Effect paint and special techniques: candy chrome look and multi-layer paint.
When standard color isn't enough—the techniques behind depth, shimmer, and color shift
Most cars rolling off the factory floor today have a two-part system: a colored base coat and a protective clear coat on top. But for painters working with custom cars, motorcycles or special jobs, there's a whole world of effect techniques that go far beyond the typical single-color paint.
§From standard color to effect
The two-part basecoat/clearcoat system is today the standard on almost all new cars. The clearcoat protects and gives gloss while the basecoat carries the color. Effect paint builds on the same principle but adds one or more extra layers that change how light plays on the surface.
§Candylac — depth through transparency
Candylac is a transparent strongly coloured lacquer typically mixed as a concentrate in a clear coat or binder and sprayed over a metallic silver base. Because the layer is transparent the silver base shines through and gives a depth and glow which an ordinary opaque colour cannot achieve. In return the technique is fragile: uneven application immediately shows visible shadows and stripes because each transparent layer lies on top of the previous one.
§Other effect techniques
| Power | How it is achieved | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Hammer paint | Aluminum flakes in the paint that give a hammered, textured appearance | Machines large ovens and industrial equipment make production fast and large-scale. |
| Wrinkle lacquer | Special hardening process that causes the varnish to contract in a pattern | Motor covers, special tasks |
| Chameleon/color shift | Pigments that change shade depending on angle and light | Custom cars and motorcycles |
| Metallic/perle | Metal or pearl particles that give depth and shimmer | Standard cars as well as special tasks |
§The challenge with repairing effect lacquer.
If you need to do a spot repair on a car with candy lacquer chameleon effect or hammer lacquer the task is significantly harder than on a solid-colour car. The effect is often directional and depends on how pigments or metal flakes have settled during spraying. Therefore it is often necessary to blend the repair over a larger area or an entire panel so the transition is not visible — exactly the same principle as with normal colour matching just with even less room for error.
“An ordinary colour must be correct. An effect lacquer must be correct from all angles at the same time.”