The mottled or distressed leather look is mostly a matter of technique. The trick is not so much how you apply Rub ‘n Restore® Color, but how you disperse it. You can also thin or strip some of your work, if needed. This video demonstrates.
Video contents:
- 00:21 – Choosing a print color
- 01:00 – Preparing your sponge
- 01:50 – Mixing a diluted glaze
- 02:16 – Spritz water for chaos and flow
- 02:50 – Dab and disperse the glaze
- 04:00 – Erasing (if necessary)
- 05:00 – Takeaway tips
- 05:17 – Other techniques for the adventurous!
- 05:54 – The next afternoon; the matching sofa
- 06:29 – Rethinking the print color
- 06:56 – Swiping-dispersing method
- 07:29 – The following weekend wrap-up
- 07:55 – Stripping some of my first experimental sections
- 09:35 – Leather can take a beating and still looks great!
Heidi beautifully demonstrates a sponge and rag technique at minute 3:26 here:
Some tips:
- Dilute the color with Clear Prep+Finish™ to make a more translucent glaze, especially for greater shade disparities (i.e. printing a dark brown over a light tan).
- Spritz the surface with a little water to allow the print color to flow and give you more working time.
- Use one sponge or other tool to apply; a second to disperse and blend. Leave some areas thin or even untouched.
- Disperse and blend the color before it dries to avoid any harsh lines or marks.
- Periodically step back and assess the appearance from afar to ensure you’re not overworking any area and getting too monochromatic (solid appearance).
- Come back with a dirty sponge (but not much glaze) for missed nooks and crannies.
- For a very defined print over the base color, use a paintbrush to apply Rub ‘n Restore® or the glaze to your sponge. This results in a cleaner, finer print. Saturating the sponge will lay the color on too heavily and therefore obscure more of the base color.
- For a burnished appearance, concentrate the color along seams, piping / welting, or tufted buttons, and blend outward.
- The color will erase more easily from non-absorbent, finished leathers. Try a rag with water or rubbing alcohol. You can also dry or wet sand with 500 grit sandpaper or a ScotchBrite® pad.
Brian Noisom says
I purchased some of your products 30th September 2017. #15036. Just now decided to get started. It’s been unopened. Does it have a shelf life? Can I still use it?
lesandre says
Here’s information about shelf-life. It is a bit old, the mineral pigments will have created a sludge at the bottom, but hopefully you still have your stir stick. Thoroughly stir it to re-grind the pigment, and it should work just fine.