How best to paint a flag?
Ok, for sporting purposes I have envisioned buying two polyester flags in my team’s colours (blue and gold), each 3×5 feet. My plan is to run a pole up each flag, then attack velcro so they can be joined together at the other end- in order to make a two-tone banner that can be hoisted before and after the game, and split into two flags during the game. I plan to use white paint on the royal or St.Patrick’s blue side and dark blue paint on the gold side. Banner will read together ‘WE ARE LEINSTER’ (WE and LEIN on the blue side, ARE and STER on the gold). This could be amazing, or it could be a total flop.
Advice please from people who know stuff:
What kind of paint can I use that will not crack, but will be durable and flexible enough to allow the separated flags to fly?
Would you recommend or advise against painting both sides of the flags? (advantage being that when split, someone waving the single flag could still convey the full WE ARE LEINSTER message- disadvantage would be added weight and possible loss of flexibility depending on the paint).
Will this work?
Thanks a million!
3 Responses
Jr
01 Jun 2010
kay
01 Jun 2010
I’d probably use Jacquard Neopaque paints if you want to paint both sides — but that’s not something I’ve done, so I’d suggest you try it.
Some more information about commonly available (at least in the US) fabric paints and methods:
http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2934964-AA.shtml
http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1847-AA.shtml?lnav=paints.html
http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1197041-AA.shtml?lnav=techniques.html
resists for helping keep a clean edge: http://www.dharmatrading.com/topnav/resists/
But in actuality, I’d applique the letters to your flag. Easier and faster for me.
☥♡☮
01 Jun 2010
if you are not using silk screen method, you could still try silk screen paints, and brush on,
http://www.artsupply.com/speedball/silkscreeninks.htm
create stencils out of bristol poster board, and paint by hand or draw light outlines and paint freehand, have material taught or held in place while painting,
place plastic sheet underneath, (note: if pattern is on one side then back doesn’t matter, but if paint seeps through to back side, and you want to show both sides as flag design, then pattern has to match front and back , this depends on material, the weave in polyester may allow you to paint front side without paint going through, if so, you may be ok,)
if you don’t use silk screen paint , then try acrylic craft paints , and apply sparingly, do suggest you test with spare patch of material before applying to actual flag,
http://www.plaidonline.com/apFA.asp#FA
http://www.artsupply.com/headerpages/acrylic_paints.htm
if pattern and text are basic without shading, could try spray paints, but depends on whether material allows bleeding around edges of stencil,
other option is to sew actual colored material on to flag back ground,
..
If I were you, I would put all the words on each flag. Independently they will look great. I would use a stencil and fabric paint. Fabric paint does dry flexible. I have made many banners and this works. The other way to go, which is pretty expensive is to get iron-on large letters. That works too. So, fabric paint is timeconsuming but cheap. Iron-on letters are fast and expensive.