How Much Pearl Pigment do I need?

Metal Flake

Metallic Paint Flake weighs different amounts, so we use dry measure as a starting point for metal flake ratios. Start with:

1 heaping tablespoon of metal flake per SPRAYABLE quart of base clear or pound of clear powder coat for a light sparkle.

2 heaping tablespoons of metal flake per SPRAYABLE quart of base clear or pound of clear powder coat for a heavy sparkle.

Plan on 2-4 coats for even coverage.

Adding too much flake to your quart can bog down your base clear and make it difficult to spray with a normal-sized 1.4 or 1.5 tip.

For years, we have been selling metallic paint pigments, pearl pigment, candy paint, and Temperature Changing Paint for your custom paint jobs.

Phantom Pearls

Phantom Pearls go a long way! 1 level teaspoon will treat 1 SPRAYABLE quart of clear, or one 25-gram bag will treat 1 gallon of SPRAYABLE clear base, or 1-4 pounds of clear powder coat. Many people mistakenly think that using more ghost pearl in the clear will give a stronger effect, but in fact, it can actually alter your base coat color. It’s best to stick to the recommended ratio and do more coats instead of changing the ratio.

How Much Pearl Pigment Do I Need?

See Above!

Candy Color Pearls

Candy Color Pearls can be used for a translucent candy paint finish, or more of an opaque, solid-colored metallic paint. Follow these ratios as a starting point: For translucent/see-through paint, use one 25-gram bag into 2 SPRAYABLE quarts of clear base. For a more solid/metallic type of paint, use one 25-gram bag per SPRAYABLE quart of clear base. Candy Color Pearls can also be used to tint clear powder coat to create color-matching powder to paint. Start with 1/2 bag per pound of clear powder. You can use as much as 1 bag per pound of clear powder, as long as the pigment stays suspended.

All of our products are used for custom paint and coatings. These ratios are just starting points or beginning guidelines.

Thermochromic Temperature Change Pigment

One 25-gram bag of Thermochromic pigments or heat sensitive paint will treat 1 SPRAYABLE quart of base clear. These products work best in an oil or solvent-based base clear. When using a 2-part clear, allow the 25-gram bag of pigment to dissipate into a pint of reducer for 24 hours before adding the pint of clear paint. Though we’ve had customers get this pigment to work in powder coating, we always suggest doing a test panel first. It has a high intolerance to UV light and heat. Please see the thermochromics page to read more about the details of this pigment.

Chameleon Pearl Pigment

One 25-gram bag of Chameleon Pearl Pigment will treat 1 quart of SPRAYABLE base clear. It’s best to apply it over a black base for the most dramatic color change effect, but using it over other colors can also give you fantastic results. It’s always best to take some time and spray a test panel to get optimal results. There are several types of Colorshift Pearls. There are the 39 series that are colored in the bag, and the 59, 69, and 79 series (what we call “Ghost Colorshift Pearls”) which are a white colored powder in the bag. Our Ghost Colorshift Pearls can be used over white or black, and they have even been used with Thermochromic Pigments or heat-sensitive paint for stunning results.

Glow In The Dark Pigment

Glow in the Dark Pigments will treat 1 pint of SPRAYABLE base clear. Glow in the dark pigments are rather dense and can sink to the bottom of your paint gun or paint can if they aren’t constantly agitated. If using a siphon feed gun, adding a couple of marbles to the cup will keep the pigment suspended. Mix this paint only as needed to avoid issues with coagulation. With a heavy build up of pigment in a concentrated area, you can achieve a glow time of up to 6 hours. The more pigment you use, the longer it will glow.