Metallic, Pearl, Pearlescent, Iridescent, Flake, Sparkle, Xirallic, Aluminum, Paleochrome, Chroma, Crystal, Glass, Mica, Pigment, Candy, Tri-coat, Glossy, Matte…
Words used in the paint industry to describe color stir emotion. Some of these are scientific, such as “chroma,” which is the purity of color, while others are generic such as pearl, which can be hundreds of variants. This list isn’t all-inclusive and is growing as the industry evolves.
Suspended particles within a dry film of resin give the paint its visual character, so it’s safe to conclude that those particles are the stimulus of our emotions. However, most people, including professional painters, don’t really understand what is going on within those mysterious little particles as they are cast onto the surface with a spray gun. Because of this, there are misunderstandings about paint by the consumer and the journeyman.
"It doesn’t matter how skilled the craftsman is if the paint system is not backed by quality testing and the scientific investment of a reputable company."
While it’s true that the quality of any paint system lies in the quality of its resin system, it is also true that it depends on the purity and origin of its pigments. Not all pigments are created equal, and they are greatly impacted by the solvents within the liquid resin system and the elements they must endure after the said resin is cured. Therefore, it’s important to consider the brand of paint used in your investment. It doesn’t matter how skilled the craftsman is if the paint system is not backed by quality testing and the scientific investment of a reputable company. This costs money, so it’s safe to say you get what you pay for.
Furthermore, the best paint system in the world can be misused by the craftsman. All systems have their limits of application within their designed material stack-up. Rebelliousness to the rules and playing chemist is a grievous error amongst many journeyman painters. I believe this is because most paint systems are so forgiving that a painter can still achieve decent results even while pushing the limits of the system. But if those abuses become a habit, it will eventually result in a quality failure either during the paint job or after it’s completed. This is half the problem when you consider that a painter can move the appearance of color via application techniques. Strict adherence to fundamentals, industry best practices, and the paint company’s technical recommendations always wins the day.
In future blogs, I will explore some of the science behind these pigments and why they appeal to the senses.
Authored By: Steve Wright
