FIMO – marbling, mixing and creating colour gradients
Depending on which sort of STAEDTLER modelling clay you are working with, a variety of different FIMO colours are available to choose from. This colour spectrum can be extended even more by mixing colours and generating additional tones, samples or individual colour gradients. You can also craft beads for unique jewellery, cosy home decoration items or original gifts for your loved ones. There are no limits to your imagination in creating a nearly endless variety of FIMO colours.
FIMO colours – marbling, mixing and creating colour gradients
Children, adult beginners and professionals can obtain FIMO modelling clay in many different colours:
FIMO kids
- 24 colours
- Oven-hardening modelling clay
- Specially developed for children: The clay is particularly soft and easy to shape
FIMO soft
- 24 standardised colours
- 5 trendy colours
- Oven-hardening modelling clay
- Perfectly suited for beginners and amateur artists
- Can be mixed with FIMO effect and FIMO professional
FIMO effect
- 36 colours
- 8 different effects
- Oven-hardening modelling clay
- Can be used by beginners and professionals
- Can be used in combination with FIMO soft and FIMO professional
FIMO professional
- 24 colours
- Five True Colours are used as the starting basis for at least 175 colours in the FIMO colour table
- Oven-hardening modelling clay
- Suitable for professionals, artists and advanced users
- Can be mixed with FIMO soft, FIMO effect and FIMO professional doll art
- FIMO professional doll art is particularly suited for modelling dolls, thanks to its natural colour tones. If you would like to mix skin colours yourself using FIMO modelling clay, the colours white and red, as well as additional yellow or brown tones, can be used depending on your preference.
To put original ideas into practice and model highly personal works of art, you have the option of creating your own FIMO colours. FIMO can be marbled, individual colours can be mixed together or it is possible to create colour gradients.
Good to know: FIMO colour blocks are divided into eight portions, which makes it easier to mix individual colours. For amateur artists and professionals, as well as for teaching purposes in schools or similar institutions, STAEDTLER also offers modelling clay sets, including multiple FIMO blocks in a variety of colours.
Marbling FIMO
To marble FIMO, you need FIMO in two different colours. You can choose the mixing ratio according to your taste. For FIMO beginners, we recommend using a little less of the darker colour. This is how it works:
First shape two FIMO rolls with your hands: one black roll and one white roll.
Place the two rolls on top of one another and intertwine them.
Then twist the roll up, knead it and shape it into a ball with your hands.
Using the acrylic roller from the range of FIMO modelling tools you can now roll the ball out into a sheet.
Mixing FIMO colours
The existing FIMO colour palette can be extended even more by mixing FIMO colours yourself. Two different options are available:
Mixing FIMO colours by hand: First select two FIMO colours. Our tip: Use a smaller amount of the darker colour and a larger amount of the lighter colour to achieve a clearer colour mixing effect. Inverse proportions would hardly achieve any colour changes at all. Each of the two FIMO colours is then shaped into a roll. These are then twisted and kneaded together until a uniform colour results. Finally, the modelling clay is rolled into a sheet using the acrylic roller to make it ready for further use.
Mixing FIMO colours with the clay machine: In this case, you also need two FIMO colours that are rolled out using the clay machine into sheets of equal thickness. With the help of cutters, individual pieces can be cut out of the sheets. This determines the mixing ratio. For instance, if you have chosen the colours white and pink, if you use four white pieces and one pink piece, the result will be a light pink FIMO colour gradient. It is important to use the same cutter for both colours. The cut-out portions are then laid on top of one another and shaped into a sheet using the clay machine. This sheet is folded repeatedly and rolled through the clay machine again. Repeat this process until you achieve a satisfactory result with your desired FIMO colour.
Important: Always insert the folded sheets into the clay machine with the opening facing up to make sure no air will be kneaded in.
If you would like to mix very specific colours and are wondering what colours you need to use, you can find this out using our FIMO mixing chart.
Creating FIMO colour gradients
Create FIMO artworks with interesting colour gradients. Here’s how it works:
First roll out two FIMO sheets in the colours of your choice using the clay machine.
Then cut each of these FIMO sheets diagonally to create two rectangular sheets each. It is important not to cut directly from corner to corner, but to shift the line slightly inward.
Now place the same-coloured pieces on top of one another, resulting in half a sheet for each colour. If you have done everything correctly, you should now have two half sheets, one in each colour.
Now join these two halves together to form a rectangular sheet again. Then cut the top and bottom edges using a straight cut.
The last step is to roll the sheet through the clay machine. Fold the sheet so that the ends line up with their matching colour. For instance, if you chose the FIMO colours white and pink, after folding you should have white on white and pink on pink. Repeat this process multiple times until the desired FIMO colour gradient is achieved.
With the available FIMO colours from STAEDTLER, it is possible to create a wide range of additional colours depending on your taste and individual needs. Whether it’s black-and-white marbling, special colours or individual colour gradients, put your ideas into practice and create original FIMO colours yourself!
