All you Need to know about Pigments
What we Discuss
1. How to Achieve Different Pigment Effects
1a. Transparent Effect
1b. Opaque Effect
2. Testing your Opacities before pouring
3. Mixing Pigment with your Resin
4. Metallic Pigments
5. Liquid Pigments
6. Liquid Inks
7. Speciality Pigments:
1. How to Achieve Different Pigment Effects
Suggested : 1/8 teaspoon per 1 litre will give you a medium transparency effect.
When it comes to mixing pigments together there are NO Rules! Just like mixing paint to achieve different colours, you can experiment with any combination to create whatever effect you are looking for.
1a. Transparent Effect:
To achieve this look of only a slight colour tint and still being able to see through your pour,you will want to make sure you only add in a small ratio of pigment to resin.Remember you can always add pigment but you can not remove it from your epoxy! Deciding on transparency level is subjective and up to personal preference.A safe way to start out is with 1/16 teaspoon of pigment to see how it effects the amount you are pouring and continue to add from there.
1b. Opaque Effect:
This application you will not be able to see through your pour. Remember when you are mixing in a container that the resin is more concentrated. Make sure you have added enough to reach your desired look before pouring it out into your project.If you begin to pour and you are not satisfied with what the colour looks like, immediately stop. Mix more pigment into your container throughly before you continue to pour out the rest of your resin.
2. Testing your Opacities before pouring
To get an idea of what the transparency level is, take a popsicle stick (or your stir device) and stick it into the container the depth of what you are pouring (IE if you are pouring 1.5" thick, put your popsicle stick 1.5" deep into your container). If you can see it, that means your pour will still be translucent and you will be able to see through the pour. Add more pigment until you can not see the end of the stir stick if you are looking for an opaque look.
Make sure you throughly mix your resin before adding pigment. It's easiest to evaluate the true colour of the pigment when mixed in a clear container.
3. Mixing Pigment with your Resin
To measure the amount of pigment, we simply use measuring spoons (Purchase Here).
When mixing the pigment with your resin, we use a mixer drill attachment (Purchase Here). You can also mix by hand using a wooden paint or popcycle sticks for smaller quantities.
A little bit of pigment goes a long way. We suggest to add a small amount to your pour and add a little bit at a time while thoroughly mixing in-between until you achieve the desired look. Make sure you are mixing throughly scraping the sides, bottom of your container and stir stick. You don't want the pigment to settle on the sides or bottom of your container leaving large amount of flecks not stirred into the resin.
4. Metallic Pigments
- This is the most common type of pigment you see used in the wood working + resin projects
- The small mica particles stay suspended in resin once mixed in giving your project vibrant colours and a pearlescent effect
5. Liquid Pigments
- Easy to achieve an opaque colour with only a few drops
- This Pigment will give you a matte and flat colour finish
- A little big goes a long way. Always start with a few drops, mix and continue to add more until you receive the desired effect
6. Liquid Inks
This liquid pigment gives a translucent matte colour base to your resin.
7. Speciality Pigments:
Ghost: This collection is best used when combine with a dark pigment base.
Star: This series is best used on its own or combine with another pigment collection. It will give you a slight shimmer and sparkle effect to your resin project.
Chameleon: This series are all Colour Shift Pigments. In each product name we describe the two tone Colour shift effect you will get once poured.