Metallic
Pearl
Pearlescent
Iridescent
Flake
Sparkle
Xirallic
Aluminum
Paleochrome
Chroma
Crystal
Glass
Mica
Pigment
Candy
Tri-coat
Glossy
Matte…
Words used in the paint industry to describe color stir emotion. Some of these are scientific, such as “chroma,” which is the purity of color, while others are generic such as pearl, which can be hundreds of variants. This list isn’t all-inclusive and is growing as the industry evolves.
Suspended particles within a dry film of resin give the paint its visual character, so it’s safe to conclude that those particles are the stimulus of our emotions. However, most people, including professional painters, don’t really understand what is going on within those mysterious little particles as they are cast onto the surface with a spray gun. Because of this, there are misunderstandings about paint by the consumer and the journeyman.