I recently started following an artist on instagram named Jen Fox. I can't remember what winding road led me to her feed, but it was filled with pretty things, so I clicked "follow." She posts a lot of stuff about this product called deColourant.
After seeing so many beautiful things made with deColourant, I knew I had to get some to try! (And I put her book, Transfer Embellish Stitch on my wish list.)
I gave it a try. Watch the video to hear my reaction to the magical process!
What is this witchcraft?!
Let me break it down for you:
- deColourant, also called discharge paste is a chemical.
- It has a strong and unpleasant smell, in my opinion.
- The chemical removes color from natural fibers when heated — especially with moist heat (i.e. iron on the cotton setting with steam).
- It's not bleach. It's not damaging to the fabric the way that bleach is. You can read an article about the comparison here.
- You can heat a little to remove just a little color. Or you can heat a lot to remove most of the color.
- Similarly: You can apply it thickly or thinly for different results.
- The instructions say to let the paste dry before you iron. In my impatient experience, this is more to keep your iron from getting dirtied than for any kind of chemical reaction issues.
- There are "colors" of deColourant which both add a new color while stripping away the old color — this is an easy way to print on black fabric.
- It is more like a gel in consistency than a paint.
- Because it removes the color, the back of the fabric shows the pattern as clearly as the front:
- Nothing happens until you heat it. This means that if you get it on your clothes, you can simply wash them and there's no problem. Or if you don't like what you did, just wash the fabric before heating it.
- Once you heat it, the change is permanent.
- That said, you need to wash the fabric once you've removed the amount of color that you want to. Otherwise, every time the fabric is heated, more color will be removed.
- Safety Note!! Yesterday I posted a quick tutorial video on using a freezer paper stencil with deColourant and surface design expert Jane Dunnewold sent me the following note (quoted with her permission):
Hey Julie,
Saw your Twitter on this product. Be sure to do the research. The active ingredient- Ronglit- can induce an allergy. That’s what happened with me. I have upper respiratory issues and never had them before the use of this product back when it was called “discharge paste.”I’m sorry there isn’t enough care/effort to encourage users to protect themselves with a respirator. The scent they add to mask the odd odor is problematic. Should NEVER be used with children, for example. You are an icon, and with that status, I hope, comes a responsibility. Please let your audience know that while the results are really alluring, (and they are) caution is expedient. It’s a good product but just needs some safety guidelines attached to its use.Jane
- I did a bit of internet research and found this "safety" information sheet on the Dharma Trading website.
- Also, here is some information (FAQs) from the Jacquard website (product manufacturer).
Directly to fabric with a paintbrush:
You can see that more color was removed in the areas where the deColourant was applied more thickly.
Through a stencil with a cosmetic sponge:
Through a stencil with the spray version of deColourant:
My experience is that misting is such a fine/thin layer that very little color is removed, even with a great deal of heating.
With an Art Foamie:
With a rubber stamp:
Using a freezer paper stencil:
Through a Thermofax screen:
I'm super excited about the possibilities! I want to buy some of the deColourant with color in it now and see how that goes!
Have you tried deColourant? What are your thoughts on it?
Ooh so excited to try this! Thanks for including the caution info – I will be extra careful, hoping it’s not bad., believe it or not, just smell of steam from an iron irritates my system.
Ooh so excited to try this! Thanks for including the caution info – I will be extra careful, hoping it’s not bad., believe it or not, just smell of steam from an iron irritates my system.
Ooh so excited to try this! Thanks for including the caution info – I will be extra careful, hoping it’s not bad., believe it or not, just smell of steam from an iron irritates my system.
Ooh so excited to try this! Thanks for including the caution info – I will be extra careful, hoping it’s not bad., believe it or not, just smell of steam from an iron irritates my system.
Ooh so excited to try this! Thanks for including the caution info – I will be extra careful, hoping it’s not bad., believe it or not, just smell of steam from an iron irritates my system.
