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February 21, 2009

Modified Rainbow Skinner Blend Tutorial – No Measuring Required

7

Rainbow Color Blending Geometry

The Lietz Teardrop Method – A Super Simple Way To Do Multiple Color Gradients:

A rainbow skinner blend is where you have multiple colors that transition smoothly from one to the next in your finished gradient sheet of polymer clay. To do this technique successfully, you must have at least have some knowledge of geometry and an understanding of angles.

Now if you are like most polymer clayers, I'm guessing your eyes glossed over a bit when you saw your first written tutorial on how to create a rainbow skinner blend. Measuring templates. Cutting them out. Drawing A>a diagonals so that they intersect in the right place with the B>b diagonals to get the right offset. Continuing on to connect the dots for C>c and D>d diagonals, depending on how many colors you are being blended. Oh my!

You wouldn't believe how many comments I've read from frustrated beginners saying something to the effect of, "Huh…!??!"

Of course you eventually get it. But I've always felt there must be a better way.

And now there is! It's called the Teardrop Method for making color gradients. I just introduced the concept a few days ago, and so far the comments have been very positive. In fact, some are even saying it should be called the Lietz Blend.

Here are links to the first two articles if you have not read them yet:

  • Tear Drop Method | The Quickest Skinner Blend You'll Ever Make
  • Skinner Blend – Modified Teardrop Method Faster and Just As Good

This Lietz Teardrop Method is great for speeding up the process of making 2 color blends. But it's especially great for creating rainbow blends involving multiple colors. Super fast; MUCH simpler to understand; And it does not require you to remember any geometry from high school :-)

With my teardrop technique the need for templates has been completely eliminated. In fact, there is no need to measure at all. You simply grab hunks of clay in the colors you want, roll them into teardrop, push them together and blend with your pasta machine!

If you want to control the amount of a color, say in the case of blending a weak color with a strong color, simply grab a bigger hunk of the weak color and a smaller hunk of the strong color. It's as simple as that!

Now I'm not sure whether this new technique will revolutionize the way you do your blends or not, but it sure has for me.

Instead of taking ten or more minutes to do a multi-colored rainbow skinner blend, you can do one in just a minute or two. So that leaves more time to get to the fun stuff like making new polymer clay beads and canes!

——————————————-

Links to all Articles in the Lietz Teardrop Blend Series:

Article 1:
Tear Drop Method | The Quickest Skinner Blend You'll Ever Make
Get Smooth Polymer Clay Color Gradients 10 Times Faster. A preview video is posted at this article page.

Article 2:
Skinner Blend – Modified Teardrop Method Faster and Just As Good
The Skinner Blend Challenge: Will I Ever Go Back To Doing Polymer Clay Color Gradients The Old Way?

Article 3:
Modified Rainbow Skinner Blend Tutorial – No Measuring Required
The Lietz Teardrop Method – A Super Simple Way To Do Multiple Color Gradients.

Article 4:
Full Video | Lietz Teardrop Method | Polymer Clay Color Blends
Limited Access So Please Watch The Video As Soon As Possible. Thanks.

Article 5:
Beautiful Polymer Clay Canes Begin With Beautiful Color Blends
A Couple of Options for Blending Polymer Clay Colors to Use In Your Canes and Skinner Plugs.

Article 6:
Are Your Skinner Blends Getting Too Wide For Your Pasta Machine?
The Rolling Technique In My Teardrop Method Will Help You to Solve This Problem.

Article 7:
Vertical Pass of the Teardrop Blend Through Your Pasta Machine
Monica Stockton Asked A Great Question About Whether This Will Affect The Color Blend.

Cindy Lietz SignaturePolymer Clay Tutor


Tags: color gradients, geometry, lietz teardrop method, pasta machine, rainbow skinner blend, skinner blend, tear drop method

Filed Under: 05: Techniques by Cindy Lietz Comment. #

Comments on Modified Rainbow Skinner Blend Tutorial – No Measuring Required Leave a Comment

February 22, 2009

Cindy Lietz from Skinner Blend Tutorial Video
12:33 pm #

Reply

I'm curious about hearing what your experience was like when you first learned how to do a rainbow skinner blend? Did it take you some time to get it right? What problems did you experience?

February 24, 2009

Gail
5:53 am #

Reply

I received an e-mail this AM introducing a complimentary video of the tear drop method for blending colors of clay.

I've searched and am unable to find the full video.
Is this a "tease" or is there actually a full video to watch for nonmembers?

Please let me know.
Thanks,
Gail

Cindy from Lietz Teardrop Method
7:20 am #

Reply

Hi Gail. Thanks for your interest.

Yes the full video tutorial for the Tear Drop Color Blending technique is available at this time for non-members to watch.

The link by my name above will take you to the page with all the details. Looking forward to hearing back from you after you have a chance to see the tute.

Selma
10:40 am #

Reply

Thank you, Cindy! Great tutorial!!! Selma

Cindy Lietz from Polymer Clay Tutorials - Library Back Issues
10:48 am #

Reply

Thank you Selma. The tutorial you watched about how to do the Rainbow Color Blend using my Tear Drop Method is just one example of all the great content posted over at my Polymer Clay Tutor Library.

Members receive a new tutorial video every week. For anyone that is interested in more info, you can click the link by my name above to see video previews of the titles that have been published so far.

March 2, 2009

deirdre
1:51 pm #

Reply

Oh Cindy:

I just watched your video on the Tear Drop Method. I have two words: Brill-yant!

What a great technique, and I hope it gets known as the Lietz Method throughout the polymer clayniverse.

Thanks for sharing.

May 1, 2009

Cindy Lietz from Polymer Clay Tutorial - Rock Tumbler
5:51 pm #

Reply

Thanks Deirdre! That means a lot coming from you!

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