Pearl Ex is a versatile powdered pigment that is highly colorfast and stable. It creates a metallic look with varied particle sizes that produce different looks from a fine, smooth, pearly luster to a highly metallic sheen.
Pearl Ex pigments are dry, with a neutral pH, so they last for years and only small amounts are needed for most products.
Pearl Ex pigments are colorfast, temperature resistant, weather resistant and non-tarnishing, therefore ideal for archival applications
Can be mixed with many artist mediums, oils, acrylics and polymer clay. It can also be spread dry on porous surfaces. Great with fabric, paper, clay, leather, glass and wood. Available in 3 gram size.
Jacquard Pearl-Ex Pigments are non-toxic, inert, powdered pigments that exhibit extreme color- fastness and stability.
- They are ideal for interior, exterior and archival applications.
- They can be mixed into any viscous medium eg: oil, acrylic, varnish, gum arabic and clay or they may be spread dry on any porous surface.
- Their temperature resistance allows them to be fired in a kiln up to 600 degrees.
The different particle sizes produce different looks from a fine, smooth, pearly lustre to a highly metallic sheen.
The colors range from whites to gold’s, coppers, silvers and bronzes.
Traditional pigments or artist colors can be mixed with Pearl-Ex Pigments to further enhance the possibilities.
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:
Use with paper:
Interference colours work best on dark colors. Therefore direct to dark card or onto dark ink on light card.
Duo colours - Red-Blue, Green-Yellow and Blue-Green
- These work in two ways. The color you see is the color you will get on light ink or card. However, if you use these on dark color ink or card the second color will appear.
All other colors - What you see is what you get.
Embossing powder mix. Use a film canister - fill half of it with clear embossing powder. Now measure less than a 1/4-teaspoon of Pearlex and mix this in well. Replace the canister lid and shake it. Pearl Ex in itself is not an embossing powder. Use more embossing powder for a more raised effect. It doesn't take much PearlEx to tint the powder. You might want to try 1 part Pearl Ex to 2 parts embossing powder. Stamp, dust and heat as usual. Wipe off any excess Pearl Ex with soft paper.
Using Pearlex as a dry powder.
There are a number of ways effects can be achieved by using your Pearlex straight from the jar.
1) Using a versamark ink pad or a clear ink embossing pad you can stamp your image direct to your paper and then lightly dip you fine tipped paint brushes into you chosen Pearlex colours and colour over the image.
2) For a less refined look you can repeat the above but use a large make up brush and dip into Pearlex and then tap excess onto image and brush all over.
3) Using ink cubes (brands include Fabrico and Versacolour) twist and turn varying colours on your back ground card and then dip you large make up brush into chosen Pearlex and brush over the whole card to highlight the ink colours.
Using Pearlex with your Tombows, Fabricos or blender pens
Emboss a couple of chosen images you would like to try for this.
It’s important to have a box of tissues handy, as you want your pens later on for their normal use. Lightly dip your pen in a chosen color of Pearlex. Test this combination of powder and pen by drawing a dot to the side of your embossed piece before deciding which combination you like. If you like it then it’s a good idea to make a note of the combination.
Using Pearlex as a paint.
Paint mix - 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. It is a good idea to use distilled water but you don't have to.
Apply Pearl Ex Pigments to:
- Fabric
- Polymer Clay
- Glass
- Metal
- Wood
- Paper
- Almost anything!
Mix Pearl Ex Pigments into:
- Pearl Ex Varnish
- Neopaque Clear Extender
- Gum Arabic
- Acrylic Paint
- Gouache
- Glue
- Varnish
- Clay
- Fabric Paint
- Melted Wax
- Liquid Polymer Clay
- Any other viscous transparent medium!
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Dust Pearl Ex Powders onto shrink plastic before shrinking. The powder will become embedded in the surface when the plastic shrinks. When cool wipe off excess for a soft glow of color. Coat with varnish for a glossy finish. To create a more intense color, sand the shrink plastic before dusting on Pearl Ex.
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Mix Pearl Ex with the Jacquard Textile Colors Colorless Extender for use on fabrics. Use a plastic dropper to add Colorless Extender to Pearl Ex. Mix to desired consistency to paint on fabric (can be thinned with water up to 20%). Let dry. Heat set with a dry iron on the reverse side of the fabric for 30-60 seconds at a temperature suited to the fabric.
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Mix Pearl Ex with any clear medium to use over any surface. Example: use a plastic dropper to add varhish to Pearl Ex. Mix to desired consistency and paint on wood, metal, plastic or baked polymer clay
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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.
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Create your own unique colors by kneading Pearl Ex into polymer clay. Bake clay following manufacturer's instructions. Allow to cool before handling. Pearl Ex is embedded in the clay so there is no need to varhish unless you want a glossier surface. For large areas of color use your fingers,a Q-tip or a brush. For more control use a small brush. Work Pearl Ex into the surface and brush off excess. Bake according to manufacturer's instructions. Brush or spray varhish on surface when cool to seal.
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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. Simply dust the mold with Pearl Ex using a soft bristle brush. Turn the mold over and gently tap out excess. Press conditioned clay in to the mold and get instant beautiful color! Bake polymer clay following manufacturer's instructions. Allow to cool then coat with varhish to seal.
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To make a Painted Image Transfer, simply mix Pearl Ex with water, paint a design on paper and lay a sheet of polymer clay on top. Gently press down with a rolling pin, carefully pull away the paper, trim clay and bake. Seal with varhish when cool if desired.
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Pearl Ex can be mixed into glycerin soaps in soap making and wax for candle making.
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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
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You can do a lot with Pearl Ex and white glue. Brush glue designs on paper, thin glue with water if needed. Put glue in a gutta bottle with a #9 metal tip to draw finer lines or make dots. While glue is still wet sprinkle with Pearl Ex. When glue is completely dry, gently brush off excess Pearl Ex with a soft bristle brush.
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Mix Pearl Ex into your nail polish and make your own fun colors of nail polish for accents or your whole nail! Add a little Pearl Ex for a hint of sparkle or more for a vivid color.
The number of ways you can use Pearl Ex is endless, so try some experimentation. Pearl Ex is a fine pigment, so it can be added to almost anything, with amazing results. Keep a journal to record what you did and what type of results it produced, so you can replicate your techniques.
Note: Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments were specifically developed as a art material.
They are NOT for cosmetic use.