Resin + Pigment How To
What we Cover
- Achieving different effects
- Measuring and common mixing ratios
- Tips for mixing Pigment into your Resin
- Achieving duel pigment pours
This colour is Violet Blue Colour Shift. Read the recipe for how we achieved this look HERE
Achieving Different Effects
Read more HERE for a guide of 'All you need to know about Pigments' before you get started!
Pearl Series: These Metallic pigments are the most popular choice to mix in with your resin. It is a professional grade mica pigment that is best used when added to a clear base.
Ghost Series: When using this pigment, we suggest to be generous when adding to your resin to get a dramatic effect. You can also achieve a more pronounced result when adding ghost pigment to a dark base colour (IE adding Grey or Black tone first)
Star Series: This shimmery series has slightly larger flakes than the Pearl Series. For these pigments, you want to make sure you are scraping the bottom of your mixing container throughly. This will help you avoid the pigment settling to the bottom of your project when you pour it.
Chameleon Series: These pigments have a colour shift effect. It is best to use them on their own to achieve the best results. View some of our projects HERE for inspiration
Liquid Pigments: If you are looking to achieve a matte flat colour finish we recommend Ecopoxy liquid pigments. Only a few drops are needed for an opaque look. This liquid pigment is very pigmented.
Ink Pigment: If you would are trying to get a flat translucent colour, we recommend Squidpoxy Ink pigments. This Ink pairs nicely with any of our pigments and can be used as a solid base colour you can add to.
This medium transparency allows for you to still see the live edge detail of the wood. Purchase pre-made pieces HERE
Measuring and common Mixing Ratios
When experimenting with resin, you want to think of yourself as an artist who is mixing different paint colours together to achieve certain colour hues and tones. Adding pigment to your epoxy and recording the amount that you add is key! This way you can reference back to successful projects to see exactly how you achieved that look if you want to replicate it. It will also help you avoid failed experiments if you don't like how they turned out.
Have fun with it! There is no wrong way to mix pigment
Remember, colour is subjective so below are recommendations and starting points that we have found success with.
Medium Transparency = - 1/8 teaspoon per 1 litre Resin
Opaque = 1/2 teaspoon (minimum) per 1 litre Resin
Purchase this Pigment colour HERE
Tips for mixing Pigment into your Resin
- If you are mixing your pigment in with a drill and paddle attachment, we suggest to put it in reverse. This will help draw the pigment in and reduce the amount of air you are adding to your resin. By doing this you are decreasing the amount of micro-bubbles that will develop in your epoxy.
- You can always continue to add pigment to your resin but once added, you can't remove it. Start of with a little bit of pigment and mix it into your resin throughly. Once the sides and bottom of container has been scraped and the pigment molecules have bonded to the resin, you can continue to add more pigment until you have achieved your desired colour.
- To get an idea of how translucent your mixture is before pouring it into your project, take a popsicle stick (or your stir device) and stick it into the container the depth of what you are pouring (IE if you are pouring 1.5" thick, put your popsicle stick in 1.5" deep into your cup). If you can see the end of it that means your pour will still be translucent and you will be able to see through it. Add more pigment until you can not see the end of the stir stick if you are looking for an opaque look. Remember the pigment will be more concentrated in your mixing container!
Check out this Video Example to see how a divider can be put in
Achieving Duel Pigment Pours
For a barrier we use 1/4" Baltic Birch and scribe it to fit as best as possible. It doesn't have to be perfect, just close enough to keep the pours separate and prevent them from mixing during the pour.
Depending on the brand of resin you are using (as some cure faster then others) we take out the barrier between 14 - 18 hours when using Ecopoxy Flowcast Resin. You want the epoxy to be a gel-like consistency so when you remove the barrier and mix it, then the resin will still settle after you stir it around.
This could take some trial an error as there are a lot of different factors in play. You want to make sure you are pouring in a temperature regulated environment. If the room is warmer than your epoxy will cure faster. If you are pouring a larger Litre amount of epoxy (IE 20+ Litres at once) the exothermic reaction in resin will heat up and cure the epoxy faster. It is important to monitor your pour closely to ensure you don't miss the 'window' of opportunity to take your barrier out and stir the epoxy before it is fully cured.
