Hey fellow crafters,
resin coloring has been one of your top three questions since I started tracking what you actually struggle with. Wrong colorant, wrong timing, wrong substrate — and the result in the mold looks nothing like what was in the cup. So here’s the guide that actually covers it properly:
How to Color Epoxy Resin: Complete Pigments & Dyes Guide (2026 Edition)
Resin coloring done right — colorant types, loading limits, layering techniques, and what tutorials skip
The short version:
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Colorant compatibility matters more than brand — some combinations with certain resin systems cure soft, shift hue, or separate entirely. The guide starts here because most tutorials don’t mention it exists as a problem
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The color in the cup is not the color in the piece — wet resin looks darker because the glossy liquid surface reflects more light. Once cured and sanded, it reads noticeably lighter. There’s a way to calibrate for this
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Loading limits are real — past around 5–6% by weight, you’re not getting more color, you’re interfering with the cure. Each colorant type has a different practical range
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The wood species is part of the color equation — the same resin color reads completely differently over ash vs walnut. If you’re not testing on the actual substrate, you’re not really testing
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Gel phase layering for 3D depth — a technique for creating depth with no visible layer lines on the cast sides. My favorite approach, and not something most guides cover
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Full FAQ at the end — why pigment sinks, why resin goes cloudy, how to get consistent color across multiple pours, and more
My take: I started with mica powders and never looked back — but the fundamentals around compatibility and testing apply regardless of which colorant you use. Get those right first. Everything else follows.
👉 Full guide: How to Color Epoxy Resin
Save with the Guild
A couple of deals from partners where you can save on colorants and materials for your next pour.
Eye Candy Pigments — Mica powders, pigment pastes, colorshift and specialty pigments for resin work. One of the most respected colorant brands in the maker community — wide color range, ships worldwide, and they offer sample sets so you can test colors before committing to full sizes.
Click the link or use code resincraftguild for 10% off your entire order.
Artline Resin — Tools, supplies, and colorants for resin and woodworking projects. Worth checking their colorant range alongside the other options here.
Click the link or use code ResinCraftGuild for 10% off your entire order.
Resiners — Resin, colorants, and casting supplies. Good range of liquid pigments and mica powders alongside their resin systems.
Click the link or use code ResinCraftGuild15 for 15% off your entire order.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend trusted products relevant to the topic.
Petr from Resin Craft Guild
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