Frequently Asked Questions

What is Water Marbling?
Water Marbling is a fun, fulfilling, and beautiful
style of art that anyone can try. Water Marblingis sometimes referred to as “Hydro-dipping” aswell. There is really no difference between thetwo terms. Water Marling and Hydro-dipping
both describe the art of creating patterns on asurface of water and then transferring thosepatterns to another item by dipping, floating,or lightly dragging the object across thesurface.

What is the difference between Hydrodipping and Water Marbling?
In short, nothing. Both art forms use water
solutions and the art of creating designs andtransferring them to another object. Hydrodipping typically is done using chemical,
solvent-based paints such as spray paint, or
pre-printed films that activate in water.
Traditional Water Marbling uses water based
paint or inks. Water Marbling is an art form thathas been practiced for centuries. Hydrodipping is a more modern term.

Can I use regular acrylic paintto water marble?
Regular acrylic paints are too heavy to float on
the water and will sink. Some artists create
their own mixtures through experimentation tofind the right balance. DecoArt Water Marbling
Acrylics were created to be ready to use forwater marbling, with an ideal formula thatallows the paints to float on the surface of asize with clean edges. They are also designed
to be in balance and to spread at the samerate, so that one colordoesn't “dominate”
another.

2

Can you Water Marble in just regularwater?
In order to create water marbled art, water mustbe treated with a solution thickener that allows
paint to float on the surface. There are different
ways to do this, from materials made from
actual seaweed to methylcellulose. Whichever
method is used, the term for a water bath thathas been treated in order to create Water
Marbling Art is referred to as a size. Some
believe the term for size is derived from

What surfaces can I water marble?
Almost any porous, absorbent surface can bemarbled. Some examples are paper, natural
fibers such as cotton or silk, wood, MDF,
leather, unglazed ceramics, bisque porcelain,terracotta, cork, feathers, and almost anything
you can imagine!
Many non-porous and non-absorbent surfaces
can also be marbled. Simply treat the surface
with our Water Marbling Surface Prep before
marbling. We encourage you to experiment,
marble new things and see where yourcreativity takes you!

3

What paper can I use to water
marble? Does regular paper work?
Not just any regular paper can be used tocreate bold water marbling art. A paper musthave good wet strength (Meaning: to besuitable for marbling, it doesn't fall apart whenwetted.) The color of a paper as well as thematerial from which it is made and its thickness
will impact how well it marbles and how vibrantthe colors are. Some papers must be pretreated with alum or DecoArt Surface Prep toprevent the colors from bleeding and running.
It’s always a good idea to test your paper to see
if pre-treatment is needed.

What makes DecoArt Marbling Paper special?
Our Water Marbling paper is created with a bright white, smooth surface and special color-locking
technology perfect for capturing the vibrant colors from our Water Marbling acrylics. The composition,color, and thickness of our Marbling Papers help ensure you get the best print you can every time. No
special preparation is required.

Can colors be mixed?
Our Water Marbling Acrylics can be mixed together to create new colors. There are endless color
varieties to be created.

How long does it take marbled paper
to dry?
How long marbled paper takes to dry depends
on several factors. Rinsing off the size canpromote faster drying times, as can hanging up
the piece rather than letting it lay flat to dry. The
ambient humidity is also a factor. Typicallythough, papers will dry in 1- 2 hours. If desired,a hair dryer can be used to speed drying.

4How do I prepare the water for water-marbling?
DecoArt offers the Magic Medium product touse for creating the water marbling size. Itworks as a thickening agent to give water
enough viscosity to allow paint to float on thewater’s surface and to have clean margins oredges that are smooth and do not mix into theother colors. Without size, the paints would be
denser than the water and would sink. To makesize for marbling, mix measured Magic Medium
powder with measured hot water (hot water
helps the powder chunks to dissolve faster) andmix thoroughly with a whisk in a clean containeror Water Marbling Tray that will fit your desired
amount of size. Once all the clumps havedissolved, the size is ready to marble. Do notmarble until the mixture is at room temperature.
The powder clumps create a clear gel that canaccumulate on the sides or in the bottom of thetray, so give the size a stir just before marbling
to make sure it is evenly mixed. (For specificmeasurements, follow the instructions included
on the label of Magic Medium jar.)

