what exactly does pearl do to paint?

[ironhydroxide]

i probably need to repaint my xt6 and i was wondering what pearl does, and then i need to decide if i want it when i paint.

[Gl-boost]

Pearl is in all metalic paints ( that I know of). A easy way to look at it is silver, it has lots of pearl in it, thats what makes the paint shiny.

 

Thats what pearl does, it reflects the sunlight when it hits the paint and makes it very nice looking with depth. Hope this helps any.

[ironhydroxide]

I am thinking about a deep black paint, but also, i am wondering if it is possible to change the color of the pearlesence. like mabye a small tinge of gold in my deep black? or a deep blue?

[elcaminokurt]

My 2003 Baja is a black color that is called Onyx Black. In the sunlight, it has red metalic specks! It is a factory color, btw. Kurt

[Ever Victorious]

The pearl effect is from mica particles inside the paint itself (very very fine ones), and their effect is to cause the paint to reflect a different color based on the angle and type of light.

 

This is different than a "metallic" paint because a metallic paint will always show the base color plus a shiny sparkle of metal. A pearl coat will show the base color in most circumstances, but will actually reflect back a different color in some types of light or at odd angles. The most radical example of this is Mirage paint.

[Ever Victorious]

I am thinking about a deep black paint, but also, i am wondering if it is possible to change the color of the pearlesence. like mabye a small tinge of gold in my deep black? or a deep blue?

 

as far as the deep black with gold, Saturn had a color they called, if I remember, Black Gold in the late 90's that was like what you describe. It was actually quite a cool color.

[Gl-boost]

If the place at where you buy the paint is nice enough to let you back into there paint area they might let you choose the pearl you want.

 

Let me clear things up. paint is mixed to order when you buy it. So if they let you back where there paint mixing rack is when it comes time to add the pearl( pearls by the way are in powder form) you can choose which ones you want to add and how much.

 

There are a lot of diffrent colors and tints of pearls to.

 

Decide wisely though because you will pay for it even if you don't like it.

[Gl-boost]

Ah I stand corrected.

 

That Mirage paint you talk of do you mean Chamealon, that paint is diffrent from all other types, regular type pearl and metalic paints flakes fine or large lay flat on the cars surface.

 

Chamealon paint has flakes with two diffrent colors on each side. This paint's flakes Do Not lay flat, instead they lay on the side facing up and down. That is why when you look at it from one angle it blue and from another its green.

 

There are more colors to this type of paint but it is very exspensive and is sold at $25 an ounce if not more.

[Ever Victorious]

I'll also stand corrected... yeah, that's the stuff I was referring to.

 

Pearl does something similar, but not nearly as drastic.

[ironhydroxide]

well, i work with a guy that restores old vehicles, like his 70 plymouth duster or his 72 challenger, but he will help me paint my car, and he does all his own mixing and has good experience >15yrs. and good connections, so i am just trying to decide on a color. if you know the looks of an xt6, you know that red and yellow will be a "give me a ticket" color, and being a hS student, i can't have that. so, black, mabye white(but probably not) or a green. give me some feedback yall.

 

rusty

[mikeshoup]

if you know the looks of an xt6, you know that red and yellow will be a "give me a ticket" color, and being a hS student, i can't have that. so, black, mabye white(but probably not) or a green. give me some feedback yall.

I would like to dispel beleifs about red being a cop attractor. I only got pulled over in my ugly tan colored Chevy Celebrity (didn't get a ticket). That thing was a brick. Never have been pulled over in my old Red Toyota coupe, nor have I yet in my Red XT Turbo. I was a crazy driver with my Toyota. I did things I deserved tickets for.

 

I beleive red in no way makes your car a cop attractor.

[WagonsOnly]

My vote's in for Mica Red Pearl, Subaru factory color code #685. It's actually a deep maroon, not give-me-a-ticket red.

 

I'm also partial to Sunflower Yellow (factory color on the VW New Beetle) but that's a flat paint and may result in a ticket if it's not on a "cute" car.

[Phizinza]

The pearl effect is from mica particles inside the paint itself (very very fine ones), and their effect is to cause the paint to reflect a different color based on the angle and type of light.

 

This is different than a "metallic" paint because a metallic paint will always show the base color plus a shiny sparkle of metal. A pearl coat will show the base color in most circumstances, but will actually reflect back a different color in some types of light or at odd angles. The most radical example of this is Mirage paint.

 

This is what I know Pearl paint to be.