Ooh so excited to try this! Thanks for including the caution info – I will be extra careful, hoping it’s not bad., believe it or not, just smell of steam from an iron irritates my system.
Wild! I even like the mild spray for a color variation.
Wild! I even like the mild spray for a color variation.
Wild! I even like the mild spray for a color variation.
Wild! I even like the mild spray for a color variation.
Wild! I even like the mild spray for a color variation.
Wild! I even like the mild spray for a color variation.
Very cool!
Very cool!
Very cool!
Very cool!
Very cool!
Very cool!
I have used this back when it was called discharge paste. I used it on black silk and organza. It was a class taught by Northern California artist, Susan Stover. We used the discharged fabric in our encaustic painting. We could paint with the paste as you did or we used a more batik like process where we painted the black fabric with wax. To hold the black color and used the paste around the unwaxed fabric. It was great fun and the resultant fabric was fantastic to bury in encaustic wax. I know your not a huge fan of encaustic but this process was great fun. It makes me think that I need to get my waxy goodness out and play sometime soon. My house is getting near to live in status after a long renovation. Looking forward to having art supplies and space to work again!!!
I have used this back when it was called discharge paste. I used it on black silk and organza. It was a class taught by Northern California artist, Susan Stover. We used the discharged fabric in our encaustic painting. We could paint with the paste as you did or we used a more batik like process where we painted the black fabric with wax. To hold the black color and used the paste around the unwaxed fabric. It was great fun and the resultant fabric was fantastic to bury in encaustic wax. I know your not a huge fan of encaustic but this process was great fun. It makes me think that I need to get my waxy goodness out and play sometime soon. My house is getting near to live in status after a long renovation. Looking forward to having art supplies and space to work again!!!
I have used this back when it was called discharge paste. I used it on black silk and organza. It was a class taught by Northern California artist, Susan Stover. We used the discharged fabric in our encaustic painting. We could paint with the paste as you did or we used a more batik like process where we painted the black fabric with wax. To hold the black color and used the paste around the unwaxed fabric. It was great fun and the resultant fabric was fantastic to bury in encaustic wax. I know your not a huge fan of encaustic but this process was great fun. It makes me think that I need to get my waxy goodness out and play sometime soon. My house is getting near to live in status after a long renovation. Looking forward to having art supplies and space to work again!!!
I have used this back when it was called discharge paste. I used it on black silk and organza. It was a class taught by Northern California artist, Susan Stover. We used the discharged fabric in our encaustic painting. We could paint with the paste as you did or we used a more batik like process where we painted the black fabric with wax. To hold the black color and used the paste around the unwaxed fabric. It was great fun and the resultant fabric was fantastic to bury in encaustic wax. I know your not a huge fan of encaustic but this process was great fun. It makes me think that I need to get my waxy goodness out and play sometime soon. My house is getting near to live in status after a long renovation. Looking forward to having art supplies and space to work again!!!
I have used this back when it was called discharge paste. I used it on black silk and organza. It was a class taught by Northern California artist, Susan Stover. We used the discharged fabric in our encaustic painting. We could paint with the paste as you did or we used a more batik like process where we painted the black fabric with wax. To hold the black color and used the paste around the unwaxed fabric. It was great fun and the resultant fabric was fantastic to bury in encaustic wax. I know your not a huge fan of encaustic but this process was great fun. It makes me think that I need to get my waxy goodness out and play sometime soon. My house is getting near to live in status after a long renovation. Looking forward to having art supplies and space to work again!!!
I have used this back when it was called discharge paste. I used it on black silk and organza. It was a class taught by Northern California artist, Susan Stover. We used the discharged fabric in our encaustic painting. We could paint with the paste as you did or we used a more batik like process where we painted the black fabric with wax. To hold the black color and used the paste around the unwaxed fabric. It was great fun and the resultant fabric was fantastic to bury in encaustic wax. I know your not a huge fan of encaustic but this process was great fun. It makes me think that I need to get my waxy goodness out and play sometime soon. My house is getting near to live in status after a long renovation. Looking forward to having art supplies and space to work again!!!
