What types of special effect paintwork for cars are there?

Thomas Wachsmuth 21 October 2022 Advertising, Tips, products, information & Co.

Reading time 5 Min.

Recently updated on September 22, 2023 at 08:18 am

We explain the main types of car paints with special effects and give tips for choosing the car paint. Paints with special effects for the body are impressive and represent attractive products for customers from both the commercial and private sectors. The car manufacturers have long recognized this and offer their customers individual design options with numerous color combinations.

These range from metallic and Pearl finishes to special paintwork for cars of the most exclusive brands. In this article, we will bring you closer to the differences that exist between the different types of special car paintwork.

Car painting with special effects: tips for use and safety

Painting a car or a larger area yourself without the right equipment (PPE for protection, suitable space, etc.), experience and high-quality paint could inevitably lead to a disappointing result and unnecessary expenditure of time and money. The use of do-it-yourself paints is highly recommended for customizing things like mirror housings, trim strips and small components in general.

There are many different types of for this type of work car paints with special effects available in ready-to-use kits. In the following paragraphs we explain what the differences are and how you can choose between the most unusual colors to give a unique touch to the desired motorcycle paintwork.

Car painting with chameleon effect

A car paint with a chameleon effect is usually created by spraying on several layers (at least 4 or 5, very thin) achieved, always assuming a black background. The particular result of the color transition is due to the use of special pearlescent pigments that, depending on the composition, create the initial and final colors (up to 16 colors for more complex varnishes). When the component is exposed to light, the color change usually occurs when the viewing angle is between 60 and 120 degrees (for main colors like blue and red) and between 0 and 30 degrees or 120 and 180 degrees (for secondary colors like gold and green). ) varies.

For example: Ford Mustang GT with chameleon effect car paint

Car painting with opal effect

A pair of car paint with an opalescent effect is usually suitable for applications on a light background, such as white. Due to the use of synthetic elements in the clear coat, depending on the viewing angle and the amount of light, opalescent, mother-of-pearl-like reflections shimmer. This effect is due to the ability of varnish to defragment light into different colors. Incidentally, a not insignificant advantage of the paint is its high resistance to UV rays and weather influences.

Holographic car paint

A holographic or prismatic one car paint creates an effect that creates the color transition through particularly fine pigments of 10 - 40 microns. Aluminum or polyester based composition allows for a different result. They are semi-opaque and semi-transparent colors that achieve an increasingly dense effect as the number of layers applied increases. For this reason, too, it is advisable to start with a special basic colour, whereby there are two possibilities:

dark base color to obtain a more intense and flaming holographic effect
light base color to create an understated and subtle holographic effect

Car painting with "Candy" effect

The "Candy" effect car paintwork may resemble sweets, but in reality it is perceived as a deep, brilliantly light hue. What has evolved into a true layered technique relies on the use of a colored transparency applied to a background capable of reflecting light. In principle, there is no candy effect with only one component (a single layer). In fact, 50% of the final shade and effect depends on the type of foundation (intensity, color, grain and iridescence).

For example: BMW M5 with candy effect Paint

Fluorescent car paints

Fluorescent car paints are popular in racing. In addition to the pure racing aspect, the fluorescent effect makes it possible to make objects or details appear even brighter when they are hit by the light (e.g. at night). Compared to traditional paints, it is recommended to apply twice as many coats (up to 6) to make the paint more resistant. It is also advisable to avoid direct, permanent exposure to the sun in order to prevent cracking.

For example: Audi RS6 C7 with fluorescent car paint

Thermochromic car paint

The chromatic effect, which changes with the temperature of the body, is obtained with a thermochromic paint. In practice, with sufficient temperature fluctuations (from 10 °C to 50 °C depending on the type of paint), the upper, "cold" opaque layer becomes transparent and allows the lower layer (in a different color or with motifs, etc.) to shine through when it is warms up. It is therefore logical that it is less easy to apply. This applies to both the number of coats (4 to 6 is recommended) and the fact that the ambient temperature can affect the application of the paint. By the way, it should not be forgotten that the color change does not last long, but is shortened or lengthened by reducing the surface temperature (at a maximum of 70 °C it can carry out up to 10.000 color changes).

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