Resin Techniques Guide
About This Guide
Every Trayz N Beyond piece is built on a foundation of intentional technique. The way resin is poured, layered, and manipulated determines the final look just as much as the colors and additives used. This guide breaks down the core techniques I use and how each one works.
Technique: Solid Pour
What it is: A single-color pour where one fully mixed and pigmented resin is poured into the mold in one continuous layer.
How it works: Mix your resin, add your mica color and any additives, then pour the entire batch into the mold at once. The resin self-levels and cures to a smooth, even surface.
Tips: This is the most straightforward technique and the best starting point for beginners. The quality of the result depends almost entirely on your color choice, pigment loading, and surface finishing after cure.
Best for: Bold single-color pieces, lamp bases, coasters with a clean minimal look.
Technique: Layered Pour
What it is: Multiple separate pours stacked on top of each other, with each layer allowed to partially or fully cure before the next is added.
How it works: Pour your first layer and allow it to reach a gel state, typically 4 to 8 hours depending on your resin brand and temperature. Once the surface is firm but still slightly tacky, pour the next layer directly on top. The slight tackiness creates a chemical bond between layers. Repeat for as many layers as desired.
Tips: Timing is critical. If the first layer is too liquid, the layers will mix together. If it is fully cured and hard, the layers may delaminate over time. The sweet spot is a firm gel that still has slight surface tack. Each layer can be a different color to create depth and dimension.
Best for: Deep color effects, pieces with visible layered depth, flight trays with a base color and accent layer.
Technique: Swirl Pour
What it is: Two or more colors poured together and then swirled to create organic, marbled patterns.
How it works: Prepare two or more separate batches of colored resin. Pour them into the mold simultaneously or in sequence, then use a toothpick, skewer, or stir stick to drag through the colors in sweeping motions. The colors blend at their edges while remaining distinct in the center of each swirl.
Tips: Work quickly before the resin begins to set. Less manipulation creates bolder, more defined swirls. More manipulation creates finer, more blended patterns. Avoid over-swirling or the colors will muddy together and lose definition.
Best for: Marbled coasters, statement trays, pieces where movement and flow are the focal point.
Technique: Dirty Pour
What it is: Multiple colors loaded into a single cup and poured together in one motion, allowing the colors to flow and separate naturally.
How it works: Layer two or more colored resins into a single mixing cup without stirring. Pour the entire cup into the mold in one slow, continuous motion. The colors flow out together and separate as they spread across the mold surface, creating organic patterns that cannot be fully controlled or predicted.
Tips: The order in which you layer the colors in the cup affects which colors appear on top and which sink. Heavier pigment loads tend to sink. Lighter or more transparent mixes tend to float. Experiment with layering order to influence the final pattern.
Best for: Abstract, fluid art pieces where spontaneity and organic movement are the goal.
Technique: Alcohol Ink Bloom
What it is: Drops of alcohol ink added to a clear or lightly tinted resin pour to create fluid, watercolor-like blooms and patterns.
How it works: Pour a clear or lightly pigmented base layer into the mold. While the resin is still wet, drop alcohol ink onto the surface using a dropper or the tip of a stir stick. The ink spreads and blooms outward as the alcohol carrier evaporates. Use a heat gun to encourage movement and create larger bloom patterns.
Tips: Work fast. Alcohol ink sets quickly as the alcohol evaporates. The heat gun gives you a brief window to push and shape the blooms before they lock in place. Less ink creates more delicate, defined blooms. More ink creates bolder, more saturated patterns.
Best for: Decorative pieces, abstract art panels, coasters where translucent color and fluid movement are the focus.
Technique: Foil Placement
What it is: Gold, silver, or copper foil flakes placed intentionally into or onto a resin pour to create luxurious metallic accents.
How it works: Pour your base resin layer and allow it to reach a slightly thickened but still workable state. Place foil flakes onto the surface using tweezers or a dry brush, positioning them where you want the metallic accent to appear. The resin holds the flakes in place as it cures. Alternatively, stir foil flakes directly into the mixed resin before pouring for a scattered, all-over effect.
Tips: Surface placement gives you more control over the final look. Stirring in gives a more random, organic distribution. A small amount of foil goes a long way. The goal is accent, not coverage.
Best for: Luxury pieces, black and gold colorways, editorial trays and coasters where the metallic detail is a signature element.
Technique: Glow Layer
What it is: A layer of glow in the dark pigment mixed into resin, either as a standalone pour or as a base layer beneath a colored top layer.
How it works: Mix glow pigment into your resin at a 10 to 20 percent loading rate by weight. Pour as a base layer and allow to partially cure, then add a colored top layer if desired. The glow layer charges through the top layer during the day and emits light in the dark.
Tips: Keep the top layer thin and relatively transparent if you want maximum glow visibility. Opaque top layers will reduce the glow effect. A clear or lightly tinted top layer allows the glow to shine through fully.
Best for: Lamp bases, coasters for evening use, statement pieces where the glow effect is a key feature.
Technique: Geode Pour
What it is: A technique that mimics the look of a natural geode or agate slice, using layered colors, crystal-like formations, and metallic accents.
How it works: Build the piece in stages, starting with a dark base color. Add lighter colors in organic, irregular shapes to suggest crystal formations. Use white resin to create the bright inner crystal areas. Add gold foil flakes and glitter along the color boundaries to suggest the metallic veining found in natural geodes. Each stage is partially cured before the next is added to maintain definition between colors.
Tips: Reference images of real geodes and agates for inspiration. The key to a convincing geode is irregular, organic shapes rather than perfectly smooth transitions. Varying the thickness of each color area adds depth and realism.
Best for: Decorative statement pieces, coaster sets, art panels where the natural stone aesthetic is the goal.
Learn More
Technique is only part of the story. Explore the Color Choices Guide to learn about the pigments and additives that bring each technique to life, or visit the Studio Tools Overview for the tools behind every pour. Have a question? Contact me directly or shop all products.