Epoxy Resin can be used as a clear transparent casting which are beautiful and necessary especially when you are creating memory pieces to last a lifetime.
Sometimes you want to add that funky colour to get that great effect that you have seen on Pinterest, well the following pigment guide will cover all you need to know when selecting your pigments.
Resin is so versatile and almost anything can be used to colour it which can quickly lead to your mind spinning out and thinking of the craziest things to use…. trust me we have been there. When you are trying out different pigments at home, the rule is to always do a small test pour and see how the pigment and resin reacts, sometimes the pigment will change colour and sometimes the resin might not set.
Test, test, test that is the only way to know.
After a lot of experimenting, we have settled on our four trusted pigment types that we always keep in stock.
Never exceed 10% pigment in your resin mixture, although that said, it is not necessary to use that much.
Always make sure that your resin is fully mixed before adding pigment because if you add your pigments first, you will not be able to tell if your resin is thoroughly mixed.
You can always add more pigment, but you can’t take it out some sure to add a little at a time until you are happy with the colour.
Different pigment ranges can be mixed together to achieve a specific colour, so don’t be afraid to mix some alcohol ink, PoxyPigment and Pearl Ex together, this is when the magic happens, but remember not to exceed the 10% pigment to resin ratio.
Pearl Ex powder is manufactured by Jacquard. It can be used for much more than just colouring your resin. You can read more HERE about what other used there are for Pearl Ex powders, for this post we will only look at how it is used in resin.
Pearl Ex Powder is a very fine mica powder and gives you an opaque and great shimmer effect when used in resin. With a colour range of 53 colours, you will definitely find more than one colour to fall in love with, if not remember you can always create your own unique colour by mixing some colours together.
Pearl Ex powder can be used as a pigment on its own or it can be mixed with PoxyPigment or Pinata Alcohol Ink to achieve the colour you require.
Mix your resin before adding the pigment. Only a knife point is needed, so add a little at a time until you achieve the desired colour.
Remember not to exceed the 10% pigment to resin ratio.
Pearl Ex Powder can be used in different ways.
Number one – You can mix it into your resin and be mesmerized by the pearlescent effect that it creates.
Number two – You can apply the powder to your silicone mould, remove the excess and pour a coloured resin over the powder. This will bring all the shimmer to the surface of your casting.
View our Project Guide to see how to use these to effects.
PoxyPigment is an opaque pigment and does NOT have a pearlescent effect. Only a view drops are needed when using PoxyPigment to colour your resin. It comes with a spout to help control how much is used. Always shake the bottle well before use to make sure the pigment is mixed before you add it to your resin.
PoxyPigment’s are VOC free and can easily be cleaned with soapy water.
This Pigment will only cure once mixed with your Resin Mixture. PoxyPigment is not a paint and will not dry when used for painting.
PoxyPigment can be used as a pigment on its own or it can be mixed with Pearl Ex powder or Pinata Alcohol Ink to achieve the colour you require.
Mix your resin before adding the pigment. Only a few drops are needed, so add a little at a time until you achieve the desired colour. Remember not to exceed the 10% pigment to resin ratio.
Check out this great Project to see how to use PoxyPigments.
Pinata Alcohol Ink is also manufactured by Jacquard. PoxyArt is very proud to say that we are the soul importer in South Africa for Jacquard products.
Alcohol Ink was not originally made for colouring resin, but you know us crafters we will use anything and everything to achieve the creative image in our head. Alcohol ink is made to create amazing Alcohol Ink art on paper, ceramic and many more materials. Here is a Project Guide to show you how to create your very own Alcohol Ink Art.
When using Alcohol Ink in resin you need to know that due to the chemical reaction you might get a different colour than seen in the bottle. Rainforest Green turns a bit more blue and Passion Purple tends to go brown, these colour changes only happened when you mix it into your resin. The colours will stay true when you are using it to create the Petri art effect.
Pinata Alcohol Ink is not UV resistant; it will fade when exposed to sunlight. Protect your art from sunlight to prolong its life.
You can also create beautiful Petri Art using Alcohol Ink and resin. This is created by casting your clear resin into a mould. Blanco Blanco or white Pinata Alcohol Ink used create this effect, the Blanco is sometimes also referred to as a sinker. You will add drops of colour ink onto the surface of your wet resin, on top of these drops you will then add the sinker Blanco ink. The sinker ink does as it named and allows the colour pigment to sink into the resin causing this amazing effect. Follow this Project Guide to try if for yourself.
Then you have Glow in the dark powder. It brings back memories of little glow in the dark starts stuck to my bedroom ceiling. And that’s just that, you can create your own little glow magic. Add it to your keyring to help you find it a night or create some spooky Halloween decorations. The applications are endless.
It is not advices to use other pigments together with Glow in the dark powder. The other pigments will prevent your glow in the dark to charge up during the day and will also dull the glow at night. If colour is a must try to keep it to a minimum.
Pearl Ex Powder – Opaque colourant with a pearlescent effect.
PoxyPigment – Opaque pigment with NO pearlescent effect.
Pinata Alcohol Ink – Translucent Pigment, not to be exposed to sunlight.
Glow in the Dark – Charges through sunlight, and glows at night.