5How do I prepare my surface for Water Marbling?
✦ Paper
Our DecoArt Marbling Paper does not need any
preparation. A special color locking technology
makes it ready to marble straight from thepackage; and the bright white, smooth surface
gives beautiful and vibrant results.
With other papers, results will vary depending
upon the paper type and surface. If the color
runs or the edges of designs are fuzzy, pretreat the paper with our Marbling Surface Prepand try again.
✦ Fabric
To remove any fabric treatments, pre-washing
fabrics without fabric softener in the hottest
water allowed by the fabric care instructions isalways recommended. Preparing the fabric with
our Water Marbling Surface Prep will promotecolor fastness and provide brighter, morevibrant prints. After marbling, rinse your fabric
immediately in a plain water bath to gently
remove any unabsorbed paint. Once dry, if thefabric allows, set with a hot, no steam iron.
Otherwise you should wait 10-14 days before
washing your fabric. You can care for your item
according to the recommended care for thatparticular fabric. If machine washing is allowed
you may do so, but the color will soften andlighten over time just like your jeans or apigment dyed t-shirt. If you prefer to keep themostvibrantcolor,
handwashingisrecommended.

6

How do I prepare my surface for Water Marbling?
✦ Leather
Leather may or may not need pre-treatment.
For best results, testing a small piece prior tomarbling is recommended. To prep with ourWater Marbling Surface Prep,simply dissolve
the Surface Prep in hot water according toinstructions, then sponge the solution onto thesurface of the leather. Allow the leather to drycompletely before marbling. Do not rinse after
marbling and lie flat to dry. Marbled leathers
can be finished in the ways you would normallytreat dyed leather.
✦ WoodWood is a fun surface that can be marbled
easily. Smooth, sanded surfaces show off thepatterns best. Raw, clean wood will absorb themarbling color and stain the wood in thepattern of your design. Wood can also be basecoated with a flat paint (Such as our Chalky
Gesso or Chalky Finish paint) to disguise thewood grain and allow brighter colors to showon the surface. If desired, when completely dry,marbled wood can be sealed with a varnish ofyour choice.
✦ Glass
Glass items intended for decorative use can be pretreated with our Water Marbling Surface Prep. Simply
dissolve the Surface Prep in hot water according to instructions, then spray in a fine mist on the glass
object. Keep the mist light to avoid allowing large beads to form. Those beads may show in your final
print. Once dry, apply a second coat and allow that to dry fully. You may apply a 3rd coat if desired.
Once completely dry, you may marble as desired. Do not rinse your object after marbling. Do not touch
the surface until dry. For a more durable surface, spray varnish or other sealers can be applied to themarbled object.
We do not recommend marbling surfaces that will touch food or drink. If marbling an object such as acup or water tumbler, keep the areas touched by water or your mouth free of paint, or seal it with a foodsafe varnish

7What is the DecoArt Cleaning Paper?
The DecoArt Cleaning Paper is used to clean
the surface of the water marbling bathbetween prints. Floating the cleaning paper
onto the water's surface and dragging it
across will absorb any floating colors left on
the surface of the tray to prepare for your next
design.

How do I know if a fabric can be marbled?
The best way to know is to do a spot test on a small piece first. Natural fibers like silk or cotton work
very well. If the fabric resists marbling or the marbling design bleeds, try treating the fabric withDecoArt Surface Prep before marbling.

How to Use Water Marbling Surface Prep
✦ Paper or 3D Objects
Dissolve Marbling Surface Prep into hot waterat a ratio of 1.5 teaspoons of Surface Prep to 2cups of water. Lightly sponge on or use a finemist sprayer to apply to surfaces. If using a mist
on a non-porous surface, keep the mist light toavoid allowing large beads to form. Thosebeads may show in your final print. Once dry,
apply a second coat and allow that to dry fully.
Repeat if necessary to be sure the surface isevenly covered. Once completely dry, you may
marble your object as desired. It is
recommended to marble within 3 days. Do notrinse your object after marbling. Do not touch
the surface until dry. For a more durable
surface, spray varnish or other sealers can beapplied once the marbled object is completelydry.

