{"id":792,"date":"2023-05-22T13:50:44","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T11:50:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/?p=792"},"modified":"2023-05-22T13:50:44","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T11:50:44","slug":"crystalizer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/crystalizer\/","title":{"rendered":"Steps and tips for successful crystallized paint"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-803 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cristaliseur-making-of-1-min-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cristaliseur-making-of-1-min-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cristaliseur-making-of-1-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cristaliseur-making-of-1-min-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>The Crystalizer is a completely exotic product among all existing products in the world of decorative paint or bodywork. It allows you to create a surface with patterns of crystals, and when combined with the <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/34-candy-paint\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Candy<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span> technique (transparent colored clearcoat), the Crystalizer produces a real illusion of depth, a sort of crystallized optical illusion effect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">It is possible to use the <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/marble-effect-paint\/749-crystalizer-effect-500ml.html\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Crystalizer<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span> technique on any surface, any primed material, and on objects or devices of any size : motorcycles, helmets, countertops or tables, joysticks, video console, sculptures&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/674786076?h=7ef71cdbd9\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #6666ff;\"><strong>What exactly is the Crystalizer ?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">It is a liquid product, based on alcohol and also containing a salt ; during its evaporation, the product creates a crystallized surface, with slight reliefs formed by crystals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">The product once dry is very delicate, and can be removed with a simple rinse. This decoration can only be fixed with a light coat of black paint*, before the rinsing phase. During cleaning, we just &#8220;decapitate the edges of the crystals&#8221; and only the deep areas retain the black paint.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #6666ff;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-795\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2751-min-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2751-min-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2751-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2751-min-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>Setup for a Crystalizer effect succeeds<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">It is possible to use any colored background, as long as this background color will contrast with the shading color.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">It is much more interesting to use a reflective paint under the Crystalizer and a colored varnish, in order to reflect the light well and create a luminous and powerful color.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">Usually aluminum paint is used.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">However, you can use mother-of-pearl, Chameleon, chrome, glitter&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><strong>Attention !<\/strong> It is not recommended to apply the Cristalizer directly on the aluminum paint. The latter produces a surface composed of metallic micro flakes which overlap in all directions and it does not form a favorable and ideal surface for the propagation of crystals. It is therefore important to have a varnished bottom, to obtain a smooth and perfect surface.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">Of course it is necessary to sand the dry clearcoat with <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/abrasive-sheet\/870-waterproof-abrasive-sheets-p180-x-5.html\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>400 grit paper<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span>. This will allow the crystals to adhere well. With a finer sanding, the crystals come off the surface too easily when rinsing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #6666ff;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-794\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cristaliseur-making-of-2-min-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cristaliseur-making-of-2-min-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cristaliseur-making-of-2-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/cristaliseur-making-of-2-min-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/>Application and drying<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">It is not a paint, so it is unnecessary and not recommended to apply this product with a spray gun, making multiple coats and expertly applied !<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">No, you just have to wet the surface copiously, all at once and as quickly as possible. Especially if the temperature is over 20\u00b0, in which case crystallization can develop rapidly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">It should not be disturbed or covered with a second layer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">So once the part has been well covered with the product, the excess can possibly be evacuated, by leaning or shaking the part (if this is possible of course).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">On very large surfaces, such as a boat, for example, we will try to apply the right dose, and we will move all around the boat as quickly as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">Successful crystallization is done with a dry and warm atmosphere. On the contrary, it is impossible to succeed in the application in a humid and cold atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">You can keep the Crystalizer dry as long as you want without covering it, provided you store the piece in a dry environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #6666ff;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-797\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2796-min-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2796-min-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2796-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2796-min-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>Shading<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">It is convenient to use a <span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/348-radio-controlled-models\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>solvent-based paint<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">As for the color, it is necessary to use a solid color, not transparent, not pearly, and sufficiently different from the background color.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">It is important to apply the right amount :<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">If you apply too little paint, the decor will be too light.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">If too much paint is applied, rinsing and cleaning will require too much pressure and insistence, and this will always risk washing away the fragile crystals.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">The Crystalizer does not form any thickness after rinsing because it simply disappears.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">It is important not to delay after applying the paint, to clean it with water and an old abrasive sponge. <strong>A well-worn dish sponge is ideal !<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">Beyond 2 or 3 minutes, it will no longer be possible to clean the crystals without applying too much force.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">When practicing the technique on large surfaces, it is necessary to act with 2 applicators, one to apply the paint, and another applicator which follows immediately behind to carry out the cleaning without delay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">Once the black crystallized decoration has been cleaned and sanded with an abrasive sponge, it can be varnished or left as it is, for as long as needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Awf_1AtiS_8\" width=\"520\" height=\"330\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #6666ff;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2814-min-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2814-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2814-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2814-min-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>Coloring and clearcoat<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">A Candy varnish is used, to choose from among the 24 Candy colours, and depending on the number of coats, the final color will be more or less dark.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">2 types of effects are possible : discreet, dark and deep finishes, and finishes with bright and intense colors that will make the crystal decoration very visible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">On a classic crystallized decor in aluminum and black colors, the most vivid colors are <strong>Green, Yellow, Orange<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">Dark and deep colors are <strong>Reds, Violets, Blacks, Browns, Blues<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">With the latter, the effect is particularly discreet and is revealed when the sun hits the paint.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IthVjnbFHoE\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-801 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2823-min-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2823-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2823-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2823-min-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-802 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2836-min-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2836-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2836-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/100_2836-min-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-709\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/stardust-colors-logo-300x53.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"53\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/stardust-colors-logo-300x53.png 300w, https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/stardust-colors-logo.png 338w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Crystalizer is a completely exotic product among all existing products in the world of decorative paint or bodywork. It allows you to create a surface with patterns of crystals, and when combined with the Candy technique (transparent colored clearcoat), the Crystalizer produces a real illusion of depth, a sort of crystallized optical illusion effect. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[75,25,73,74,63],"class_list":["post-792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-products","tag-bodywork-paint","tag-candy","tag-crystalizer","tag-decorative-paint","tag-painting"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=792"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stardustcolors.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}