Fabric Painting Cheat Sheet 2026
The 30 highest-yield Fabric Painting facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.
- What is the primary advantage of using a sponge applicator in fabric painting? → It creates soft, blended textures and gradients
- For a discharge-dyeing technique on a dark cotton, what is the artist actually doing? → Removing color to create lighter designs
- In fabric painting, adding white paint to a color creates what? → A tint
- Which technique floats paints on a liquid surface and transfers the swirled pattern to fabric? → Marbling
- When painting on dark fabric, which color mixing strategy is most effective? → Using light-colored opaque paints
- What is the recommended practice for photographing finished fabric art for portfolio or sale use? → Photograph in diffused natural light or with softbox lighting to show true colors
- What is screen printing on fabric? → Pushing ink through a mesh screen with a stencil to transfer designs onto fabric
- In marbling fabric with size and paints, what does the carrageenan or methylcellulose bath provide? → A thickened surface that suspends floating paints
- Which three colors are considered primary colors in traditional color theory? → Red, Yellow, Blue
- What is varnishing in the context of finishing fabric art meant for display? → Applying a liquid finish to protect the surface and enhance color vibrancy
- When creating a resist with flour paste instead of wax, what characteristic defines the final look? → Fine crackle lines where the dried paste cracks
- After heat-setting a painted garment, how long should you typically wait before washing it? → At least 24 to 72 hours to fully cure
- What should you do with brushes immediately after using acrylic fabric paint? → Rinse them thoroughly with water before the paint dries
- How long should you typically let fabric paint air-dry before heat setting? → At least 24 hours
- Why is a plastic sheet or wax paper commonly placed under fabric during painting? → To prevent paint from bleeding through and sticking to the work surface
- What is fabric gesso used for in fabric painting? → Priming fabric to create a stiffer, more paint-receptive surface
- Which fabric type generally requires the least preparation and holds paint well? → Natural cotton
- Why is natural-fiber fabric generally preferred over synthetics for fabric painting? → It absorbs water-based paints better and holds color more permanently
- To get an even background color across a large fabric panel, which tool works best? → A foam roller or sponge
- In batik, what substance is used as the resist before dyeing? → Wax
- What is the primary design purpose of using overlapping shapes in a fabric painting composition? → To create the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality
- What household item can add a splatter-paint effect to fabric? → An old toothbrush flicked with paint
- What happens when you apply fabric paint to a fabric with a waterproof coating? → The paint beads up and does not adhere properly
- What is the most common method for heat-setting acrylic fabric paint on cotton? → Ironing the painted area from the reverse side after drying
- Why is good ventilation important when using fabric spray paints or solvents? → To avoid inhaling fumes
- Which is the best drying environment for freshly painted fabric? → A flat, dust-free area with good airflow
- In design, 'proximity' refers to placing related elements close together for what purpose? → To suggest they are related or belong to the same group
- What is the purpose of a light box when preparing fabric for painting? → To illuminate a design beneath the fabric for accurate tracing
- Before painting, prewashing new fabric is recommended mainly to: → Shrink and remove sizing so paint adheres better
- Which secondary color is produced by mixing blue and yellow fabric paint? → Green
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