Want To Make Custom Shoes ACTUALLY Durable? Here's How... 

One tip I picked up - if you're taping off an area to be a finer design, then you should start with the color that's under the tape and paint a strip along the edge of the tape. By doing so, you'll fill in any tiny leaks that are under the tape with new paint which will match the color underneath. When you come back over with the appropriate color, it won't be able to leak under the tape because those leaks have been filled by the color you wanted there anyways.

I just love watching someone work, when they're as skilled as you are. It's so generous of you to share all the "tricks of the trade" you've learnt over thousands of hours of work. Thanks Dylan, you absolutely rock!

Just wanted to say thanks for all the tips and tricks. As an art teacher, I have to say, you’d make a good one! 😊 Its very generous of you to share your experience with all of us. Your videos gave me what I needed to get started doing shoes. Of course at some point you have to jump in and experience how these materials will work and what you as the artist are comfortable with, but your videos are such a huge help. Thank you!

Great video reminds me of the days when I was a beginner ❤ I hope this video helps a lot of upcoming artists

Dude, thank you for doing this. You never see the custom shoes after they have been designed. I so want to start customizing shoes, and I'm going to use this video as my tutorial until I memorize this process. Much appreciation.

Wow! Very nice/informative/eloquent/well-filmed breakdown of this process. Feels like it's ALL about the process and technique rather than ego and telling everyone how talented and detail-oriented you are--which you are! Great vid.

I see you are really emphasizing avoiding the stitching for the first time I can remember. The way the threads were frayed after prep always bothered me. This makes so much sense though. Extra attention with acetone on those tiny strips will be fine, and it’s only going to crack in the places it would otherwise. Keep pumping out the knowledge my man. Hope you understand how many people you inspire.

This was a extremely thorough and informative video on how to produce long lasting paint jobs. Thank you so much for this.

Awesome video! For the creasing the shoes tip, what exactly are we looking for? Are we trying to create crease marks/lines or are we seeing where the shoe bends and that’s where we sand more? Just hoping you can expand a bit more about that tip

I’m never going to paint a shoe but enjoy all of your videos. Excellent work.

Man, you don't know but you are my teacher, thank you so much.. I just started but if I'm able to do some good stuff it is only for your videos.. thanks again from your Italian “student” , if i was there i’m sure i’d be at your course

Great stuff as always, I hadn’t thought to put the deglazer on the abrasive pads too and not just the applicator pads. The pre-creasing is an interesting approach too, some forces I made my kid cracked a bit at the high crease points but I sanded and touched up those spots and it’s held up ok so I sort of got there in a roundabout way

Damn Bro This Video Beautifully Done. Loved How Explained Everything In Detail While Doing Doing It.. If Anybody Starting Out Asked Me What Video I Would Recommend, This Is The 1st One I'd Send Them To Amazing Work From The Whole Team As Always! 👍🏼

You just keep delivering. Thx!

Awesome awesome guide here, and what an overall super informative video ! Again and again, the editing keeps getting more and more dynamic : I really love it ! Thanks for all the precious knowledge, you truly are the best 🌟

It is just me or the painting parts are very pleasing? !

thank you so much dude, love it

Thank you so much man! Always appreciate your knowledge

Hey Dillon. Since watching your channel I've learned a lot about customizations. U definitely do wonderful work & lots of ideas pop inside my head. I'm just starting & my drawing skills r not up to par like u & other Artists I've been watching. But I can definitely figure out where to put my designs at & color well. My question is how come you use three different grit sandpapers & do I have to use three different ones on all my projects. Thanks 4 hearing me out & keep up the awesome work. hopefully I can show u my custom sneakers one day. Working on something real special.

What’s the reason you use 3 types of sandpaper rather than just going for the Last one?

Thanks! This clarifies the process a lot better than your older videos for sure

Fantastic video! Always love those extra pointers! Gonna give some of those a try!!

