I have heard references to pearl paint. Does it refer to a type of paint or process?

 

The pearl I used is an additive that was purchase at the automotive paint supplier we used. It can be added directly to the paint, but works better when added to the clear coat and "fogged" over the car instead of trying to get a good wet coat of clear.
After we "fogged" the pearl mixture, we'd then use fresh clear and get our finish.
Bob

 

Thanks Bob, I have admired this paint job in the past but never really knew what I was looking at. I have a 63 Galaxie in the garage waiting for spring to paint. I was thinking white.

 

Did a 64 Chevy hard top. White Mother of Pearl with diamond dust. No clear coat in them days that I remember. But after 6 coats of hand rubbed paint. It would change color from gold to green to purple to blue depending on the light. Way Cool

 

When I was painting cars several years ago, there were several different colors available for the pearls.
Bob

 

Pearl is an additive that gives the effect of changing the color when the sun hits it or at different viewing angles. When I used to mix paint in the bodyshop, it came in a tiny jar, was in powder form, and generally added by the teaspoon(oz) to the basecoat based on the mixing formula. Not a ton of it needed to give effect. It is an interference pigment and changes how light is reflected. There are other interference pigments also. It can be added to the basecoat and is in many factory colors, or as part of a three stage paint job where it is mixed in the clear over the basecoat. The later is suppose to give a better effect. Say a red car with an orange pearl may look red in normal light will pop orange where the sun hits. Earliest was ground up fish scales I believe, but today mica is commonly used with a coating of titanium dioxide (what white pigment is made from) and the thickness of the coating determines the effect. I am not in expert on them, but this is what I believe. Here is one link, but am sure you can find better ones that show how pearls and different effects pigments work. If you do some searching, you may find a good one on chemical and coatings sites that explain in greater detail various effect pigments and what is happening.
http://www.pfonline.com/articles/00win01.html

 

Pearls have come a long way since the old days...and they are not lead like they used to be. LOTS of colors and types now.

 

What. No more diamond dust? Or is that just the nick name for the mica stuff?