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Hey guys,i know this is problery in the wrong topic,but not sure where else to put it,
A few people have been asking questions on here and elsewhere about screen printing on shoes,or Custom painting shoe's to sell or to have just for them.
and i wanted to know also as i think it would great on a few types of shoe and could have some okay money,
My idea is Nike's Air Force 1's Shoes,as you can buy Plain White or Black Ones,So its Easy to Paint on.
So i have looked around for information,and have put together and little help for everyone who would like to try,and maybe could throw around some ideas.
Step 1.Use acetone/nail polish remover to clean the surface of the shoe,look at the surface of the shoe you are working with. Touch it and see if it has a somewhat slippery feel (as if there's a wax/PU coating). If it does then acetone definitely has to be used. It removes the coating and allows the paint to adhere better to the surface. You should use Acetone anyway
as it will give a great clean for your paint(Please be CAREFULL as acetone is NOT good for Skin,or dogs & Cats and is Bad for our enviorment, So wear Gloves)
Step 2.Best paints for Shoes i think is acrylic paints.There are a few Companys that make these paints
Delta Ceramics & Apple Barrell Colors,But any Crafts Store will have Acrylic Paints So Dont Worry.
Just these two are Cheap and Good Paint for shoes.
step 3.Always mix acetone with your paint. The acetone makes the paint flexible and unlikely to crack.
use a 5:2 mixture of Paint to Acetone. A little alcohol on the mixture also helps. It is best to test the paint before applying it to the shoe. Try painting on a styrofoam plate. If there are tiny bumps, then add more paint to your mixture. Test again. Press hard on the brush when painting to get a smooth surface. Give the shoe 3 coats or until it is completely covered. Remember to let the paint dry before applying another coat.(Tip-You should have about 3 Brushes,Or Use one brush for One Colour)a good thick brush and a few small thin brushes are what u will need for the small tight spaces)
step 4. If you want your paint job to last longer then I recommend using a Matte Finish clear coat(if u like gloss clear use that)unlike the gloss, the matte finish leaves the surface dull and not as reflective. Do not apply thick amounts onto the shoe. (When it dries it looks like wax). Apply only thin even coats to the shoe surface. Best Tip is to find clear Coats in a spray can,Pretty Easy to find(Crafts stores) But they Work the Best to give the best cover,Only Spray the parts of the shoe that you have painted and not the WHOLE shoe,Put paper over the parts you didnt paint and spray.
Hopefully this helps,you can find good priced shoes(Nike Air Force Ones) on ebay.com.au or ebay.com for the Americans,in Australia on ebay they cost about $75-100 Including Postage,and If you buy more than one pair Most sellers will give Really good deals,but start with Plain white or Black shoe's as this is the only colours i have painted on,But try it out and see if it works,it takes a little Time but is fun and pretty easy to do after a few times(Try it out on a pair of old lawn shoe's First)
my daughter just asked me yseterday if i could paint on her converse hightops as their quite boring to look at lol .. so now i know what to do for prep.. thank you for this post
Way back in the days, I used to airbrush my friends shoes using an Iwata HP-B and some acrylic paint. The paint was rough on the brush but was solid on the shoes.
Help with Shoe's Printing/Painting 
Re: Help with Shoe's Printing/Painting 