Dude you've been so helpful in my journey into this wonderful world. I build rollerskates n specify turn sneakers, boots and dress shoes but i have question cann u dye the soles of the shoes because once i attach the shoes to the skate plate it doesn't flex anymore? Thanks for your time.

This is so helpful! Im starting my own custom sneaker business and o I didnt know much about the prepping process

this video was very helpful! always great when you post!

Great job but I really wanted to see a white toe box similar to the Atmos AM1

Awesome video. Question which Adhesion promoter do you recommend is better Bulldog or Rust-oleum. Or they are just the same.

What a amazingly put together video! 🎉 thank you!

Thank You

Love the way you articulate and thoroughly describe the process also finishing results 🤌🏽✨✨

I’m curious if you have found hand sanding to be the go to or if you still use a sander to attach the sandpaper too?

Love your Channel! Just wanted to know what grit of scuff pad should I get ?

Awesome vid my guy.. I need to make one for my page too

Great Video Great Tips Especially Since I have always painted Shoes since the late 90s to skateboard in but the paint always worn off due to the grip tape and I am going try this for skateboarding shoes and wear test with your order of operations. You should do a skateboard shoe paint and wear test !

Best tutorial out there. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Hey ! Cool video! Are there any knockoffs for the adhesion promoter ? Maybe like 15-$20

Great video I just started getting into customizing shoes and this video was tremendously helpful!

Love this video. I noticed you said to avoid painting the midsoles bc the rubber doesn’t hold the paint or dye. How do general releases have midsoles that are colored and super durable? I know it is probably 1 of our largest industry secrets, but I wonder how they’re created.

I paint my white and black Retro 11’s I leave the upper black and paint the white shiny part (shiny part. Not sure what you all call it) silver. Raider colors, not my favorite team but the 11’s look great silver an black. Get lots of compliments but my paint jobs chip and crack. I've decided to watch a vid to see how to do it right. Damn, doing it the proper way is so much work!

This is therapeutic to watch💯

Great vid. How do you clean them after customizing?

If i use natural leather dye on white surfaces, it will do the same trick as the black leather dye did? By the way AWESOME VIDEO!!

I love your videos man. Youve taught me so much and would love to thank you for all the work you've shown and have done. As for the video, I do have a question regarding the adhesion spray. Does it have to be bulldog? It's quite up there in price and was wondering what good alternatives there are. Wanted to ask before placing an order of course. Thank you!

This is dope. Thanks! Now again but with cleats!! It IS football season afterall.

So if finisher starts to lift can I just reapply fresh finisher over top?

Hey, great work. Thank you so much. I didn't get the part with the deglaser. Could someone please give ne more information on that step 🙏❤

Hello, To start, fantastic walkthrough on the materials you'll need and the steps to take to not only make a custom shoe design, but also to keep the design looking factory fresh! I have just purchased a pair of Black AF1s and want to do a custom design. I want to ask, so I do what I'm thinking correctly. You say to use different sandpaper grit for where you intend to paint. If you're doing a splattered type design, would you advice sanding the entire paint surface, doing the splattering, and then hit the whole area with finisher for that factory fresh look? Or would it be better to design a splatter template, and then mask and sand where you'll be using the leather paint? Also, you mention during your Swoosh painting portion that you want to apply a light grey to make the color you really want to stick better. Would this be the same for a pair of black shoes if you're trying to apply a brighter color (or even white)? For example, with the black AF1s I mention above, what would be a good color to apply before painting on top of that color for what you're looking for? (ie. You used light grey first, and then applied your actual desired light blue color). You guidance would be very much appreciated and you're design came out flawlessly it seems. Just trying to learn thr best I can. I appreciate any guidance I can get. Thank you!! 😊

What's the best course of action if we start getting cracking in the first couple time they're worn? Strip and start over or touch up?

I hate it how on some shoes like jordan mids prepping seems invisible, you can prep fot hoirs and the material will look the same, great video though!!

Do you not have to tape off areas before adding adheshion promotoer?