I want to try it, too! The caution is welcomed–many times we just dive in, and don’t think about our safety! That happened to me with Pearl-x–I had demos and classes back to back for two weeks, didn’t wear a mask when prepping (can’t, when teaching or demoing, so have to be SUPER careful) and ended up flat on my back with a packed sinus for eight weeks–not fun. Didn’t want to eat, couldn’t function AT ALL–just lay in bed listening to the radio; let me tell you, 8 weeks is a looooong time.Needless to say, I am super careful now, and speak up whenever I am at a demo/class where fine powders are used. Extra caution should always be used if the product has an odor, masked or not. Best not to take chances,
I want to try it, too! The caution is welcomed–many times we just dive in, and don’t think about our safety! That happened to me with Pearl-x–I had demos and classes back to back for two weeks, didn’t wear a mask when prepping (can’t, when teaching or demoing, so have to be SUPER careful) and ended up flat on my back with a packed sinus for eight weeks–not fun. Didn’t want to eat, couldn’t function AT ALL–just lay in bed listening to the radio; let me tell you, 8 weeks is a looooong time.Needless to say, I am super careful now, and speak up whenever I am at a demo/class where fine powders are used. Extra caution should always be used if the product has an odor, masked or not. Best not to take chances,
I want to try it, too! The caution is welcomed–many times we just dive in, and don’t think about our safety! That happened to me with Pearl-x–I had demos and classes back to back for two weeks, didn’t wear a mask when prepping (can’t, when teaching or demoing, so have to be SUPER careful) and ended up flat on my back with a packed sinus for eight weeks–not fun. Didn’t want to eat, couldn’t function AT ALL–just lay in bed listening to the radio; let me tell you, 8 weeks is a looooong time.Needless to say, I am super careful now, and speak up whenever I am at a demo/class where fine powders are used. Extra caution should always be used if the product has an odor, masked or not. Best not to take chances,
I want to try it, too! The caution is welcomed–many times we just dive in, and don’t think about our safety! That happened to me with Pearl-x–I had demos and classes back to back for two weeks, didn’t wear a mask when prepping (can’t, when teaching or demoing, so have to be SUPER careful) and ended up flat on my back with a packed sinus for eight weeks–not fun. Didn’t want to eat, couldn’t function AT ALL–just lay in bed listening to the radio; let me tell you, 8 weeks is a looooong time.Needless to say, I am super careful now, and speak up whenever I am at a demo/class where fine powders are used. Extra caution should always be used if the product has an odor, masked or not. Best not to take chances,
I want to try it, too! The caution is welcomed–many times we just dive in, and don’t think about our safety! That happened to me with Pearl-x–I had demos and classes back to back for two weeks, didn’t wear a mask when prepping (can’t, when teaching or demoing, so have to be SUPER careful) and ended up flat on my back with a packed sinus for eight weeks–not fun. Didn’t want to eat, couldn’t function AT ALL–just lay in bed listening to the radio; let me tell you, 8 weeks is a looooong time.Needless to say, I am super careful now, and speak up whenever I am at a demo/class where fine powders are used. Extra caution should always be used if the product has an odor, masked or not. Best not to take chances,
I want to try it, too! The caution is welcomed–many times we just dive in, and don’t think about our safety! That happened to me with Pearl-x–I had demos and classes back to back for two weeks, didn’t wear a mask when prepping (can’t, when teaching or demoing, so have to be SUPER careful) and ended up flat on my back with a packed sinus for eight weeks–not fun. Didn’t want to eat, couldn’t function AT ALL–just lay in bed listening to the radio; let me tell you, 8 weeks is a looooong time.Needless to say, I am super careful now, and speak up whenever I am at a demo/class where fine powders are used. Extra caution should always be used if the product has an odor, masked or not. Best not to take chances,
Enjoyed your tutorial but got a little skeptical about fumes when i saw the heat application. As mixed media artists we use so many cool materials and techniques but because its a craft safety isn’t always addressed. I appreciate you adding this to your post.
