Adding Color to Your Resin

One of the greatest parts of working with resin is the endless possibilities for adding color to your next project. In my experience, there are two main ways to add color to resin: mica powder and liquid pigments. Both are available in basically every color under the sun, and on top of that, you can combine different powders or pigments to make even more custom colors.

Both forms of coloration are generally added during the resin mixing and there are important considerations regarding the amount powder or dye added because they can impact the curing process so follow the recommended guidelines for whatever product you choose.

Liquid pigments create translucent resin which is a great characteristic to use if you have a particularly fascinating live edge to show off. Translucent resin allows you to incorporate a color into your creation and still showcase the entire live edge surface of your wood.

On the other side, mica powder does not allow for transparency through the resin (unless you use very little powder) but it does add amazing organic swirls of color which can be made by the crafter or allowed to naturally form as the resin cures. Mica powder is what I started using as it also can cover up any minor errors in the curing or finishing process down the road. For things like dust that many fall into the resin or scratches created during the leveling and sanding, powder will make most of those minor imperfections very difficult to see. After gaining the experience with several resin pours where I used powder, I felt confident enough in my process to try some liquid pigments and honestly I can’t pick which I prefer. Both can be used to create amazing pieces!