In PIGMENT TOKYO, we have different types of effect pigments.

Discovering new colors can be fun, as much as it sounds like a sweet worry but it can be quite overwhelming by surrounding yourself with hundreds of choices.

Whenever I’m trying to buy the effect pigment, I always take a look at the sample book that you can find in the store or through the product pages on the website, however, I would also ask the other PIGMENT TOKYO staff, who are also artists, about their recent recommendations and favorite pigments.

Finding new effects and techniques that I haven't tried before is one of the biggest experiences that I enjoy while searching for colors.

In this article, I will be focusing on a topic that I came up with in the last discussion with my colleague about effect pigments: "What if you mixed the effect pigment with another black pigment before painting it? Would it still be polarized?”

If you’re interested in our previous effect pigments-related articles and everything about how to check on the product pages, click the link below for more.

【FEATURES】

◾️Light × Color - CHROMASHINE -

◾️White × Light × Black -EFFECT PIGMENT-

◾️Color & Light Effects that Illuminate Your Artwork -Iriodin-

There are types of effect pigments called polarization pigments and they are coated with certain substances on the base material.

Merck's effect pigments are available in five different base materials, and the characteristics of the pigments vary depending on the type. The base material itself does not have any color, and the color that appears depends on the type and thickness of the coating material.

Please refer to the list below for finding the effect pigments and types and characteristics of the base material used.

◾️Mica (mica)

Effect Pigments: Iriodin (natural or synthetic mica), Pyrisma (natural mica)

• Particle size varies from coarse to fine.
• The most popular base material for making a wide variety of effect pigments.

◾️Silica

Effect Pigments: Colorstream

• The reflection of light and the interference color changes depending on the viewing angle.

◾️Alumina (Aluminum Oxide)

Effect Pigments: Xirallic

• High saturation, high luminance.
• It makes the pigment glitter.
• Commonly used in automotive paints.

◾️Glass

Effect Pigments: Miraval

• High transparency, high particle texture.
• Transparent and comes with a large particle size (~200 μ).
• It gives the pigment a high degree of visual brilliance

◾️Aluminum

Effect Pigments: Meoxal

• With a metallic tone
• The pigment appears to be more opaque because of its aluminum characteristic.
• High hiding power.

In this article, the effect pigments are not only compared the colors by applying them on black and white paper but also tried to see how the effect pigments would turn out to be by pre-mixing with a black pigment.

As the picture shows below, here are the effect pigments I used.

Left: Miraval Magic Blue

Right: Xirallic T60-25 Cosmic Turquoise

Although both effect pigments are visually white, Magic Blue has a slightly reddish-blue shade while Cosmic Turquoise has a light green interference color.

Therefore, when it comes to effect pigments, even though I often find myself caught in the impressions of the paint samples or how the color names imply, and when I search for the color on the shelves, I realize it’s a white pigment.

First, let me paint these pigments on black and white paper.

The appearance of the colors will vary depending on the angle the light is hit and the thickness of the paint application. The painted samples above were taken from a certain angle to show the polarization of the color.

For seeing other pigment color samples, please visit our product page on the website.

The color of the pigments applied to white paper changes slightly from blue to reddish-purple to white.

On the other hand, when applied to black paper, the difference in thickness and the color change is more visible than on white paper; moreover, the blight glow from the large particles is unique to Miraval is also more pronounced.

The same thing goes with the Xirallic pigments; their polarization also changes depending on the angle the light hits it and the thickness of the paint coating.

The particle size of Magic Blue is about Φ20-200µm, while Cosmic Turquoise is Φ5-30µm, therefore, in comparison, this one creates a more soothing glow.

The finer particles are dispersible more easily, sothe shine of the highly saturated color is more visible and elegant.

Next, I will try mixing the effect pigments with black pigment paste.

【Painting Material Used】

Color Materials: Miraval Magic Blue / Pigment Paste Carbon Black

Medium: Gum Arabic

Substrate: Bamboo Washi for Watercolor

I added a little more of the Carbon Black pigment paste to the Magic Blue, so it looked completely black on the palette. While doing this process, I was a little worried that the polarization might not work with all the changes.

Therefore, for mixing stronger colors such as black pigment pastes, it’s better to add a little at a time and adjust the right amount of it. As you can see from the picture, the presence of the particles stands out and a thick feel through the color surface.

【Painting Material Used】

Color Material: Xirallic T60-25 Cosmic Turquoise / Pigment Paste Carbon Black

Medium: Gum Arabic

Substrate: Bamboo Washi for Watercolor

Regarding the Cosmic Turquoise, although I only mixed it with a small amount of Carbon Black pigment paste,, you can hardly tell the presence of black with the thick color surface.

Therefore, even with just a small amount of the black, the color change is significantly visible.

Through this experience, even though I mixed the colors by adding different amounts of the black pigment paste, both colors were polarized in the same way as when applied to black paper.

This method seems less prone to uneven brushstrokes, partly because the paints are evenly mixed.

Depending on the kind of effect pigments, it may be difficult for dispersing pigments perfectly when making water-based paints. In such cases, adding a dispersing agent is highly recommended.

Other than the methods I have shown you, you can also try mixing with dark gesso or any pigments other than black.

There are also videos on our Instagram reel about effect pigments applications

and more, so don’t forget to check it out!

◾️Miraval Magic Blue

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CPRy9tziOuY/

◾️Xirallic T60-25 Cosmic Turquoise

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CPK80KgisXq/

Most of the effect pigments, such as Miraval and Xirallic, are manufactured by Merck, a German company related to life science, electronics, and healthcare, which has been in business for over 350 years.

A while ago, we were on Insta Live with the Surface Solutions Department from Merck Performance Materials G.K. ,the Japanese subsidiary of Merck. They are responsible for the pearlescent pigments that we carry in-store.

During the live session, Merck answered everything from basic information about effect pigments to maniacal questions.

The mechanism of interference and polarization is also explained in an easy-to-understand way, making this Insta Live a must-see for anyone interested in effect pigments.

Thanks to this opportunity, I became more familiar with effect pigments and even more interested in them.

◾️PIGMENT TOKYO Instagram

【LIVE Collaboration】MERCK and PIGMENT TOKYO

※Real-time translation in English is provided.

Why are we drawn to effect pigments?

Perhaps one of the answers is that we can sense the transiency of the shimmering colors with the transitory of light.

There are many beautiful colors in this world, but I believe that the fusion of the brilliance emitted from the substrate and the color change caused by light leads to the shimmering colors.

Therefore, I will keep looking for colors that I have not yet encountered and touch a chord that I had not noticed.

◾️Merck

https://www.merckgroup.com/jp-ja

◾️Instagram

Merck Japan

https://www.instagram.com/merckjapan/

Merck Performance Materials

https://www.instagram.com/merck_surface