Choosing the right kind of paint is crucial when making reborn dolls. Apart from helping create the lifelike features to make them as realistic as possible, they should also be easy to work with, especially for beginners. There are different kinds of paints used to create reborn dolls. Genesis Heat Set Paints are the most favored. Here is an unbiased review on using Genesis Heat Set Paints for reborn doll making.
Background of Genesis® Heat Set Paints
Genesis® Oil Paints were invented by a group of professional artists who were looking for a kind of paint that would free artists from having to constantly mix and clean their palettes. After years of research and experimentation, they came up with a new paint chemistry, which they called "Heat Set Artist Oils"—paints that provide artists the same look and feel of traditional oil paints, without the same drying time restrictions, toxicity and odor.
Advantages
Reborn doll makers have found using Genesis® Heat Set Paints offer a number of advantages when compared with other types of paints used for reborn doll making. Perhaps the most important of this is its "Dry on Demand" characteristic. Unlike most other kinds of paints used on reborn dolls, Genesis® Heat Set Paints do not dry even if it is exposed in the air for a very long time. That is because the chemistry of these paints were made in such a way that they will only set when heat is applied to them, hence, the name. As such, reborn doll makers do not have to worry about time constraints when painting their reborn dolls that they would eventually dry while they are still in the process of painting them. And if they make a mistake, the paint can just be easily wiped away without any trace.
Another advantage of using Genesis® Heat Set Paints for reborn doll making is that a little goes a long way. All of the different colors that comprise the Genesis® Heat Set Paints are made with pure pigments and match the darkest ends of the spectrums in the color wheel. That being the case, reborn doll enthusiasts need only to use a little bit each time. And because they do not dry even when exposed to the air, they can last for quite a long time, making this extremely cost-effective in the long run.
While Genesis® Heat Set Paints are oil paints, they are also considered to be extremely non-toxic. These paints have been certified after carefully being evaluated by medical experts that they do not contain any chemicals and other substances in sufficient quantities that can be considered to be toxic and harmful to humans. This is very important in reborn doll making as reborn dolls are also played by children and cuddled by adults for long periods of time.
Finally, Genesis® Heat Set Paints can also be used on a variety of different surfaces without any fear of getting washed or wiped away.
Disadvantages
Although there are a lot of advantages reborn doll makers benefit from using Genesis® Heat Set Paints, there are a number of disadvantages as well.
One such disadvantage is that a source of heat is always required in order for the paint to set. Genesis® Heat Set Paints require to be heated to a temperature between 120 and 137 degrees Celsius (250 to 280 degrees Fahrenheit). In order to ensure that the paints do not mix and ensure the realistic appearance of the reborn dolls, the dolls will need to be baked in an oven or any similar heating source for at least 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the paint, before adding the next layer.
In line with this, the right heat temperature must be first achieved before heating the reborn doll altogether. Heating the painted reborn dolls with the wrong temperature may cause moisture to be released by the paints during the heating process, which can result to the paints to bubble and become less adhesive to the doll itself.
Another disadvantage is that because the paints are extremely concentrated, it can be quite challenging for beginners to the art of reborn doll making to get the right color and thickness to create a very lifelike doll and avoid the possibility of it from looking cakey and fake.
Conclusion
In closing, Genesis® Heat Set Paints are great for reborn dolls since their intense colors help the dolls come to life and look more realistic. They also tend to last for a very long time so while they make be slightly more expensive than other kinds of reborn doll paints initially, they are extremely cost effective in the long run.
Genesis® Heat Set Paints require a lot of practice and getting used to so that they would be able to help you create lifelike reborn dolls, especially when adding extremely fine details like skin mottling and veining on the skin. It also requires a good heating medium for the paint to set.