Always wondered what the actual chemical and asthetic difference is between metallic and pearl paints???? I have never been able to tell them apart.

 

My observation, having owned cars with both types of paint, is this:

Metallics use coarser, larger flakes in the pigment.

Pearls have a finer grain to them and, I believe, that the pearl overcoat has a tint to it to enhance the base color coat.

 

Well I’m not 100% sure how the Acura process is, but from my body shop / Dealer days,,,, Metallic paints are normally a two step process. The first coat is the base color/metallic paint, and the second the clear.

A pearl paint process is usually a three step process - the base color coat, then a pearl coat, then multiple coats of clear over the top.

Many pearl effects (second step of the three step process) are just the pearl flake mixed in/added to the first coat of clear. Then you rinse your spray gun and continue with 100% clear coats.

Hope that helps

Smitty

 

Thanks guys. Seems like you are both correct. I just didnt want to ask the salesman because we all know he doesnt know.