How Much Pigment Should I Add to My Epoxy?

Pigments allow you to truly express your creative side with different colors, effects, and opacities. But how do you get the result you’re aiming for?

This article will explain each pigment line’s properties, effects, how much to use, and tips for mixing and testing colors.

The Effect of Each Pigment

EcoPoxy has three different pigment lines; Liquid Color Pigments, Metallic Color Pigments, and Polyester Color Glitters. Each is available in a variety of colors, and each creates a unique effect. To decide on the pigment line needed, first, you must determine the impact you are going for.

1. Liquid Color Pigments

Our Liquid Color Pigments are specially formulated to mix thoroughly and stay suspended in our casting and coating epoxies. One drop of these highly concentrated pigments goes a long way. You can mix and match our rich and vibrant pigments to create an unlimited array of exciting new custom colors or combine them with our Metallic Color Pigments or Polyester Color Glitters to create unique color effects.

• Compatible with EcoPoxy Casting & Coating Resins
• A Little Goes a Long Way
• Achieve Uniform Color in Minutes
• Create a Unique & Vibrant Range of Colors

Tips for using Liquid Color Pigments:

• To avoid curing imperfections when adding pigment, do not add more than 3% of your epoxy mixture by volume and by weight.
• For testing a color's opacity, read the last tip in this article.
• Remember, always add a little at a time. A little goes a long way! You are always able to add color if it’s too light, but you are not able to remove color if it is too dark.

2. Metallic Color Pigments

Our Metallic Color Pigments are composed of fine mica nanoparticles coated with pigments that create iridescent and multi-dimensional effects. When suspended in epoxy, the metallic particles reflect light and create a stunning illusion of depth and motion. They blend evenly into our casting and coating epoxies and stay suspended until your project has cured. Add just the amount you need to customize the transparency of your project.

You can mix and match our rich and vibrant pigments to create an unlimited array of exciting new custom colors or combine them with our Liquid Color Pigments or Polyester Color Glitters to create unique color effects.

• Compatible with EcoPoxy Casting & Coating Resins
• Make Each Project One-of-a-kind
• Create with a Full Color Array
• Create the Illusion of Depth & Motion

Tips for using Metallic Color Pigments:

• Mix for at least 2-3 minutes
• If you notice your pigments settling, gently swirl with a clean tool while trying not to introduce air bubbles (to clean tools, wipe with denatured alcohol and allow it to dry). Keep the tool used for stirring immersed in the epoxy to reduce the introduction of air bubbles.
• Check every 15-30 minutes to ensure the pigments haven't settled. If you notice any settling, gently swirl again.
• Do not swirl when epoxy is in a gel-like state.
• To avoid curing imperfections when adding pigment, do not add more than 3% of your epoxy mixture by volume or by weight.
• For testing a color's opacity, read the last tip in this article.
• Remember, always add a little at a time, a little goes a long way! You are always able to add color if it’s too light, but you are not able to remove color if it is too dark.

3. Polyester Color Glitters

Polyester Color Glitters are precisely cut from premium vacuum-metalized polyester film. The brilliant nature of these specialty glitters means they naturally complement, EcoPoxy resins. Mix Polyester Color Glitters with a thin topcoat, such as UVPoxy, to give your project a lustrous sparkle. Polyester Color Glitters can also be used to accent our Liquid and Metallic Color Pigments, creating a truly custom look that enhances the visual appeal of your project.

• Compatible with EcoPoxy Coating Resins
• Large Particles Create Eye-catching Reflections
• Precision Cut Flecks for a Lustrous Look
• Available in a Variety of Colors

How Much Pigment Do I Need?:

- Coloring FlowCast:

Add Metallic Color Pigments and mix until evenly dispersed (typically 2-3 minutes). Use the following guidelines to achieve your desired look:

• Opaque = 1 gram (1/2 tsp) per liter
• Translucent = 1/2 gram (1/4 tsp) per liter
• Transparent = < 1/8 gram (1/16 tsp) per liter

For Liquid Color Pigments, add one drop at a time until desired opacity is achieved. It is recommended not to use more than 3% of the total volume or approximately 4% of the total weight.

- Coloring FlowCast SPR:

Add Metallic Color Pigments and mix until evenly dispersed (typically 2-3 minutes). Use the following guidelines to achieve your desired look:

• Opaque = 2 grams (1 tsp) per liter
• Translucent = 1 gram (1/2 tsp) per liter
• Transparent = ¼ gram (1/8 tsp) per liter

Experienced FlowCast users may notice that the amount of Metallic Color Pigment recommended for FlowCast SPR is greater than that recommended for FlowCast. The additional pigment is required to provide a similar effect to FlowCast because FlowCast SPR is used for thinner pours.

For Liquid Color Pigments, add one drop at a time until desired opacity is achieved. It is recommended not to use more than 3% of the total volume or approximately 4% of the total weight.

- Coloring UVPoxy:

If you are using pigments for the first time, it is best to start by mixing a small amount into your resin and adding more as needed to achieve your desired color and opacity. Stir deliberately but carefully. The pigment needs to be fully incorporated into the resin but stirring too aggressively can introduce air to the mixture, resulting in unwanted bubbles in your cured UVPoxy.

Keep in mind that the color of the work piece will affect how much pigment is required to achieve a fully opaque coating. If you’re coating a dark-colored work piece with a light-colored coating, you may require significantly more pigment than you would need if coating a light-colored work piece. If you have painted your work piece using a matching paint color, one of the added benefits is that you will not need to use as much pigment to achieve a fully opaque look.

For Metallic Color Pigments, add to UVPoxy using a measuring spoon and mix until evenly dispersed (typically 1-2 minutes). Use the following guidelines as a starting point to achieve the desired look for your coating:

• Opaque = 6-8+ grams (3-4 tsp) per liter
• Translucent = 2-6 grams (1-3 tsp) per liter
• Transparent = 0.5-2 grams (1/4-1 tsp) per liter

Once you have a good understanding of how much pigment you need to achieve your desired color and opacity, you can save time by pre-measuring your Metallic Color Pigments in small cups so that they can be quickly added to your mixed UVPoxy.

For Liquid Color Pigments, add one drop at a time and mix thoroughly. Repeat until the desired opacity is achieved. It is recommended not to use more than 3% of total volume or approximately 4% of total weight. 

For Polyester Color Glitters, add as desired to UVPoxy and mix until evenly dispersed. The Polyester Color Glitter particles are larger than the Metallic Color Pigment particles and may settle to the bottom of thicker layers of epoxy. They are best used to add a glitter effect to thin topcoat layers. Start with a small amount of glitter and add more as desired.

What is the difference between EcoPoxy Metallic Color Pigments and Polyester Color Glitters? Trevor from EcoPoxy explains.

Tips For Testing Pigment Color Depth When You Don’t Feel Like Doing Math

To test what a color will look like in a thick casting, grab an additional clear jar and keep it beside your mixing pail. In your mixing pail, combine your epoxy, add a small amount of pigment, and mix well. Once mixed, a sample into your clear glass jar to the same depth as you are using on your project. If it is too light, pour the sample back into the mixing pail and add more pigment. Repeat this test until you get the desired color depth.