Depending on the materials you're working with, you'll have to use different methods and materials to ensure your custom sneaker design lasts as long as possible without chipping, cracking, or peeling.
To demonstrate how to dye shoe shoes, plastic, and paint mesh, Jake from @visionarykickz created a custom Air Max 720 tutorial. Follow along to learn the proper way to paint soft materials and customize translucent soles.
Customizing Air Max 720 with Angelus Paints & Dyes
To get started, you'll just need a few basic materials:
- Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint
- Angelus Leather Dye
- Angelus Sole Bright
- Angelus Leather Preparer and Deglazer
- Angelus Paint Brush Set
- Angelus 2-Soft
- Angelus 2-Hard
- Airbrush
- Masking Tape
- Heat gun
Once you have your materials, follow these steps to paint mesh, dye shoe soles, and customize your sneakers like a pro.
1. Prep
Proper preparation is the key to a long-lasting custom sneaker design. Whether you're painting rubber soles, dyeing translucent soles, or painting mesh, prepping ensures the paint adheres correctly and won’t wear off easily.
First, use Angelus Preparer & Deglazer and a cotton pad to wipe down and prep the midsole on the Air Max 720s. Since the upper is made of mesh, you don't need to use this to remove the factory finish as you normally would with leather shoes.
Then, use masking tape to tape off the areas of the shoe that you don't want to paint in the next step. This includes the translucent soles and the hard overlays on the upper.
2. Painting Mesh
After prepping the shoe, you can start painting the mesh upper. For these customs, Jake used Hot Pink and Light Blue paint for a cotton candy colorway.
Since we're painting mesh, which is a soft, porous material, you need to use Angelus 2-Soft to ensure the paint adheres and remains flexible. Use a 1:1 ratio of paint to 2-Soft to prevent the fabric from hardening after the paint sets.
Once the paint is prepared, use an airbrush to carefully apply several thin layers of paint, making sure to let each layer dry before adding another. Use a heat gun at 300 degrees for three to five minutes to set the paint.
3. Dyeing Soles
After you finish painting the upper, you can remove the masking tape to dye the soles. For translucent soles, we recommend a 1:1 ratio of Angelus Dye to Angelus Sole Bright. For these customs, the artist used Light Blue and Rose Dye.
Use a paintbrush to apply light and even coats, allowing each coat to fully dry. Be careful not to oversaturate the brush so the dye doesn't bleed onto other areas of the shoe.
Allow the dye to fully dry, then use a cloth to wipe down the soles with alcohol or warm water and soap to remove excess dye. You may need to repeat this process a couple of times to get full coverage.
If you’re wondering how to dye black shoe soles, the same technique applies—just use black dye instead.
4. Painting Plastic
To finish the customs, Jake used Flat White paint to paint the plastic Nike logos on the shoe's midsection.
Whereas 2-Soft helps paint adhere to soft fabrics, 2-Hard helps paints adhere to hard materials like plastic. Mix 2-Hard with your acrylic paint to ensure a strong, long-lasting finish. This ensures durability when painting shoe soles.
Now that you know how to paint shoe soles, paint mesh, and work with different materials, you’re ready to create your own custom sneakers!
FAQ
1. How to dye sneaker soles?
To dye sneaker soles, mix Angelus Leather Dye with Angelus Sole Bright in a 1:1 ratio for the best results, especially on translucent soles. Use a paintbrush to apply thin coats, let each layer dry, and wipe off excess dye with a cloth.
2. Can you dye shoe rubber?
Yes, you can dye rubber soles using Angelus Leather Dye, but prep is crucial. Clean the soles thoroughly with Angelus Preparer & Deglazer, apply thin coats of dye, and let them dry completely to ensure long-lasting color.
More Custom Tutorials
If you want to see more custom tutorials like this one, make sure to subscribe to the Angelus YouTube channel to learn tips and techniques from more experienced sneaker artists on painting shoe soles and dying shoe soles.
Also, make sure to follow Angelus on Instagram and check out our online store to grab the materials you need to start painting shoe soles and recreate these custom 720s!