TranspArt (also Transpa Art) is Worbla’s option for those looking for a resilient, non-toxic and solvent stable clear plastic that can be hand formed and vacuformed with ease. Fantastic for ice, crystal and fire effects, ‘invisible’ foundations, and anything else you can imagine, Worbla’s TranspArt has similar flexibility and weight to Worbla’s Finest Art and shares the ability to reblend scraps to recycle everything, while being incredibly resilient to stress. Lighter than acrylic sheeting and more durable than PETG, TranspArt is resistant to cracks, fractures and shattering under pressure, maintaining a unique flexibility that returns to form when bent.
As TranspArt is injection moulded, the injection lines are present in the finished sheets. Please note that because TranspArt is not an optically clear plastic, it is not suggested for eyewear that will see heavy use and is best for decorative pieces. Looking through plastic that is not optically clear can be unpleasant after long periods of time.
Worbla’s TranspArt is non-toxic and skin safe and can be shaped by hand without requiring special safety gear. TranspArt can take deep curves and be deep drawn. A heat gun is the best way to shape it as it requires a higher activation temperature than other Worbla products.
Worbla’s TranspArt does require a higher activation temperature of 120° Celsius or 250° Fahrenheit compared to Worbla’s Finest Art (WFA)’s 90° Celsius. As such it’s strongly advised you wear smooth work gloves when using Worbla’s TranspArt. (Remember, you are heating it above the boiling point of water). It’s also recommended that you use a damp sponge for shaping, to avoid marks and prints, and a firm toothbrush or other sculpting tools can be helpful to get small complex curves to shape.
When the scraps are blended, they take on a milky, frosted look that’s great for using to diffuse light. Scraps can’t be reblended into ‘sheet’ form, and the more they are worked the more milky they will become.
You can paint the interior of your shape, leaving the high gloss finish of the plastic to remain. It’s also easy to restore rough areas by applying lacquer or clear nail polish to dull areas. TranspArt can be painted with acrylics, spray paint, glass paint, spray tints, and also dyed with polyester dyes such as iDye Poly and Rit Dyemore.
Left, WTA skull. Right, skull with interior painted.
Note
While TranspArt is similar to Finest Art, they are not the same product and you will find that TranspArt does not have the same adhesive qualities as Finest Art, and TranspArt will require more patience and time to achieve the look you want. It is possible to stick TranspArt to itself, but the temperature range is very narrow, and so glue is strongly suggested. Check below for a video by Worbla’s creators discussing the process of working with TranspArt.
also shared a video discussing the differences between TranspArt and Finest art.
