pearl paint

[sliferkiller]

I was thinking about making a White ferrari 458 with a black roof, I have several options..
1) Gloss White, gloss black

2) metallic white, gloss black

3) pearl white, pearl black? (is pearl black do-able?)

or any combination of these?

any thoughts? I'm going to be using tamiya spray paints..

for clear coat will i need a gloss coat or just the regular clear and sand/wax will be fine?

[ferrarijoe]

Black pearl is possible that's a way of doing ghost flames. Paint all black then flames pearl. Tamiya has a pearl coat so paint white and black then cover in pearl. The pearl is gloss so you don't have to gloss it, but you can future it if you want. Just wet sand between colors. Tamiya paints go one pretty smooth. Make sure you prime. In my experience tamiya (actually all whites) don't like bare plastic.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Several real-car manufacturers have or recently had colors they called "black pearl". Toyota has or had two, I believe. Duplicolor has at least one Toyo "black pearl" color in rattlecans.

Edited September 16, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[Kennyboy]

House of Kolor also has a BEAUTIFUL Black Pearl (that is actually pearlescent)

[sliferkiller]

can anyone explain the difference between a pearl paint job and a gloss paint? looking at pictures they look almost identical, but i think the pearl one has more of a pink sheen to it? what would pearl black look like?

[ferrarijoe]

Gloss is completely clear just changes sheen of paint. Like if you took a flat painted surface and got it wet. Pearl has a little color that changes with the light kind of like a rainbow effect.

This pearl

Edited September 16, 2014 by ferrarijoe

[sliferkiller]

hmm i guess i will go for a white pearl for sure and maybe a gloss black for the roof, any special ways to handle pearl paint? or is it the same as any other gloss/flat

[ferrarijoe]

Same just make sure to mask off anything you don't want it on. Because if you get over spray you have to sand it and repaint.

[Ace-Garageguy]

can anyone explain the difference between a pearl paint job and a gloss paint? looking at pictures they look almost identical, but i think the pearl one has more of a pink sheen to it? what would pearl black look like?

Have you ever seen a pearl? Pictures on the computer screen or in print just don't show what it is.

If you've never seen a real pearl, go to a jewelry store and look at one. Then you'll understand.

BUT...the sheen of a real pearl is semi-gloss, almost flat. Pearl paints are usually gloss-clear coated.

Handle it like a metallic, because it has tiny particles in it that may be disturbed and turn blotchy if you touch, rub, or sand it before you shoot your clear.

Edited September 16, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[sliferkiller]

notes taken! thanks guys off to the hobby/car body shops

[Kit Basher]

This is what "black pearl" looks like:

If you paint your car gloss white and gloss black, then cover the whole car with pearl clear, you should get what you want. Have fun!

[sliferkiller]

oh my, that looks awesome! going with pearl! thanks guys

[jwrass]

Jason,

Ace makes some great and accurate points. Here's a few more to consider.

Any color can be made into a pearl color with pearl pigments or pastes (if you can find the pastes) by adding the pigments to the paint or clear. Pearls come in a variety of colors, hues, intensity the only limit is your imagination.

Before the OEMs started putting pearl type pigmentation in their paint formulas pearl pigments where typically added to clear and placed over the color coat to achieve the pearl look (not always, in 1977 I painted a 1975 Firebird pearl red that my jobber custom mixed by adding pearl paste to a OEM color)

There are many OEM and Custom pearl colors that can be shot out of a rattle can to full size spray guns.

If you are set on a particular OEM color go with that, otherwise try the clear coat pearl method. I personally use HOK and PPG products for my 1:1. But have also used Jacquard pearl powders that can be found at Hobby Lobby and Michaels. I have had great success on inlays and helmets and would use them on models as these powders are compatible with all types of carrier.

After you shoot the pearl color, top coat it with clear. Like Ace said DO NOT sand directly on the pearl as this with scratch the pearl platelets and give you a blotchy or smearing type of look.

Good luck! Cheers, jwrass

[sliferkiller]

Jason,

Ace makes some great and accurate points. Here's a few more to consider.

Any color can be made into a pearl color with pearl pigments or pastes (if you can find the pastes) by adding the pigments to the paint or clear. Pearls come in a variety of colors, hues, intensity the only limit is your imagination.

Before the OEMs started putting pearl type pigmentation in their paint formulas pearl pigments where typically added to clear and placed over the color coat to achieve the pearl look (not always, in 1977 I painted a 1975 Firebird pearl red that my jobber custom mixed by adding pearl paste to a OEM color)

There are many OEM and Custom pearl colors that can be shot out of a rattle can to full size spray guns.

If you are set on a particular OEM color go with that, otherwise try the clear coat pearl method. I personally use HOK and PPG products for my 1:1. But have also used Jacquard pearl powders that can be found at Hobby Lobby and Michaels. I have had great success on inlays and helmets and would use them on models as these powders are compatible with all types of carrier.

After you shoot the pearl color, top coat it with clear. Like Ace said DO NOT sand directly on the pearl as this with scratch the pearl platelets and give you a blotchy or smearing type of look.

Good luck! Cheers, jwrass

lots of great information, thanks! Will look into what paints i can get, either pearl paint with gloss coat ontop or regular paint with a pearl top coat