Making your own pigment paste for resin is a fun and creative process that allows you to customize colors for your resin projects. The important part is you can save loads of money in a long run as opposed to directly buy the paste online.

What is Pigment Paste?

Pigment paste is a type of coloring medium used in various artistic and industrial applications. It is a concentrated mixture of finely ground pigment particles suspended in a binder or carrier material. 

Why Make Your Own Pigment Paste?

Viscosity: Pigment paste has a thicker and paste-like consistency compared to liquid dyes or paints. This texture is ideal for easy incorporation into resin without causing excessive dripping or running, ensuring controlled and precise application.

Color Intensity: Pigment paste typically offers more intense and vibrant colors compared to mica powder. The high pigment concentration allows for bold and solid coloring in resin projects.

High Concentration: Pigment paste typically contains a high concentration of pigment particles compared to other coloring agents. This allows you to achieve intense and vibrant colors with only a small amount of paste, making it a cost-effective coloring option.

Heavy Density: It can easily achieve cell-like effects to make waves for your ocean-inspired resin projects. (White pigment paste)

How to Make Pigment Paste?

What you need

• Resin (epoxy or polyester)
• Mica powder (acrylic paint or titanium dioxide)
• A smooth surface (glass board)
• Container
• Palette knives
• Gloves

Step-by-step instructions

Prepare your workspace: prepare a smooth surface that can be easy to get the well-mixed paste off.  

Mix Thoroughly: Start with a small amount of mica powder and resin. Use your palette knife to mix them thoroughly. Please note that you should gradually add more until you achieve the desired color as It's easier to darken the shade than to lighten it.

Adjust Color and Consistency: If the color isn't as vibrant as you'd like, add more pigment and mix again until you achieve your desired color. If the paste is too thick, add a little more resin to achieve the desired consistency.

Your paste is ready when no lumps can be seen. That's super easy to make even if you're new to resin!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will the resin in the paste affect the mixture?
It will not. The pigment paste is highly-concentrated and you just add so little of mixed up paste to your resin mixture, which is such a small amount of resin in the paste that it would not change the ratios of the actual resin. And the trick is to keep it below 10% with the pigment.

2. What is the ratio of pigment to resin?
Each pigment will need a different amount for opacity. Start low and add more until you have a recipe. You can always add more pigment or resin if needed to achieve desired opacity or thin it down if you overmix.

3. Can one use the hardener instead of resin?
Yes, you can use either part A or part B. They both work great! And the best option is to use whichever part you have slightly more of.

4. Will this get cured in the container?
It can't cure. Only the resin has been added.

5. How long should such pigments be stored?
Normally around 6 to 9 months but you can get a bit longer from it as long as it hasn’t dried out.

Final Thought

If you're looking for really dark(white o black) color for your resin projects and have got leftover epoxy or hardener, making your own paste is definitely an easy and cost-effective way to try!

P.S. The paste can dry out if left unused. It's recommended not to make too much at a time.