News — custom backpack

Schools around the country are starting to transition from online learning back to in-person classes, making now the perfect time to get your custom back to school gear ready.

To show you how you can use Angelus paints to create a custom backpack, Suheel from @feelgoodthreads stopped by to create an easy-to-follow tutorial for painting a clean desert camo design.

Check out the tutorial below, and don't forget to watch the full video tutorial for a more detailed look into the design process.

Materials

Before getting started, you'll need to have the following materials on hand:

• Angelus Chocolate Paint
• Angelus Bone Paint
• Angelus Flat Black Paint
• Angelus 2-Soft
• Angelus Paint Brush Set
• Mixing Jars
• Water & Stain Repellent

Of course, you can change up the colors to fit your preferences. Once you have all your materials ready to go, it's time to get started.

Using 2-Soft

2-Soft is an absolute must when working with any canvas or soft fabric materials. When applied properly, it will help keep the fabric soft and flexible.

All you have to do is mix your paint and 2-Soft in a 1:1 ratio and shake well before using. After doing this, you can use the mixture the same way you would use regular paint.

Painting the Backpack

Once your 2-Soft mixture is ready, you can put down the first coat of your design.

Important Note: Heat-set the paint/2-Soft mixture using a heat gun at 300º F for 3 - 5 minutes to make sure it sets properly.

When painting your camo pattern, you might notice a faint outline around your paint -- this is the 2-Soft spreading and soaking into the fabric.

To cover this up and create a cleaner pattern, you can use your paint (without 2-Soft) to outline the camo design.

Make sure to let your base coat dry completely before applying any extra paint to prevent clumping and ensure the coat is even.

After finishing the main camo pattern, it's time to finish the design by painting the pebbles surrounding the camo.

For this design, Suheel is using Bone paint for the pebbles and Flat Black paint to outline them. To make sure the pebbles are clearly defined, you can leave out the 2-Soft in this step.

Finishing Touches

Once your paint is set and dry, it's important to apply some finishing touches to keep the paint clean and protected.

While Angelus paints are already water-proof, we recommend adding a layer of Water & Stain Repellent to provide an invisible protective coating that repels water and stains to keep shoes clean and dry. 

Make sure to check out our online store to grab the materials you need to recreate this backpack, and follow Angelus on Instagram to see more customs like this.