Making Fluorescent Acrylic Paints from Dry Fluorescent Pigments

 

Why Make Your Own Fluorescent Acrylic Paint?

• Cost savings over premixed paints

• Control over pigment load

• Custom transparency

• Ability to create ultra-intense glazing colors

• Perfect for metal art, acrylic pours, or airbrush work

For artists working on steel, aluminum, or textured surfaces, custom fluorescent acrylics allow layering effects that commercial paints often dilute.

With some basic tools and materials, you too can make your own fluorescent acrylic paints!  This is a list of the things you need!

1. Glass muller and glass slab or pane
2. Dry pigment powder
3. Oratan 731K or similar dispersant
4. At least 1 palette knife for mixing
5. Acrylic medium of choice

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Final Thoughts

Making fluorescent acrylic paint from dry pigment is less about dumping powder into binder — and more about understanding wetting chemistry.

Whether you use a professional dispersant like Oratan 731K from Kremer Pigmente or a well-designed DIY blend of water, propylene glycol, and nonionic surfactants, the principle remains the same:

Fully wet the pigment first. Then build the paint.

Control dispersion, and you control brightness.