Pearl Ex Powder Pigment

[Chevy II]

Has anyone ever used Pearl Ex powdered pigment from Jacquard Products? 
I am wanting to add some to my clear before spraying over my latest paint job to get a pearl look. 

[DJMar]

A friend who does resin casting jewelry and trinkets uses them to color resin.

I'm not sure how they would spray through an airbrush, or even if they were meant to be used that way. I'm sure you would need to change the tip size, at the very least.

[stitchdup]

pigments should melt if you use the correct carrier as thats where they start making paints. if you look on the manufacturers website there should be a guide.

[pack rat]

I've used it suspended in Testors clear lacquer.

The effect is subtle, best to do some spoon tests to get an idea of the right mix, number of coats etc.

Here's one I posted a few years ago.

  

 

[peteski]

The PerlEx powders I have seen are not pigments which dissolve in paint but metallic or pearl particles. They will be similar to what is in any metallic or mica paints.

[Dave G.]

Pearl Ex are mica powders but finer than some other brands I've used. My wife and I both use pearl and metallic mica powders in art work. Pearl Ex isn't the only game in town but you have seen the effect it gives in Mike's Corvettes, so who can argue !

This is from our google Ai buddy: Pearl Ex powders are made from powdered mica, a mineral, and are considered inert, non-toxic pigments designed to create a pearlescent or metallic effect when mixed into a viscous medium. These pigments are used in art for applications like painting, ceramics, and polymer clay and will not tarnish or fade. 

 

• Composition: Pearl Ex powders are powdered mica that provides a lustrous glow without being a metal.
• Pigment type: They are classified as inert pigments, which are stable and don't react chemically.
• Usage: They can be mixed with any viscous medium such as acrylics, oils, resin, glues, inks, and varnishes. They can also be spread dry on porous surfaces.
• Durability: They are extremely colorfast and stable, making them suitable for both interior and exterior applications, and they will not rust or tarnish.
• Safety: While they are non-toxic, they are specifically for art and craft use and are not intended for cosmetic use. 

[Kit Basher]

I have used them mixed in clear, this is silver Pearl Ex over black, hard to see.

In an earlier discussion, someone mentioned mixing them with paint. He had used enough Pearl Ex to turn a regular gloss paint into a pearl. It looked great. It shoots fine through an airbrush, with a regular tip, at least for a small amount mixed with clear. I don't know about how it would shoot if mixed with paint.

[OldNYJim]

I’ve used them quite a bit…they don’t dissolve in the paint, but you can suspend them in clear. Add a SMALL amount to your clear of choice, and stir thoroughly - you’ll see the effect right away.

Mixing it in with anything other than clear needs a HUGE amount of the product compared to just adding a tiny pinch to clear and spraying THAT over a solid color.  

Spray light mist coats and don’t overload the surface - the pigment will pool and collect in recesses and low spots and look bad…be patient and you’ll be rewarded.  And don’t forget you can layer them - do, say, gold in clear over ruby red in clear and you’ll get two color flips on the same paintjob

Some paintjobs I did with Pearl Ex…the Caddy shows a color-shifting effect the most obviously, but you can go way more extreme or more subtle depending on the number of layers and the intended effect…

 

Edited November 16 by OldNYJim