I tried using a lil 2 soft in my paint to try to keep the threads soft - it didnt really help - but u mentioned pre-creasing the leather?? jus bending the shoe a lil bit?

After the second coat of adhesion promoter, do you then let it dry completely before painting over top of it?

Is leather and deglazer acetone?

Dassdope! I feel a little bit more comfortable about giving it a go on some of mine.

Great Video!

Thanks for the tutorial! I have a question? If I’m not using a dye and just painting do I need to spray the adhesion promoter after sanding before painting? Or should I paint the first coat then spray the 2 coats of the adhesion? Thank you.

thank you!!

Found this a little late, but I’m curious- I understand not just sticking with dye in the leather panels, but why not using a dye in the tongues vs a paint?

Man I wish I had seen this video before I painted a pair of Nike AF1’s yesterday.

When you spray the adhesive promoter, do you need to tape off the other areas of the shoe?

Thank you so much for this channel!!

Love your videos bro.

Great video. Would you recommend the same steps to make a black tongue white?

Where are you finding bulldog? I ran out and the places that use to carry it closed. Other auto parts stores only carry “exclusively for polyolefin” where the cans I had in the past read “works on plastic.”

First time I ever used Angelus paint was 2003/2004 when I was in High School(yeah Im old now). Back when I would browse ISS Forums or Niketalk. The quality of most general release shoes, especially nike has been terrible since about 2007+. The Quality of Forces for example just for a pair of all whites were of better quality than today's "premium" releases. Back then all I did was strip the factory finish with acetone and went straight to painting and no finisher. Even wore some of my shoes to basketball practice and never had an issue with the paint lasting. With todays shoes I don't doubt your prep process at all.

Why do you deglaze the leather after you sand it? Isnt the factory varnish on the surface of the leather? So when sanding it you essentially sand off the varnish, leaving deglazing the leather futile. Wouldn’t it be better to deglaze the leather and then sand the leather?? Thanks just curious

Any potential dates for the next dcf experience?

Peace. Great Tutorial!! Are We Supposed Dye First With Black Or The Color We're Using As Paint?

Those look really nice, might try that colour combo in the future. Quick question, if we get paint on a panel where it shouldn’t be (if it goes through masking tape) what’s the best method to get it off after it’s dried?

Question: Is there, to your knowledge, ANY method of painting soles and having the paint last as long as the paint on the shoe?

How do you know what colors to mix?!! Ugh my shading technique is so bad but I want to upgrade it!!!

Don't the dye bleed? At least to the stitches? How do you avoid that?

@dejesuscustoms i used to customize shoes (it’s been about 6/7 years since i stopped because regardless of deglazing and even layering Dyes i was also bummed on the durability. it’s cool to see you taking that aspect seriously. i’m currently doing a boxing boot for myself and i’m wondering if there is any value to doing something like using a mat varnish in between coats to sort of build that protection? i know being matte it’s fairly good in terms of the next layer adhering. every tried this or have any thoughts?

how much ml need to paint a pair of shoe ?

the goat 🙌🙌

Hello de Jesus, ❤️ Your video really inspire me for making unique design ideas....i just want to know that what colour we should have to use on synthetic leather material shoes ? Love from India 🫶🏼❤

Thank you so much for the video. I just customized myself the same pair, slightly different blue/green. Awesome results. Your videos are really inspiring and motivating. How about the same thing with a apir fo Jordan 1 High Varsity Maize/Sail/Game Royal (FD2596-700). I can´t seem to find a good color combination including the blue and the yellow. Thanks!!!

This is super helpful, great video! Question: When do you opt for dyeing a part vs painting it? Or both like in the video.

I want to do colorful sneaker designs … what marker works good for leather paint drawings ?

I have a question. I recently painted a pair of AF1 before seeing this video. I did not sand-prep, and only applied 1 coat of Angelus Matt Finisher. Today i attempted to use a "mr. Clean eraser" to clean a scuff, and my paint has rubbed away. Did I not apply enough finisher?? Or did the eraser pad ruin my work??

