Setasilk works as a traditional silk paint! It spreads smoothly and easily, even for the less skilled. Fabrics become radiant, keeping their suppleness and brilliance. Create unique patterns with the water-based Gutta resist and salt techniques. You can intermix all 30 colors to create your own palette and use the Thinner to obtain pastel colors. Setting the color is as simple as ironing. We have found it also works beautifully on cotton with our Sabra Silk Resist and on dried flowers and basket reed. For additional information, visit our website at www.prochemical.com.

• Wear thin latex gloves, apron, or old clothes
• Utensils used for silk painting should never be used for food preparation.

Supplies
Pebeo Setasilk
Water based gutta or Sabra Silk Resist
Synthrapol and PRO Dye Activator or laundry detergent

Equipment
Fabric stretcher frame
Stainless steel pushpins
Starburst Salt Brushes

Procedure
1.Scour your fabric by machine washing in HOT 140^oF (60^oC) water, or by hand as HOT as possible with laundry detergent or try our Perfect Wash to get your fabric the cleanest: use ½ tsp (2 gm) PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash and ½ tsp (2.5 ml) Synthrapol per pound of fabric (454 gm, or 3 to 4 yards muslin, or 8 yards of 8mm China Silk). Rinse thoroughly, dry and iron as necessary.

2. Prepare the Pebeo Setasilk by using the Pebeo Setasilk Thinner if you want to dilute the colors. This enables you to obtain pastel shades without changing the flow characteristics. Otherwise all of the 30 colors of Pebeo Setasilk ready to use right from the bottle, plus they are all intermixable allowing you an infinite color palette to paint with.

3. Transfer the design to your fabric using a soft pencil. You may want to draw your design freehand or use a light table to help you transfer the design. You can also use a window or sliding glass door. Tape the pattern to the glass surface; then tape the fabric over the pattern.

4. Stretch your silk prior to painting. There are a number of frames available on the market for use in silk painting OR you can make your own from artist stretcher frames and stainless steel pushpins.

First pin the four corners, then the middle of the four sides, pulling the fabric taut. You can avoid stretch lines by staggering the placement of the pushpins and not placing them directly across from one another. Continue placing pins every 2 - 3 inches apart, around all four sides, always working from the center outward to the corners.

5. Apply the resist lines, using the Pebeo Water Based Colored Gutta or Sabra Silk Resist. Press the applicator tip firmly against the stretched fabric. It is important to maintain an even flow and continuous line as you trace the design. Pebeo Setasilk will flow through any gaps in the resist. line. Check the back of your fabric to make sure that the resist has penetrated all the way through. If you see any gaps, fill them in from the front. You may need to apply the resist on both sides of heavy fabric. Once you’ve outlined your design, let the resist dry and follow the steps below, according to the resist you have chosen.

6. Paint with Pebeo Setasilk once the gutta resist lines are dry. Fill a wide mouth container with water; use this to rinse your brushes. The size of the area you are about to paint will determine what size brush you need. Use a small brush for small areas and a larger brush to cover bigger areas. Dip your brush into the container of Pebeo Setasilk and lightly touch the brush to the center of the area you are painting. Allow the color to spread out to the resist lines. Continue adding Setasilk and blending brush strokes or colors while the Setasilk is still wet and until the enclosed area is filled. Work quickly to prevent the Setasilk from drying before you have all the color applied to an area. Be careful not to flood the fabric with too much Setasilk, or the resist lines will break. Use a cotton swab or dry brush to mop extra dye that pools in an enclosed area. Do not paint over the resist lines.

Add visual texture to your silk painting with some of the pattern techniques below.

• Work "wet on wet" for fluid shading and harmonious color blending.

• A dark-edged ring is characteristic of applying dye paint to a dry dyed area. This is known as a "wet on dry" patterning technique.

• Sprinkle Starburst Salt onto freshly painted wet silk for star burst explosions. Try different kinds of salt for various size patterns. As soon as the fabric is dry, brush off the salt.

7. Fix the painted silk by allowing it to air dry. The silk then needs to be heat set with a dry iron in order for the colors to be permanent. Set the iron to the "SILK" setting. Using a press cloth between the iron and the fabric, iron on the reverse side of the silk for 3-5 minutes.

8. For the final wash, wait 48 hours before removing the Sabra Silk Resist, by gently washing in warm 110^oF (43^oC) water.

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