<p>Acrylic paints, or modified acrylic paints, are often used to color latex, but not for what you want to do.</p>
<p>Latex is a little finicky.  Many colorants will cause it to do unwanted things, like coagulate quickly into a sticky, gloppy mess, fail to dry properly, or change its characteristics.  There are colorants designed specifically for latex.  My understanding is that some of these are acrylic-based (basically a suspension of acrylic paint in latex with additives like ammonia to control coagulation).  Some people do add acrylic paint to latex, often diluting it with a little ammonia.</p>
<p>A big exception to acrylic paints is metallic paints, which is your objective.  Many of these cause the latex to coagulate.  You would need to test the specific paint.</p>
<p>As a general rule, it's usually easier to color latex with pigments than liquid colorants.  Also as a general rule, you don't want to adulterate the latex with too much of anything.  The latex is mostly water.  When it dries, there's much less volume of rubber.  So the colorant will represent a much bigger proportion of the rubber mixture, and have a big effect on its characteristics.  It usually isn't a good idea to add more than about 5% colorant.  Fortunately, it doesn't take much colorant.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-29T18:39:01.143Z
2021-05-29T18:39:01.143Z
fixer1234
<p>I have an issue similar to outlined in <a href="https://crafts.stackexchange.com/q/8471/11191">Can I mix acrylic paints into resin?</a></p>
<p>I have a bottle of natural liquid latex rubber, the kind that dries in the air. Can I add acrylic paint to make coats with colour, instead of the natural translucent with pale zombie tint?</p>
<p>How much should and can I use? Is there anything to know about the paint to decide if it can go in? I'm especially interested in dark steel, gunmetal and other metallic colors.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-28T12:39:47.217Z
I couldn't find a tag about working with liquid latex, and I can't create it yet. If you know or want to create one, please edit my question.
Mołot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-29T17:43:51.563Z
Just for clarification, is the question underlying your question specifically the compatibility of acrylic paint with latex (like you already have both and wonder if you can mix them), or you want to color latex and wonder if acrylic paint would be effective; more, what's the best colorant for latex, and acrylic paint is a suggestion)?  So would a good answer be whether and how to mix acrylic paint with latex, or what's the best way to color latex?
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-29T19:48:57.627Z
@fixer1234 only acrylics are readily available here, so they are my main interest
Mołot
<acrylic-paint><rubber>
Can I mix acrylic paint into liquid latex rubber?
Mołot
# Can I mix acrylic paint into liquid latex rubber?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-28)

I have an issue similar to outlined in [Can I mix acrylic paints into resin?](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/q/8471/11191)

I have a bottle of natural liquid latex rubber, the kind that dries in the air. Can I add acrylic paint to make coats with colour, instead of the natural translucent with pale zombie tint?

How much should and can I use? Is there anything to know about the paint to decide if it can go in? I'm especially interested in dark steel, gunmetal and other metallic colors.

**Tags:** acrylic-paint, rubber

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I couldn't find a tag about working with liquid latex, and I can't create it yet. If you know or want to create one, please edit my question.  
> **username_1**: Just for clarification, is the question underlying your question specifically the compatibility of acrylic paint with latex (like you already have both and wonder if you can mix them), or you want to color latex and wonder if acrylic paint would be effective; more, what's the best colorant for latex, and acrylic paint is a suggestion)?  So would a good answer be whether and how to mix acrylic paint with latex, or what's the best way to color latex?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 only acrylics are readily available here, so they are my main interest  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-05-29. Score: 2

Acrylic paints, or modified acrylic paints, are often used to color latex, but not for what you want to do.

Latex is a little finicky. Many colorants will cause it to do unwanted things, like coagulate quickly into a sticky, gloppy mess, fail to dry properly, or change its characteristics. There are colorants designed specifically for latex. My understanding is that some of these are acrylic-based (basically a suspension of acrylic paint in latex with additives like ammonia to control coagulation). Some people do add acrylic paint to latex, often diluting it with a little ammonia.

A big exception to acrylic paints is metallic paints, which is your objective. Many of these cause the latex to coagulate. You would need to test the specific paint.

As a general rule, it's usually easier to color latex with pigments than liquid colorants. Also as a general rule, you don't want to adulterate the latex with too much of anything. The latex is mostly water. When it dries, there's much less volume of rubber. So the colorant will represent a much bigger proportion of the rubber mixture, and have a big effect on its characteristics. It usually isn't a good idea to add more than about 5% colorant. Fortunately, it doesn't take much colorant.


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