Glass and china paints - explained!

What product should I use to paint on porcelain/china or glass? Do I need to bake or not? Can I mix colors or products together? Is this product oil, water, or solvent based?

In an attempt to help you select products that are adapted to your project needs, here are brief descriptions of some glass and china painting products.

Glass Stain (DecoArt) (click for more details)

• Target usage: Faux stained glass (glass, plexiglas, glazed ceramics, hard plastics).
• What is especially cool with this product is that you can use the bottle tip directly (no need to use your paintbrush).
• Soap and water or DecoMagic clean-up
• No baking

Vitrea 160 and Porcelaine 150 (Pébéo) (click for more details)

• Available in 35 brilliant colours in amazingly transparent shimmering or frosted finishes. Using Vitrea 160 for decorating glass, using felt-tip pens, relief paint or a brush, you can easily create unique and permanent works: after firing at 160ºC in a kitchen oven Vitrea 160 colours remain resistant to washing.
• Porcelaine 150 lets you redecorate all your household china in bright cheerful colours.
• Do not mix up with Vitrail paint
• If your project is not to your liking... simply wash it in lukewarm water and start all over again (but do so before to bake it in the oven).
• You can use both Vitrea and Porcelaine products on the same project. Simply remember to use the shortest baking time and the lowest temperature.
• In your projects, apply the paint but remember that food should not be in direct contact with the paint
• Clean your brushes with lukewarm water.
  

Gloss Enamel (Americana) (click for more details)

• Paints on almost any surface
• One advantage of this product is that you can paint opaque background on porcelain.
• You can also use your wood painting techniques with this product (but do not add water to your paint)
• In your projects, apply the paint but remember that food should not be in direct contact with the paint
• Clean your brushes with lukewarm water.

Vitrail (Pebeo) (click for more details)

• Usually used for transparent mediums, it also paints on almost any surface
• Do not mix up with Vitrea paint. Vitrail is a solvent based product (not water based)
• Clean your brushes with solvent.
• No baking. Simply let your project dry for 1-2 days.

Etchall etching creme (click for more details)

• Etchall® etching creme is a re-usable creme that produces a white, opaque, permanent, etched finish on glass, mirror, ceramic, porcelain, marble, or slate for decorative purposes in businesses, automobiles, and homes.
• Apply a self-adhesive stencil on the suface and protect any surface that should not be etched, then apply a thick coat of cream and let it work a few minutes (up to 15 minutes). Recuperate the cream and clean the surface with water.
• To totally etch a glass or cup, use the "liquid" version of the product for a more uniform etching
• You can also add a tip to the bottle for more subtle etching such as writing on glass.
• No baking necessary. Protective gloves recommended. Clean with water..
  

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