Pearl Ex creates a metallic look without being a metal. The particles are flat platelets with two surfaces, therefore it lays down beautifully like a thin coating of metal. Some pearls have different particle sizes that produce different looks — from a fine, smooth, pearly luster such as Micropearl to a highly metallic sheen like Macropearl.

It is a safe, non-toxic, inert powdered pigment with a neutral pH. It is extremely color fast and stable — it will not tarnish or fade and is therefore ideal for archival applications. They can be mixed into any media and applied to any surface! And the variety of finishes Pearl Ex can produce is nearly endless—from metallic sheens to pearlescent shimmers to all manner of iridescent faux finishes.

 

Pearl Ex is extremely easy to use. Its incredible flexibility lends itself to a vast array of techniques. Your biggest problem may be deciding which technique to use. Here are some ideas to get you started:

•  Mix Pearl Ex with any clear medium to use over any surface. For example, you can mix Pearl Ex with a varnish, acrylic or solvent-based urethane or lacquer, as a coating over other paints, clay, wood, or paper. Urethane mix ratio is approximately 1 jar per quart of mixed clear paint.
•  Interference colors work best over dark surfaces.
•  Mix 4 parts Pearl Ex to 1 part Gum Arabic and add water to desired consistency for a watercolor paint. If mixing in a plastic well palette, this mixture can dry out and become reconstituted with water.
•  Dust Pearl Ex Powders onto shrink plastic before shrinking. The powder will become embedded in the surface when the plastic shrinks.
•  Dust a polymer clay rubber mold with Pearl Ex before pressing in the clay. This is a great way to color the clay. It also makes the clay easier to release from the mold.
•  Mix Pearl Ex with the Jacquard Textile Colors Colorless Extender for use on fabrics. Heat set as directed on bottle.
•  Mix Pearl Ex with a clear embossing powder for rubber stamp embossing. Pearl Ex in itself is not an embossing powder.
•  Dust Pearl Ex onto any surface and then seal with a spray lacquer. Spray the lacquer out over the surface and let the mist fall onto the surface rather than spraying the lacquer at the surface. This will give you a more even coat of lacquer without spray marks as well as preventing the spray from blowing off the Pearl Ex.
•  Knead dry Pearl Ex powder into polymer clay to color it.
•  Pearl Ex can be mixed into glycerin soaps in soap making and wax for candle making.
•  Pearl Ex can be mixed into a medium and airbrushed. Some testing will be necessary to ensure that the particle size will fit through the airbrush opening such as Macropearl