8

How to Use Water Marbling Surface Prep
✦ Fabric
Pre-wash fabrics without softener. Drycompletely. Iron if needed. (Heavy creases canprevent consistent absorption in the nextsteps). In a container that allows fabric to befully submerged and float freely (do not crowd)
combine hot water and Marbling Surface Prep.
There are two methods for calculating theamount of powder and water to use. Preparedfabric can be stored in an airtight container andshould be marbled within 2-3 months of prep.

For the volume method: Combine at a ratio of 1.5 teaspoons of surface prep to 4 cups of water. Make
enough solution to allow your fabric to float freely.For larger quantities of Marbling Surface Prep, theratio is 2 tablespoons per gallon. Stir the powder into the water until completely dissolved. Submerge
the fabric into the solution, releasing any trapped air bubbles and making sure the fabric is completely
covered with the solution. Leave the fabric to soak for 20 minutes. Do not wring. Hang to drip dry.
Marble when dry, then rinse gently in a clean water bath. Do not wring. Hang to dry. Iron with no steam.
For the weight method: Weigh your dry fabric using a bakers scale and then multiply the weight by 0.15.
(Weight of dry fabric x 0.15 = Weight of surface prep powder)
Use the resulting number as the weight measure for your surface prep powder. You do not need tomeasure the water for this method, but be sure that you add enough water to your container to allow
your fabric to float freely without crowding.Stir the powder into the water until completely dissolved.
Place fabric into solution, releasing any trapped air bubbles and making sure the fabric is completely
covered with the solution. Leave the fabric to soak for 60 minutes, stirring gently every 15 minutes. Donot wring. Hang to drip dry. Marble when dry, then rinse gently in a clean water bath. Do not wring.
Hang to dry. Iron with no steam.

9

How do I care for my marbled fabric?
Pre-wash fabrics without softener. Dry completely. Iron if needed. (Heavy creases can prevent
consistent absorption in the next steps). In a container that allows fabric to be fully submerged and float
freely (do not crowd) combine hot water and Marbling Surface Prep. There are two methods forcalculating the amount of powder and water to use. Prepared fabric can be stored in an airtightcontainer and should be marbled within 2-3 months of prep.

Can I marble canvas?
Yes, canvas objects such as canvas fabric,sneakers, or tote bags can all be marbled. It is
recommended to first wash them to remove
any factory coatings and then to pre-treat with
our Water Marbling Surface Prep before
marbling according to the recommended
instructions.
Since they are not absorbent, surfaces such as
stretched canvas and canvas boards will likely
need to be pre-treated.

Can I marble T-shirts, Socks, Hats...?

Can I marble paper mache?

Yes, although it is recommended to treat themfirst with our Water Marbling Surface Prep. Toensure a clear print, items like socks and teesshould be stretched over a rigid support tocreate a flat surface. Hats can be stuffed withpaper to allow the best contact with themarbling surface. Natural fibers such as cotton
or silk will work best when marbling fabric.

Marbling paper mache works best if thesurface is first base coated with a matte paintlike our Chalky Gesso or Chalky Finish paint.
Marbling directly on brown paper macheworks as well, but the colors will not be as
vibrant and the print won’t be as clear as itwould be on white paper.

Can I marble glass or metal?
Glass or metal items intended for decorative use can be marbled if they are pretreated with our Water
Marbling Surface Prep. Simply dissolve the Surface Prep in hot water according to instructions, thenspray in a fine mist on the object using 2-3 light coats. Allow to dry between coats. Once dry, marble
as desired.
We do not recommend marbling surfaces that will touch food or drink. If marbling an object such as acup or water tumbler, keep the areas touched by water or your mouth paint-free, or seal them with afood-safe sealer.
10

Do I need to rinse my marbled object in a second bath of plain water aftermarbling?
It depends on the surface being marbled. When marbling with our Marbling Paper or another paper
treated with our Surface Prep, it's recommended to rinse every print to remove any unabsorbed paintand to rinse away the size. This ensures crisp and clear colors, and an even finish.
Fabrics that you treated with our Surface Prep should also be rinsed in order to remove excess paintand keep the fabric soft.
Hard surfaces like wood, bisque, terracotta, glass, or even canvas do not need to be rinsed.
Since there are so many surfaces that can be marbled, we recommend inconspicuous testing todiscover what works best for you and your project.

