In this article, we are going to show you how to paint and seal acrylic paint on phone case.
Phone cases are a great way to protect your device, and with a little bit of creativity, you can make them look unique as well.
In this tutorial, we will be using acrylic paint, but you can use any type of paint that you prefer. Let’s get started!
1. Prep the Phone Case
Before you apply acrylic paint to your phone case, it’s important to prepare it. Preparing the phone cover will enable the acrylic paint to adhere better without peeling and chipping off too soon.
Preparing the phone case isn’t an as serious task as you may think. Here’s how to do it:
Materials Needed
- Phone case
- Towel
- Dish soap
- Warm water
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Rubbing alcohol
- Suitable primer
Clean the Surface of the Case
Give the surface of your phone case a thorough cleaning with a towel and warm soapy water. This ensures that all dirt, oily stains, and/or residues are removed.
Depending on your type of phone case, wiping the surface with rubbing alcohol (or isopropyl alcohol) may be enough.
Sand the Surface of the Phone
Allow the surface of the phone case to dry. After that, use 140 to 180 grit sandpaper to lightly roughen up the surface of the phone case.
This is necessary for phone cases that are varnished like leather and wooden phone cases. If you have a silicone phone case, the rubbing alcohol should have roughened up the surface.
Being a non-porous material, a silicone phone case doesn’t allow acrylic paint to properly stick to its surface. However, using denatured alcohol and sanding properly can fix this. Be sure to clean off any dust or debris afterwards.
Apply a Primer
Now, it’s time to apply a primer to your phone case. You have to be very careful with this step because there are different types of primer. Get the type of acrylic primer that is suitable for your phone case.
For instance, if you’ve got a plastic phone case, get a plastic acrylic primer, if yours is a silicone phone case, get an oil-based acrylic primer. For a wooden phone case, get a wood acrylic primer. But leather phone cases don’t need a primer but a leather deglazer to remove any coating on the surface.
Priming will help the paint to stick better and create a smooth surface for you to comfortably hold the phone.
2. Paint the Phone Case
Now you would want to transform your phone case by painting it. There are many paints out there for decorating your phone case, but acrylic paint seems to be the most affordable and accessible option. Let’s get started on how to decorate your phone case with acrylic paints.
Materials Needed
- Acrylic paints
- Phone case
- Painter’s tape
- Paintbrushes
- Paper towels (or rags)
Draw your Desired Design or Pattern on the Phone Case
If you wish to make a design or draw a pattern on your phone case, make the design or pattern with a pencil.
Some cool ideas include floral patterns, geometric shapes, and abstract designs. Be careful to avoid staining the phone case, else, you’ll have to start all over again.
Prepare the Acrylic Paint
First, mix your acrylic paint with water until a thin consistency is achieved. This will prevent the acrylic paint from chipping or peeling over time. If possible, get acrylic spray paint.
Apply your Acrylic Paint
Let the primer dry completely before you start painting. This usually takes about 20 to 25 minutes. If you’re creating complex designs, have drawn any pattern on your phone case, and/or have got any areas you want to leave out, cover these areas with painter’s tape.
Next, begin by applying a thin and even coat of acrylic paint to the phone case using a paintbrush. Don’t forget to work in small sections. Leave the first coat to dry for some hours and apply another coat.
If you’re painting a leather phone case, it may absorb most of the first coat. That means a leather phone case will require more coats than others.
More so, if you’re painting a leather phone case, we recommend that you stretch and bend it before applying another coat of acrylic paint.
Doing this will prevent the design on the leather phone case from cracking after painting. Once you’re done painting your favorite decoration on your phone case, allow the acrylic paint to dry completely. This can take up to 24 hours.
3. Seal the Acrylic Paint on the Phone Case
If you’re satisfied with your design, then we are good to go with this last step. Acrylic paints can make good decorations on your phone case, but you must seal it to prevent smudging – remember acrylic paints are water-soluble. Sealing your design also helps the acrylic paint last longer.
Just as with the primer, there are many types of sealants. Opt-in for a water-resistant (permanent) sealant. The following procedure will guide you on how to seal acrylic paint on your phone case.
Materials Needed
- Acrylic sealant (or polyurethane in an aerosol can)
- Phone case
- Paintbrush
- Paper towels (or rags)
Apply the Sealant
Before you apply the sealer, make sure that the acrylic paint is completely dry – this is very important.
With a suitable paintbrush, apply the first coat of sealant. Apply the layer of sealant in one direction i.e. if you start with a vertical stroke, stick to vertical strokes.
You may also use polyurethane in an aerosol can to seal your acrylic paint. Simply spray the aerosol on your paint evenly. Leave the phone case for some time to allow the first layer to dry before applying the second layer.
Coat the second layer in the opposite direction to the first coat. That is, if the first coat went from right to left vertically, you now coat from left to right vertically.
Once you’re done coating, allow the second coat to dry completely before using your phone case.
I believe that you were satisfied with the acrylic paint before you applied the sealant. But if for any reason you’re no longer satisfied with the design, you can still get it off your phone case.
You can easily remove the acrylic paint using hairspray, nail polish remover, olive/vegetable oil, or acetone.
To Conclude
That’s all you need to know about how to paint phone cases with acrylic paint. We hope our guide was helpful. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment section below, and we’ll be happy to answer your queries.
Thanks for reading!
