The Difference Between Pigment Paste and Pigment Powder
There are tons of art supplies on the market that allow artists to make everything from incredible paintings to beautiful pottery. Two of the most versatile art supplies that can contribute to those projects and more are pigment pastes and pigment powders. While you might think you understand the differences between these supplies, they may be more distinct than you might first assume. Keep reading to learn more so that you can pick the right supply for your next project.
Different Textures
The most obvious difference between pigment pastes and powders is in their textures. The paste is a thick liquid, much like oil paint, and the powder is just that—a dry powder. Both might feel slightly gritty to the touch, but the paste feels more like wet sand, while the powder feels like dry sand.
The texture differences come from the epoxy already in the paste. While you can add the powder to epoxy to make your own paste, the pre-made paste has the guarantee of possessing the color and consistency you want.
Different Applications
The type of project you’re working on will determine whether you use paste or powder. The epoxy in the paste makes it a better choice for certain projects like making resin jewelry. Epoxy is potentially toxic, though, so you should always wear gloves while handling it, including when it’s in pigment paste. While epoxy is beneficial in many projects, it does limit what you can safely mix the paste into.
The dry powder works in a wider variety of projects because you can mix it into different mediums. For example, you can leave the powder as is and use it to create bath bombs. You can also mix it into clear nail polish to create custom colors or press it with makeup primer to create crème eyeshadow.
Different Safety Precautions
As we mentioned above, the epoxy in the paste can be more hazardous than the powders by themselves. Epoxy requires safety precautions, such as protecting your skin. And epoxy resin calls for additional precautions, as you need to protect your airways. If you want to mix a pigment paste that already has epoxy in it into epoxy resin, you’ll need to wear long sleeves, pants, gloves, and a mask to help you breathe safely.
You don’t need any of these precautions with pigment powder. Our powders are safe and non-toxic, so you can use them in everything from bath bombs to makeup. You should still wear gloves if working with dark pigment powders to avoid staining your hands and protect your work area from any stains. But those are extra precautions, not necessities.
The main differences between pigment pastes and pigment powders are their textures, applications, and safety precaution requirements. If you need pigment pastes for your upcoming project, head to Eye Candy Customz. We have several beautiful colors for you to try. We also offer various pigment powders for those who need the dry version.