Painting on synthetic leather

[saxy_jag]

I've just dug out an old filofax with a synthetic, leather effect cover. I want to paint a design onto it. What sort of paint is best?

[Buenchico]

My instinct here is to suggest the paints which model makers use. For example, any decent model shop should stock the Humbrol range:
http://www.humbrol.com/

Such paints are sold in tiny pots, at quite low prices, so you could buy what you want without great expense. However I'm torn between recommending the enamel or acrylic products. The enamel paints will give the most 'solid' and 'shiny' results but they're solvent based which means that they might 'eat into' the (plastic) faux leather. The acrylic paints would probably be better but, because they're water based, you'd need to keep the Filofax folder dry.

Chris

[saxy_jag]

Thank you, Buenchico. I've actually had a quick look around the web, and a lot of people suggest acrylics for real leather (for bikers' jackets and the like), and some say they're OK for synthetic as well. Apparently they're best applied in thin layers rather than thick coats.

Keeping dry wouldn't be an issue - that is until I spill coffee on it!

[heathfield]

Your cover is likely to be some sort of vinyl. There are special paints available for vinyl that are used, for example, in the motor trade on car interiors. Halfords may have them, but if you are looking to create a multicolour design, it could prove to be pretty expensive. Acrylics are the next best option, but they might lack the better resistance to flexing offered by the specialist product.

[saxy_jag]

Agreed, Heathfield - it is a very realistic looking, leather-effect vinyl.

I've decided that, if I can, I'm going to stick a photo on it (printed from the PC) and will then draw a stylised antique-effect frame directly onto the cover in gold pen or paint.

What I'd like to do then is varnish or seal the photo, simply to reduce the chance of it lifting. I've had some good results using spray-on glue for various bookbinding projects in the past, so I'll use that, but can anyone now recommend a suitable varnish? I had thought clear nail varnish but a colleague suggests polyurethane. Obviously, it would need to be something flexible.

[jomifl]

The clear gel glue used for pvc plumbing (come in tins and tubes)will stick to pvc faux leather. The plasticiser in the 'leather' will migrate into the glue and render it flexible but use as thin a layer as possible to aid flexibility. It would be best to experiment on something similar first to avoid a disappointment.

[boxtops]

I've used car paint spray on artificial leather, to good effect - I used it on shoes to get exactly the right colour for my wedding. With a spray you could use a stencil too, if you wanted a pattern on the cover.