Techniques for modifying chameleon paints and mixing them with Candy inks
There are several ways to modify a chameleon to produce a colour variant, whilst retaining that fascinating iridescent colour-changing effect.
Before explaining the various options for using a chameleon to create new colours, we need to explain that there are essentially two main families of chameleon:
- Classic-style chameleon paints, which are semi-opaque pearlescent particles. Like all pearlescent paints, they are not completely opaque; they consist of mother-of-pearl coated with iron oxide, which creates the appearance of a coloured powder that can be blue, red or copper-coloured.
- Transparent-type chameleons: these are made from pearlescent particles that appear whitish but are, in fact, almost completely transparent. They consist of flat particles of synthetic mica coated with a thin layer of titanium oxide or silica. This allows light to pass through, revealing the underlying colour almost unchanged.
The first technique involves changing the background colour :
Usually, a chameleon paint must be applied over a black background to reveal the chameleon’s original colours. So try using different colours for the chameleon’s base coat and you’ll be able to see the variations compared to the standard application. The colours can be dark or light, and they must always be solid, opaque colours. Background shades can include bright red, navy blue, yellow, grey, or even a more complex colour.
The result will be much more varied with transparent-type paints, whilst opaque chameleon paints will reveal almost no change at all.
Mix Candy with a chameleon Stardust Colors
Second technique: add some Candy
Candy dyes are light-transmitting colourants that allow light to pass through, in contrast to opaque
pigment dyes which block light. Candy dyes can be added to chameleon dyes to filter incoming and outgoing light and bring about a subtle or even radical change to the chameleon’s iridescent colour.
It should be noted that the more Candy ink you add, the more the colour change will fade. Candy should therefore be used sparingly.
You can choose a Candy shade similar to that of the chameleon to enhance the colour and intensity, or a contrasting shade to create effects of depth and more complex, subtle colours.
The third technique: mixing with other types of paint:
It is possible to mix chameleon paint with other particle-based paints, such as pearlescent or holographic paints, and even aluminium paints.
