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Fabric paint versus dye for a cheap Spider-Verse Miles Morales suit - what's your pick?

I tried using $3 fabric paint from Michaels on an old hoodie for a Miles Morales cosplay last month and the paint cracked after one wear, looked terrible. My buddy swears by RIT dye for the same look but that can run you $8 a bottle and needs hot water and salt. Has anyone else dealt with paint cracking on stretchy fabrics, or is dye the way to go for like under $20?

2 comments

2 Comments

lunawilson18h ago

Oh man, the cracking paint struggle is real, it's like your hoodie is shedding its skin or something. I did the same thing with a $2.50 bottle from Walmart and ended up looking like a spider-themed reptile (not a good look, trust me). Heat-setting with an iron does help a bit but honestly with stretchy fabrics it's a gamble, the paint just doesn't want to flex with you when you're doing those dramatic superhero poses. Dye sounds like the sensible adult choice but then you're stuck with a sink full of red water and your roommate giving you the side-eye. At this point I'd say just go full chaos mode and use sharpies, at least when it fades you can say it's "artistic wear" or whatever.

victor_butler5021h ago

Have you tried heat-setting the fabric paint with an iron after it dries? I think the cracking usually happens when people skip that step with stretchy materials. Dye gives a cleaner look for spandex-type fabrics but you're right about the extra cost and hassle with mixing. For hoodies specifically, I'd stick with paint but go with a brand like Tulip or Jacquard that flexes better than the cheap stuff. What kind of base fabric are you working with?