer, simpler to make use of, and extra opaque common polymer clay line.
Along with this confusion, this vary of clay is labelled as Pardo Clear Clay exterior of North America. Hey, don’t kill the messenger. Additionally, it took many emails with Viva Decor to get this discovered. However no worries, no matter it’s known as or labelled, it’s the identical stuff. It’s an easy-to-handle and reasonably translucent coloured polymer clay that is available in a pleasant vary of colours. (Be aware: previous variations of this clay had been way more translucent and I believe had been truly comprised of the skilled artwork clay base.)
Cernit Translucent
Many individuals love Cernit Translucent (in white) for its readability and lack of colour. However there are 13 colours to make use of and luxuriate in. As you may see under, there are good Cernit translucent major colours of magenta (ruby pink), cyan (sapphire), and yellow (amber). These major colours don’t appear to be primaries when used full energy, however they work pretty properly when combined with uncolored translucent to combine new translucent colours.
Not like the opposite polymer manufacturers, Cernit Translucent additionally contains three glitter colours. There’s a glitter white, silver, and gold. The glitter in these colours is just not polyester glitter. It’s a big flake artificial mica, which signifies that it has an incredible shimmer and behaves a bit extra like metallic clays than the glitter clays you see within the Sculpey Premo line. You’ll be able to see under how the particles align in “waves” a lot as they do with mica shift. The glitter white is tremendously shimmery and distinctive throughout all manufacturers for its lushness. It’s much more shimmery (however much less sparkly) than the Cernit Pearl Line. There’s additionally a glow-in-the-dark colour that has a wonderful glow.
You’ll discover that Cernit Translucent Colours are VERY intensely coloured. Which means the colours will bake a lot darker and richer than you would possibly suppose, particularly when you think about how mild the unbaked colours are. In lots of circumstances, you’ll want to dilute these wealthy colours with Cernit White Translucent. It will make the colour lighter, however not whiter.
Working with Cernit Coloured Translucent Clay
As a result of Cernit Translucent clays are fairly tender and flowing (particularly when recent), this complete line of clay may be difficult to work with. The clay will want little conditioning (probably none) and should behave a lot better should you can leach it. This ease of conditioning means chances are you’ll expertise fewer air bubbles. I’ve additionally discovered this line of clay tends to have fewer plaques than different manufacturers. Be aware how the photographs above of Fimo and Pardo each have plaques, however the baked Cernit samples don’t.
Even with leaching, Cernit colours with a translucent base (this contains Cernit Pearl and Cernit Metallic) will are likely to circulate a bit like foolish putty or the cornstarch and water slurry you performed with as a child. You’ll, to an extent, simply must discover ways to deal with it.
My favourite use for the Cernit Translucent colours is to make use of them as a tinting focus for coloring plain, uncolored Cernit White Translucent (or any model of translucent, for that matter). No extra alcohol inks or messy paints. The vary of colours on this line makes this model extraordinarily helpful! You’ll be able to even use them to tint white clay. (Understand that you’ll by no means overcome the white pigment, although.)
Evaluating Particular Colours
The Cernit amber translucent is so deeply coloured that it bakes almost orange. Here’s a comparability of the amber and the Cernit orange translucent earlier than and after baking. They’re comparable, however the amber appears to be like extra like a farm recent egg yolk and the orange appears to be like extra like orange sweet. (Be aware that the amber will behave like a heat yellow in colour mixing however the orange will behave like orange as a result of it accommodates extra pink.)
You’ll additionally discover there are two colours of Cernit inexperienced translucent polymer clay. The Emerald is a jewel-toned inexperienced and the lime inexperienced is way extra heat and juicy.
The Purple Has Modified
I’ve been working with the Cernit coloured translucent polymer clay vary because it got here out and I nonetheless have many of the colours available. The pink has modified. It was kind of a bizarre pinky pink. Not likely pink, not likely pink. It was a bit irritating for colour mixing, so I’m thrilled that it has modified. Under you may see the earlier colour, in comparison with the present colour, nonetheless within the package deal.
As you may see, it’s a fairly substantial colour change, so I needed to verify I discussed it. I feel the brand new model is extra helpful as a result of it’s going to act as an excellent magenta, in contrast to the earlier model. Under are how these two coloured translucents look earlier than and after baking.
Utilizing Coloured Translucent Polymer Clay
So, these are fairly samples and all, however how can these coloured translucents be used? Nicely, the makes use of are infinite. You should use these as colour concentrates to tint uncolored (aka white) translucent clays of any model. Only a tiny little bit of the deeply coloured Cernit translucent colours might be ample to tint plenty of white translucent.
You should use coloured translucent clay (both full-strength or diluted) to make fake lampwork like these beads.
You can too use these coloured translucent polymer clays to make fake Czech glass that’s excellent for making drop earrings. Listed here are some examples of those beads.
For much more inspiration that can assist you develop lovely translucent polymer clay initiatives of your individual, take a look at my Pinterest boards right here and right here.
The place to Purchase Coloured Translucent Polymer Clay
You should purchase these coloured translucent polymer clays wherever you purchase Fimo, Pardo, and Cernit polymer clays. Under are some glorious small companies all over the world that supply recent polymer clay and premium service. I like to recommend these sellers extremely!
US
Blueberry Beads
Poly Clay Play
Munro Crafts
Europe
Hobbyrian
Polystudio.fr
Blissful Issues
Australia
2Wards Polymer Clay
And for extra suppliers, examine my Distributors and Suppliers web page in my assets part right here.