Discover the Power of Personalisation - Tracing Method

Personalised balloons remain a top favourite with customers, to be honest, personalised anything is very popular!

Personalisation can be quick and easy with the correct tools. One of the most popular methods is cutting out vinyl using a die-cutter such as the Silhouette Cameo that many balloon artists use.

An alternative to using a die-cutter is to personalise Bubble balloons by hand - Bubble Balloons have now been replaced with the T-Bubble: Manufactured by TAKARAKOSAN, the same company who made the Qualatex Deco Bubble, these balloons provide the exact same stretchy quality and clear appearance and are available at suppliers and wholesalers.

Before you start - Helpful Tips

Most importantly, you will need a paint pen or permanent marker that is not water soluble. Some of our favorites are: POSCA, Sharpie™, Zig® Painty®, DecoColor™ and Pen-touch™. There are different markers available in different parts of the world, so you may have to shop around and test different options to find the right fit for your needs.

Posca Paint Markers

Follow the package directions on your paint pen to prime the colours you plan to use before you begin drawing. Make sure each side of the marker is properly moistened, and that each colour you plan to use is ready. You should also make note of the dry time for your utensil of choice.

Have tape on hand to secure your balloon to the surface you’re working on to minimise mistakes.

Make sure your work surface is clean and stable so it doesn’t move under pressure.

If you are right-handed, work right to left; if you are left-handed, work left to right to avoid smudging.

If the design takes some time to complete and the Bubble Balloon has been outside of its packaging for more than 15-30 minutes, be sure to wipe it down with a wet paper towel (after ink has dried) before inflating.

Calligraphy and faux calligraphy (videos to follow) can be done on an inflated or uninflated balloon. Tracing must be done on an uninflated balloon. While an uninflated balloon provides a flat and solid surface, an inflated balloon is pulled taut and the ink/paint will not lose its vibrancy when inflated. The choice of inflated or uninflated is yours to make based on personal preference.

Personalisation - Tracing

With this method, you trace a predetermined design through an uninflated bubble. Because it does not require freehand skill, it is the most beginner-friendly option. The most important point of this method is to determine the size of your design area beforehand. If you want all of your design to be visible and not wrap around the balloon, it should have at least 2-3 inches of open space on all sides.

If you are not great at free-hand writing on balloons, this method is fantastic! Design your text on your laptop and print it off and then simply trace it as shown below - if you want something a little fancier, you could design it on CANVA first.

Directions: Secure design on workspace and tape Bubble Balloon over design, making sure it is centred. Once marker is primed, begin your design by slowly tracing the outline of the letters. Use smooth, steady strokes to complete each line. Hold the balloon taut with your thumb and forefinger to keep the line smooth. As you fill in the shape, go in the same direction, rather than scribbling, to create a consistent surface that moves in the same direction. Be patient, don’t feel the need to rush or finish quickly.

Check out the full video below for a step-by-step tutorial.

We would like to thank Steven Shippy and Qualatex for this tutorial. To see more of Steven fabulous work visit him @shippydesign

This video is a legacy educational resource originally produced by Pioneer Balloon Company, creators of the Qualatex brand. Although Pioneer is no longer in operation, this video remains publicly accessible via YouTube. We are sharing it here for non-commercial, educational purposes, with full credit to the original creators.