Metal effect pigments
Pigments that give paints and inks a metallic look using tiny metal flakes
No single value: Metal effect pigments is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, gold and metallics.
Metal effect pigments are powders made from metals like aluminum or brass, used to create a shiny, metallic appearance in paints, inks, plastics, and cosmetics. Their effect comes from flat, flake-like particles that reflect light in a way that mimics real metal surfaces. The technique dates back to ancient Egypt and is now common in automotive finishes and decorative coatings.
- Used to give paints and inks a metallic look
- Mainly made from aluminum or brass flakes
- First used in ancient Egypt with gold waste
- Key in automotive and decorative coatings
- Effect changes with viewing angle (brightness flop)
What colour is Metal effect pigments?
Metal effect pigments are powders made from metals, mainly aluminum and brass, that are ground into thin, flake-like shapes. When mixed into paints or inks, these flakes line up and reflect light, giving a surface a metallic shine that changes depending on the angle you look at it. This sets them apart from other pigments, which usually give flat, solid colours. Some types are called 'cornflakes' or 'silver dollars' based on their shape and brightness.
Where does Metal effect pigments come from?
The idea of using metal flakes for a shiny effect began in Egypt between the fourth and third centuries BC, when leftover gold from making thin gold sheets was mixed into early lacquers. Brass started to replace gold in the 18th century, and by the early 1900s, aluminum flakes were developed for a silver look. The first large-scale process for making aluminum pigments was invented in the United States in 1910.
How is Metal effect pigments made?
To make these pigments, metals like aluminum or brass are melted and sprayed into tiny, round particles. These are then ground into thin flakes in ball mills. For aluminum, grinding is done in white spirit with a lubricant to prevent explosions, while brass can be ground dry. The flakes are filtered and adjusted to the right form for sale. The shape and surface of the flakes are controlled to produce different effects.
Where Metal effect pigments is used
Metal effect pigments are widely used in paints, especially for cars, as well as in printing inks, plastics, and cosmetics. They have also been used to imitate gold leaf on picture frames, often with a varnish to prevent tarnishing. In modern times, they are important for creating metallic finishes in coatings for electronics and industrial products.
Gold around the world
What the gold and metallics family means from country to country.
The ancient Egyptians held that the flesh of the gods was gold, which never tarnishes. Royal coffins and masks, like Tutankhamun's, were made of it.
Sacred and holyRoyalty and powerAweSource: Mask of TutankhamunA gold star stands for a family member killed in military service. The custom began in the First World War, when families changed the blue star on a window banner to gold.
Mourning and deathGriefSource: Service flagDubai is called the City of Gold for its gold souk, a market of hundreds of jewellers. Much of what is sold is bridal jewellery for South Asian and Arab families.
Luck and prosperityWeddings and marriageSource: Dubai Gold SoukThe golden Sun of May at the centre of the flag recalls the May Revolution of 1810. Its face is linked with Inti, the Inca sun god.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Sun of MayGold stands for wealth. It is paired with red on New Year decorations, wedding invitations and shop signs to wish for a prosperous year.
Luck and prosperityOptimismSource: Color in Chinese cultureThe Muisca made offerings of gold figures to the gods at Lake Guatavita. The ritual of a new ruler covered in gold dust gave rise to the legend of El Dorado.
Sacred and holyAweSource: El DoradoShades and relatives of Metal effect pigments
There are two main types: leafing pigments, which float to the surface and give a strong metallic shine but are less durable, and non-leafing pigments, which mix evenly and are more resistant to wear but look less shiny. Flake shape also varies: 'cornflakes' are irregular, while 'silver dollars' are rounder and brighter. Larger flakes can create a sparkle effect.
Questions people ask about Metal effect pigments
What colour are metal effect pigments?
They create metallic colours, mainly silver (from aluminum) and gold (from brass), but can also be combined with other pigments for coloured metallic effects.
Where does the name 'metal effect pigment' come from?
The name comes from their ability to give surfaces the appearance of real metal by using tiny flakes of metal as the pigment.
How are metal effect pigments made?
They are made by melting metals like aluminum or brass, spraying them into small particles, and grinding these into thin flakes, which are then used in paints and other products.
What are metal effect pigments used for?
They are used in paints (especially automotive), printing inks, plastics, cosmetics, and to imitate gold leaf in decorative work.
How old is the use of metal effect pigments?
The technique dates back to between the fourth and third centuries BC in Egypt, where gold waste was mixed into early lacquers.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Metal effect pigment", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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