Enjoyed your tutorial but got a little skeptical about fumes when i saw the heat application. As mixed media artists we use so many cool materials and techniques but because its a craft safety isn’t always addressed. I appreciate you adding this to your post.
Enjoyed your tutorial but got a little skeptical about fumes when i saw the heat application. As mixed media artists we use so many cool materials and techniques but because its a craft safety isn’t always addressed. I appreciate you adding this to your post.
Enjoyed your tutorial but got a little skeptical about fumes when i saw the heat application. As mixed media artists we use so many cool materials and techniques but because its a craft safety isn’t always addressed. I appreciate you adding this to your post.
Enjoyed your tutorial but got a little skeptical about fumes when i saw the heat application. As mixed media artists we use so many cool materials and techniques but because its a craft safety isn’t always addressed. I appreciate you adding this to your post.
Enjoyed your tutorial but got a little skeptical about fumes when i saw the heat application. As mixed media artists we use so many cool materials and techniques but because its a craft safety isn’t always addressed. I appreciate you adding this to your post.
This video from Julie came just in time. I just received my deColorant and was planning to use it tomorrow. Thanks to Julie for all of her amazing information and even to Jane Dunnewold for recognizing her post and writing Julie note of caution. I have asthma and certain odors get me going in a seriously wrong respiratory direction. I was going to use the product outside because there is plenty of air circulating. So now I’m running down to local hardware box store to purchase my NIOSH odor masks.
This video from Julie came just in time. I just received my deColorant and was planning to use it tomorrow. Thanks to Julie for all of her amazing information and even to Jane Dunnewold for recognizing her post and writing Julie note of caution. I have asthma and certain odors get me going in a seriously wrong respiratory direction. I was going to use the product outside because there is plenty of air circulating. So now I’m running down to local hardware box store to purchase my NIOSH odor masks.
This video from Julie came just in time. I just received my deColorant and was planning to use it tomorrow. Thanks to Julie for all of her amazing information and even to Jane Dunnewold for recognizing her post and writing Julie note of caution. I have asthma and certain odors get me going in a seriously wrong respiratory direction. I was going to use the product outside because there is plenty of air circulating. So now I’m running down to local hardware box store to purchase my NIOSH odor masks.
This video from Julie came just in time. I just received my deColorant and was planning to use it tomorrow. Thanks to Julie for all of her amazing information and even to Jane Dunnewold for recognizing her post and writing Julie note of caution. I have asthma and certain odors get me going in a seriously wrong respiratory direction. I was going to use the product outside because there is plenty of air circulating. So now I’m running down to local hardware box store to purchase my NIOSH odor masks.
This video from Julie came just in time. I just received my deColorant and was planning to use it tomorrow. Thanks to Julie for all of her amazing information and even to Jane Dunnewold for recognizing her post and writing Julie note of caution. I have asthma and certain odors get me going in a seriously wrong respiratory direction. I was going to use the product outside because there is plenty of air circulating. So now I’m running down to local hardware box store to purchase my NIOSH odor masks.
This video from Julie came just in time. I just received my deColorant and was planning to use it tomorrow. Thanks to Julie for all of her amazing information and even to Jane Dunnewold for recognizing her post and writing Julie note of caution. I have asthma and certain odors get me going in a seriously wrong respiratory direction. I was going to use the product outside because there is plenty of air circulating. So now I’m running down to local hardware box store to purchase my NIOSH odor masks.
Hi!
I’m not sure if this page is active anymore but I’ll give it a go. I have used the combination of decolourant and textile paint on cotton fabric. I usually wash the fabric after using the decolourant before applying the paint. However I have some coasters that I cannot wash easily (they are cotton lined with batting) so I was wondering if I can apply the paint after the decolourant without washing it? Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you!
Contact the manufacturer for an answer.