How can I marble larger items?
How large an item you can marble is determined by the size and depth of your water marbling bath.
Any waterproof container can be used.

If marbling a flat item on one side only, the bath does not need to be very deep, but the surface area
does need to be bigger than the item you are marbling - enough for the entire surface to come incontact with the surface of the bath with a little additional room to allow for positioning. Paper andfabric can be marbled in a very shallow bath (approximately 1" deep). It is helpful to have a deeper
bath for rigid items, like wood, so that the item can be eased onto the surface at an angle to avoid
trapping air and ruining the print.
Items like hats and shoes can be marbled in plastic totes deep enough to fully submerge the item.
Three dimensional holiday ornaments or other small objects can be marbled in a bowl. It works best if
the diameter of the bowl is twice the size of the diameter of your ornament, and it is deep enough tofully submerge the ornament.
Be sure to allow enough room in your container for the water displaced by submerged items to not
overflow off the sides.
11How do I clean the marbling pool between prints/dips?
Lightly skim the water’s surface with strips ofour Water Marbling Cleaning Paper until theexcess paint is removed. Repeat until thepaper comes off clean.
If you see drops of paint that have fallen
through the surface to the bottom of the tray,
don’t worry! It will not affect your next print,
only the surface needs to be clean.

​Can I reuse the ​size/water for another marbling session? How long will it last?
Yes, you can reuse it. To save and reuse your size, after your last project is marbled, clean all the paintfrom the surface. Then cover your water marbling tray with plastic wrap (or a plastic trash bag if it is alarger container). When you are ready to marble again, skim the surface with the cleaning paper tobreak the surface tension, and then continue marbling.
You can also clean all the paint from the surface and transfer the size solution to a separate, liddedcontainer. Be sure the container is clean and has no soapy or oily residue, as soap will interfere with themarbling process.
You may notice some paint has settled in the bottom of your tray. Try not to transfer that to yourcontainer, but if a little ends up in the saved size, do not be concerned.
When you are ready to marble again, pour the saved size back into your marbling tray slowly tominimize air bubbles. You may want to let the size "rest" for a few minutes to allow bubbles to come tothe surface. Then skim the surface with cleaning paper to break the surface tension and pop any
bubbles, and continue marbling.
When made with tap water, the marbling pool can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days.
When made with distilled water, the size can last for weeks.
You will know the size needs to be replaced when the paint no longer spreads well, or if you notice theedges of the stones (drops of paint) become ragged.

What is special about the DecoArt water marbling tray?
The Water Marbling Tray is lightweight and a good size for most substrates you would wish to marble.

12

Why don’t you offer more colors?
Water Marbling is a new art program from DecoArt, and we selected the colors to start with that we felt
would be the most useful. Colors can be blended to create more colors. We also selected using thehighest quality of pigments available in a very specific, lightweight formula.

Why are there no brown, pastels, or metallic colors?
We are exploring more colors to add to our water marbling collection and hope to offer more options inthe future.

Can I add a varnish on top of something marbled?
You may add varnish to water marbled items. Be sure to use a varnish that is appropriate for the surface
you have marbled. DecoArt DuraClear varnishes are an excellent option for paper or soft surfaces.
DecoArt TripleThick gloss glaze is an excellent option for hard surfaces.
You must wait until the marbled ink is fully cured on the surface before adding any sort of topcoatvarnish. We recommend waiting a full 48 hours after marbling.

Where can I learn more about water marbling?
Visit our Water Marbling Glossary, or our YouTube Channel series, to learn more about common terms,
tools, and techniques used in this wonderful art form.

DecoArt Since 1985
49 Cotton Avenue ∙ Stanford, KY ∙ 40484 ∙ United States13