First custom: painting a pair of AF1s without the paint cracking in the creases

Sneakers Newbie Corner
1

Okay, dream project: a hand-painted pair of white AF1s. :artist_palette: (Yes, after reading the white AF1 batch thread.) But every custom I see online has cracked paint in the toe creases after a few wears. How do people avoid that? Is it the paint, the prep, or just inevitable?

2

Mostly prep and coat thickness, rarely the paint itself. The short version of what custom communities and paint makers agree on:

  1. Remove the factory finish (deglaze).
  2. Paint in many very thin coats.
  3. Let it cure fully before wearing.
3

Sorry, what’s “deglazing” exactly?

4

Factory leather has a protective top finish. Paint doesn’t bond well to it. A leather preparer/deglazer wipes that finish off so the paint can grip. Some people also lightly scuff the toe box creases.

5

Careful with coated leather. A lot of sneaker leather has a thick plastic top layer. Deglazer doesn’t always get it all off. Test on an inconspicuous spot first, for example the inside of the heel.

6

And painting creases: paint into the crease direction while the shoe is flexed slightly, not across it. A shoe tree inside helps hold the shape while you work. The crease protection thread compares shoe trees and crease guards.

7

How many coats is “many thin coats”? Like 2? 10? I need a number. :video_game:

8

Paint makers’ guides say three to five thin coats, letting each dry around 15–30 minutes. Thick coats are what crack: they’re too stiff to flex with the leather.

9

Finish: a matte or satin finisher adds protection. It won’t save a thick or poorly prepped paint job, though. The order matters more than the products.

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Project sheet for a first AF1 custom:

Materials: leather preparer/deglazer, cotton pads, masking tape, acrylic leather paint, fine flat brushes, finisher (matte or satin), shoe trees.

Steps

  1. Test the deglazer on a hidden spot.
  2. Tape the midsole edge and any area you won’t paint.
  3. Deglaze the areas to paint until the surface looks matte. Let it dry.
  4. Shoe trees in. Paint creases in the direction they fold.
  5. Thin coats: three to five, around 15–30 min drying between coats. Streaky first coats are normal.
  6. Finisher: thin, even coat.
  7. Cure: 24–48 hours before wearing.

If you try this, post a mid-project photo of the toe box with the tape on the midsole edge and the first thin coat, so others can check the coverage.

Why paint cracks: thick coats, skipped prep, wearing too soon.

Difficulty: beginner-friendly for blocks of colour; detailed artwork takes practice.

Before/after tip: photograph each stage. It helps you see where a coat went on too heavy.

11

This is amazing!! Marking it. Thin coats + deglaze + patience. Saving the materials list. :artist_palette:

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And a care note for afterwards: clean painted areas with a damp cloth only. No harsh cleaners on the finish.