Polymer clay is a versatile and popular medium used for anything from jewellery to home décor by all kinds of artists and hobbyists. The challenge, however, would be choosing from the many polymer clay brands available in the market. In this complete guide, I will give you the ins and out on the best polymer clay brands and what sets them apart from each other. Whether you are new to clay or have experience this guide will help you know what polymer clay will best serve you!
Polymer clay is a type of synthetic modelling clay based on the polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, compound combined with plasticisers and pigments. It remains pliable until baked in a home oven, at which point it cures into a strong, sturdy, permanent thing. Polymer clay is popular with artists, crafters and jewellery makers alike for its versatility, bright colours and ease of use.
Polymer clay brand selection considerations
Steadiness and Moldability: The clay needs to be easy to what and assume fragile subtleties well enough.
No breakage or chipping of the finished work.
Colour Range: The more colors, the more creative ground it leaves.
Texture: The texture of the clay affects its workability and the final appearance of the piece.
A superpopular brand of polymer clay, Sculpey, offers clay lines for every skill level.
Sculpey III: The best for a beginner, Sculpey III is malleable and very easy to work with. The product is also available in a variety of colours, which makes it great for basic projects and crafts.
Premo Sculpey — Many professional artists love this one as it gives some fantastic flexibility as well as strength. Ideal for working with intricate and detailed work, it is available in a wide spectrum of vivid hues from metallics to translucents.
Super Sculpey: This mainstream line is loved by sculptors for its firm consistency and ability to preserve fine detail. Super Sculpey UsesSuper Sculpey is primarily a sculpting and modeling clay.
2⇢ Fimo – Fimo is another leading brand of polymer clays | It has a range of products lines which cater to different requirements and skillsets.
Fimo Soft: Easy to condition and shape, great for beginners and bigger projects. It comes in several different colours.
Fimo Professional: This option is for more advanced users; Fimo Professional boasts a firmer texture and significantly greater durability. Good for detail work, and stays bright after baking.
Fimo Effect: This line offers creative and unique designs with effects, glitter, metallic and translucent clays.
It has a porcelain-like finish and has fantastic working properties.
Cernit Number One : These are the standard line of Cernit smooth finish and easy handling makes the ideal. It can use for different techniques and in these techniques. It is super versatile used for processes like caning and sculpting.
Cernit Metallic: This is a fun range of beautiful metallic colours.
Cernit Translucent — A favourite of mine for if you want to create some delicate and realistic effects, Cernit Translucent lets light through so this gives a soft, ethereal appearance.
Its high quality properties and superior performance have made Kato Polyclay the brand of choice for many professional artists.
Good for Making Tough and Durable Stuff: It is extra strong when baked, so Kato Polyclay works well in making tough items that need maximum durability, like jewellery.
Uniformity: Offers a consistent surface that picks up fine details well, and is advantageous for technical work.
Heat resistance– This clay is more heat resistant than others so you have less chances of getting over bake.
Another special feature of Pardo polymer clay is a very high transparency.
Pardo Translucent Art Clay. This clay is well known for its translucency, it creates glass like effects and holds amazing details.
Pardo Jewellery Clay This one is designed for jewellery, and available in bright colours, which are extremely strong once baked.
Monomer: The base mixtures that combine to form various ceramics.
There are many specialty polymer clays beyond the mainstream brands discussed above, each with their own unique properties for specific needs.
CosClay is a hybrid polymer clay that remains flexible after it’s fully baked, making it ideal for projects that need a bit of give, such as stop-motion animation figures and bendable sculptures.
Soufflé is a light polymer clay that has a suede finish. This property makes it highly particular, allowing it to be effortlessly molded and designed into ornate designs, or light-weight pieces of jewelry.
If you are not in the final shaping process with your polymer clay brands of choice, here are some tips to get the most out of them.
Conditioning: Thoroughly knead the clay until it is soft and flexible. This stops it from cracking during baking.”
Bake: Follow manufacturer guidelines regarding temperature and time for successful baking. Use an oven thermometer for proper temperatures.
Finishing: Sand and buff to achieve the desired smoothness on your baked pieces. A glossy and protective layer can be added using a finish glaze or varnish.
Storing: Keep unused clay in airtight containers; clay cannot be used if it has become brittle or dirty.
We also borrowed from an old glasswork technique that was adapted to polymer clay: millefiori. This technique involves blending colours of clay into striped canes which can then be sliced and applied to their projects to add intricate detail. This technique creates beautiful, detailed designs.
Mica shift technique is used to create a 3d effect in metallic or pearlescent clay, by orienting the mica particles. Bend and curve the surface of the clay and then slice it thin to reveal lovely, glimmering depth.
Mokume Gane is an ancient Japanese technique, molded into polymer clay. Basically, it involves piling up different colours of clay, and then manipulating that pile to add layered details that look like wooden grain or marble.
To preserve your polymer clay pieces if you plan to or need to take care of them, try these tips:
Cleaning: Wipe pieces gently with a soft, damp cloth. Organo Restore used: Do not include soft-core deadliest that can damage the surface.
Storage: Products must be stored non-radiant and in a dry, cool place to prevent fading.
Care: Be gentle with pieces to avoid scratches or breakage.
So when it comes to finding out the best polymer clay brands, you want to make sure to select the right one to get those high quality, durable and beautiful creations. Each type has unique benefits and favours different usage. You can select the best clay type for your plans depending on traits such as flexibility, strength, variety of colours and texture. Your amazing polymer clay art, when worked using advanced methods and correctly treated, can look even more stunning, feel great and last longer.
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