Here’s your full guide to customizing your sneakers with some video demos to help you at every step. Whether you’re customizing for the first time or looking to sharpen your skills, here’s the full step-by-step breakdown of the process, including expert tips, best practices, and video demos to help you along the way.
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Before anything else, remove the laces from your sneakers.
Why it’s important:
How to do it:
Pro Tip:
Even if your laces are white or light-colored, never paint with them still in. It’s almost impossible to get clean paint lines around eyelets without removing them.
Surface prep is critical. Factory-fresh sneakers usually have a protective finish (a clear coat) designed to repel dirt and water, but it also repels paint.
Why prep with acetone:
How to properly prep:
What to look for:
Common Mistake to Avoid:
Now, the fun really starts: painting your custom design.
Best Practices for Painting:
How to properly prep:
Drying Time:
Heat Gun Pro Tip:
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Step 4: Seal Your Work with a Clear Finish
Once you’re happy with your painted design, it’s time to protect it.
Why sealing matters:
• Shields your paint from dirt, water, and UV light.
• Adds a flexible layer that prevents cracking during wear.
• Creates a more professional-looking finish (matte, satin, or glossy based on preference).
How to Apply the Finisher:
• Use Angelus Clear Coat (or equivalent brand).
• Lightly mist or brush on 2–3 thin coats.
• Allow 5–10 minutes drying time between coats.
Finishing Pro Tip:
• For best results, lightly heat-set the final coat with a heat gun to lock it in.
Choose Your Finish:
• Matte: Natural leather look, no shine.
• Satin: Semi-gloss, slight sheen.
• Gloss: High shine, “fresh out of the box” look.
Mistakes to Avoid:
• Overloading the finisher. Heavy coats can cloud or drip.
• Skipping sealing entirely. Your paintwork won’t last without a seal.
Once you’re happy with your painted design, it’s time to protect it.
Why sealing matters:
How to Apply the Finisher:
Adding a decal brings a bold, clean graphic element to your custom sneakers.
Steps to Apply:
• Place your decal design side down, white backing side up, onto a clean, dry part of the sneaker.
• Using a squeegee or credit card, press firmly across the entire decal:
• Go back and forth 2–4 times with firm, even pressure.
Now, lock it in:
• Once the decal has been firmly pressed down, slowly peel back the white layer.
• Start at a corner and pull steadily at a low angle (almost flat against the shoe).
• If the decal starts to lift, stop, re-squeegee, and try again.
Now that your design is complete, it’s time to add the final touch: new laces.
Choosing Your Lace Color:
• Complement or contrast your design.
• Make the laces a highlight, or keep them subtle depending on your aesthetic.
Lacing Tips:
• Traditional criss-cross, straight bar lacing, or even creative styles like lattice lacing can dramatically change the vibe.
Dry to the touch is not the same as fully cured.
• Allow at least 24–48 hours before wearing your sneakers to ensure the paint and finisher have fully bonded to the surface.
• If possible, cure them in a dry, ventilated room without direct sunlight.
Congratulations! You'ree officially a sneaker customizer! We’d love to see what you created, so please post your sneakers on Instagram and tag us @StompingGroundCustoms
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