You can apply pearl paint in different ways. You can either apply it into the paint you are going to use, or you can put it in the clear coat. I think when you put it in the clear coat it acts more like what I would call Pearl, it shines up from only sertain angles. If you put it in the colored paint I think it doesn't shine up so much.

Although, some of the pearl paints you see, just say, on ebay don't all act like this. They are sometimes just a "candy" color. This is a color you mix in with the clear coat and is see throughable. So you want to have a nice paint under neth, just say an aluminium colored paint. Or you can paint it over air brushed flames, ect.

 

I was told pearls don't go so well over dark surfaces. But they can make the dark surface look much shinyer, and sparkly.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[Turbone]

well, i work with a guy that restores old vehicles, like his 70 plymouth duster or his 72 challenger, but he will help me paint my car, and he does all his own mixing and has good experience >15yrs. and good connections, so i am just trying to decide on a color. if you know the looks of an xt6, you know that red and yellow will be a "give me a ticket" color, and being a hS student, i can't have that. so, black, mabye white(but probably not) or a green. give me some feedback yall.

 

rusty

 

Definatly black. But I'm biased:brow: 4 of my Soobs are black, and so is my Harley.

[Ever Victorious]

Lucent Gray #654, an original XT factory color, is a nice pretty darker gray, kind of a charcoal. I think that would look even cooler if it were metallic or pearl...

[idosubaru]

color is all up to you, if there was a one size fits all solution we'd all be driving the same color! the original pearl white XT6 color is very nice and hides dirt and other markings well. dark cars show dirt/dust more. that's how i think anyway, i have other things i'd rather do than wash my car. if you want dark, check out the old Subaru XT6 sales brochures, there's a reason they stuck that dark maroon color on there, it's hot!

[Seahag1978]

A pearl coat will show the base color in most circumstances, but will actually reflect back a different color in some types of light or at odd angles.

 

Because of this, it's also the most difficult paint process... even the "experts" shudder at the mention of it. The pearl coat has to go on flawlessly.

 

Maaco quoted me $4,000. plus paint, for a pearl finish on a disassembled truck. They were probably going to job it out

[ironhydroxide]

well, i have the factory pearl white, and i kinda like it, it gives it a smooth "i am not a ricer" look. but i want to consider all my options, all the thousands of them. and if i went pearl white, i wouldn't have to paint/prep the door jams and other areas as much as i would with a different color paint. and while i am doing that i need to get my suspension swap underway, any of you who have had an xt6 know what i am talking about.

[idosubaru]

any of you who have had an xt6 know what i am talking about.

yep. my current daily driver was converted to coil overs when i got it, i'm converting it back to air suspension! coil over is the way to go for sure, far less trouble that way. i like the air suspension.

[LUVMYBRAT]

Yes, alot of you are right in some areas. Pearls are made of mica and they reflect light in different colors at different angles. That is called "flop" They can also be sprayed and mixed several ways. Mix it in the paint (or base caoat) and it will have an effect on the color as a whole, mix it in a clear (or mid coat) and it have an effect on the flop. Each coat in a mid coat will intensify the flop. Special colors such as "chameleon" "harlequin" and other are pearls as well. Pearls in the paint are usually two stage systems(basecoat/clearcoat) and the others are considered three stage (basecoat/midcoat/claercoat) systems. With contacts in the paint community you can probably mix whatever you want. Although that sounds cool beware, if you dont record the exact amounts measured and mixed, pray that you never have to respray it! Most paint companies have a variety of special colors or "custom colors" to pick from that are already cataloged and have formulas calculated. Ask you local jobber to see their chip books of special colors, you'd be suprised to see what they actually have available. This makes it easier on everyone and lastly the difficulty of spraying any of the colors rests solely on the operator of the spray equipment, I've been in the industry for almost twenty five years and am not afraid to spray anything. Mind you if your paying some one to do "special work" you will be subject to "special" prices as well if you know what I mean.

[Loyale 2.7 Turbo]

I made the White Metallic Colour to my 1985 EA82 Wagon, Just like This:

First I painted it with plain White, no metal, no mica at all...

Then, I painted it with a Special coat called "Pearl" Coat, that is a sort of Clear Coat with white fine metallic dust on it.

Then, I covered it with a Clear Coat...

That was a Three steps paint, and finished like the Metallic White of a Cadillac Escalade... just "Diamond White".

All paints where KLASS brand paints. Maybe that Idea could Help... Ask the Klass or Glasurit Paints Dealer... (Those Paints are my Personal Favourites) Klass is Cheaper and since it dilutes with Polyurethane, no Brake fluid can damage it easily.

Good Luck.