Did you only use the bulldog spray because you did the dye first? I haven’t seen you use it in any other videos but this is also the first video I found that you use the dye. Also if you had to pick one finisher what would you choose? Idk which one to do between just the 4 coat Matt finisher or the LK finisher or the krylon Matt finish spray. I’m confused lol and do you need to use the 2 hard when painting leather shoes or is that just for plastic?

Hello, I have a question 1. Do you use 4-coats for finishing materials every time you customize them? 2. Please let me know if it is matte if I mix DULLER in 4-coat.

Thank you so much for this video! Just a quick question, should you dye the area you want to paint, add a light gray base coat, and then proceed with whatever your color is in any situation?

Bro - did you do a toilet , pants drop scene?😂 Haha too funny - great video, as always!

Is it essential to dye the leather or is a good sanding and applying the promoter enough? also the bulldog can no longer be found on Amazon, can you recommend any other brands? Should the promoter be allowed to dry before painting?

I like the Angelus finisher but my shoes feel a bit sticky weeks after they have been completed. Have you ever heard of this? Maybe I am painting it on too thick?

Hello, I'm a customized person in Korea Currently, only 4-coat finishes are being used If I want to make shoes more durable, what finisher should I use after applying the 4-coat finisher?

Wanted to ask a question is paint brushing the midsoles difficult

can we paint badminton shoes? especially on the sole where it says non marking (special material so it doesn't leave marks on the field floor)

Nice video and greetings from Germany! I'm a beginner and I would like to just coat my shoes with finisher (Air Max Deluxe SE white, black and Dunks Low summit white). I thought of using a deglazer/preparer and then applying a 4-coat matte. But I'm faced with the problem of whether I should paint the sides of the soles that are visible. If yes, will the paint stick? Probably not. So, I have to add the adhesion promoter into the mixture of the 4-coat, but is it okay if I also spray this mixture onto the leather parts? Even if I were to do the leather part only with 4-coat and the visible sides of the soles or harder plastic part with 4-coat mixed with adhesion promoter, would there be an edge where both applications meet each other and flake off? Considering that these two applications happen sequentially and not simultaneously, would this cause any issues? Also, what temperature (and maybe air setting) do you use for the heat gun?

Honestly one of the best “how to DIY” videos on the net regardless of subject matter. Well done 👍🏻

is there a dye color for every color?

What if they are brand new shoes that are all white do you still have to sand

Thank you for the great videos, you’ve inspired me to much and my first shoe I plan on trying this design. I have one question regarding the paint build up diagram on the swoosh. Are you starting off with a lighter color and then adding in additional paint to make the color more turquoise or are you simply painting over the swoosh with the same paint color until it reaches the color you’re targeting? Thanks again!

So what do you do if youre using a color that doesnt have the same color dye?

Dope 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

What is the best way to use the adhesion promoter for shoes with different colored panels? I’m painting a pair of bred 1s and I saw that after applying two light coats of it you recommend painting immediately. To use it properly, should I section off the black panels with tape, apply the adhesion promoter to the red areas, paint the red entirely, then repeat those steps for when I get to the black? Or is it okay to apply the promoter over the whole shoe and paint it normally?

Hey I was just wondering how big of a deal is sanding really gonna make? I really want to start customizing my pair of shoes as soon as my paint comes in and I didnt get any sandpaper. Also does the dye make that big of a difference? I was gonna make a pair of chicagos from heritages but I dont have sandpaper or dye on me.

Hello, I have been having some issues with some customers not properly taking care of their shoes that I have paint... I've some customers scrape against concrete and running even in their airforces. I've tried telling them that the shoe is more for show that for just everyday use...not all of my customers have had an issue, but do you have any suggestions for customers who don't take care of there shoes?

Thanks for the vid. Can I ask what size airbrush needle you used for this?