COMPARISON Video | Mica Powders featuring 3 Brands and 5 Techniques! | Let's see how they compare!
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- Hello Everyone and Welcome Back!
For today… MICA Powders it is! We will review 3 brands and put them through 5 different ways to use them!
Let’s see how they compare!
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Desiree K.
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You can mix it into clear glues and varnishes too.
Nice!
Thank you.
If you mix the mica powders with a bit of gum arabic, you can make watercolors !
oooo might have to give that one a try!
Recently saw a new technique you put clear drying glue down on non stick craft mat then sprinkle mica powders over glue and smoosh paper into the mix!
That sounds very different!
I'm not coming at this subject from a card making perspective. The last time I sent or received a paper card was around a decade ago, But I am quite interested in mica powders for their use as a pigment for epoxy resins. It looks like the results can be summarized as "All these midrange pigments are of comparable properties, and the only really notable differences are that some of the arteza ones use refractive color (this is what's happening, I think, with the arteza used as a spray - you get blue (blue light refracted and reaches eye, non-blue passes through and is absorbed by the black background, so it looks blue, but on a white background, the non-blue comes right back, but some of the blue light was refracted and directed off at other angles so you see the white background with the blue colors weakened, leading to the paler yellow color. (as a resinist, I test this with one of the little "brick" molds from aliexpress advertised for "sand table buildings", brush each color onto three pockets in the mold, and then pour with uncolored epoxy, white matte epoxy and black matte epoxy (usually you pour with a black or white sparkly mica, which looks better, but matte is more informative for how it behaves. And yes, I generally do that for every color I get, to screen for unexpected surprises, like the mica pigment that is a mixture of a refractive color and plain mica).
I appreciate what appears to be the only results of a mica-brand comparison in a reasonably rigorous manner, and I also learned a lot about what the pigments are capable of. I need to score some of those materials you used to bind mica to the surface, as one of the issues I often have is an imperfection in the mica covering an object, and don't want to throw away a casting that was made with $4 of resin (assuming I buy cheap resin by the gallon) and try again with another dollar (again at bulk rates, lowest quoted prices) of additives like glow in the dark or glass mini-beads and whatever else I mixed in for artistic effect.)
Now for my one hopefully constructive criticism: You speak of covering the low and high ends of the market. I would argue emphatically that you have not done that - you've missed the high and the low ends of the market, and tested three mid-range products against eachother. Unsurprisingly, you find them very similar. What I - and I think many others - would really like to see is a similar comparison (preferably in ones preferred medium, but as I said above, this is quite interesting even though I don't use mica for the same things), which compared one ofthese middle of the road brands, to the top end of the market, and the very bottom end of the market. Your "low end" brand looks extrordinarily extravagant by the standards I'm used to (cause I'm a cheapskate): They have: A brand name. A printed box. They come in *glass* bottles, which are labeled, and the colors have names. No wonder they cost 78 cents for just three grams! Are we made of money?
Let's look at what the bottom of the market really looks like: On Aliexpress, I got a set of 24 mica pigments, They had no brand name other than the name of the vendor. The selection of colors received is random. There is no name or identifier associated with the colors, which arrived packed in average quality zip bags, the whole 24 contained only by shrinkwrap. This cost, with shipping, the kingly price of $3.68 - 15 cents per color for 5 grams! That's the sort of thing you want to compare to if you want to cover the low end of the market.
At the high end, have a browse on Amazon. Meyspring 10-color collections are $20 each, 10g of each color, so $2 per color for 10 grams (note that they also sell similar looking collections of glitter, since they're resin people and to us, glitter and mica are practically the same! You can brush em on molds and pour a base, or you can mix them in, and how you pour and stir effects them in analogous ways, and fine glitter looks alot like coarse sparkly mica). But anyway - the top end is Meyspring or Eyecandy or others at the $2/color in an assortment pack upper limit of the prices.
So I'd love to see a head to head in any medium comparing the cheapest assortment of mica from aliexpress, full of unnamed random colors, vs one of the three you tested in this video vs the extravagantly priced top end brands. Does the brand really matter at all? Are the midrange - or even high end - brands just buying the same cheap pigment from china and slapping glossier labels on it and raising the price?
Haven’t watched the full video yet, so I may edit. 😊 Arteza micas are .18 oz, Pearl Ex is 3 grams (.11 oz) and Perfect Pearls are .25 oz per container. I’ll be interested to see your results, knowing that Perfect Pearls are the only one with a binder included (part of the price difference), but Arteza is cosmetic grade. Back to the video! ADDED; Good video. Wish you had done a swipe test on the sprays to show the binder in the Perfect Pearls, while the Arteza and Pearl Ex will wipe off. Going to have to try some of these techniques myself with various micas! Great job!
You are right, I only made passing comment about the binder...
with mini misters, put your thumb over the top and shake 'em like crazy BEFORE you put the top on. That way nothing will clog.
That is a fantastic idea! Thanks!
Nice comparison, I was wondering if they work well with white or black clay. Thank you for sharing! Carol-Lynn
I believe they would work just fine!
The 35 set has .035 oz bottles, 50 set .018 oz bottles. Thank for great techniques.
You are very welcome!
Love Perfect Pearls & I was curious about Arteza Mica Powders, now I can make an educated decision! I appreciate the time and effort you put into this comparison of products!!! Sending blessings & hugs!!!
I am so glad you found this helpful!
Wow! I have a set of 48 Pearl-ex, that was $70... and, for Pearl-Ex, where I am... that was a Huge Savings! I NEED to try some Arteza Products... if they match up, imo, for what I do. I will change my "brand usage"!!!!
LOL, I think they are very comparable!
Did you mix them with water or something else?
That's a great question? I'd like to know also.
For the spray and painting they were mixed with water...
Mixed with water fort he spray and paint
Thanks
Thank you for this, as I have not seen or known about these Mica powders before! Yes, I live under a rock, 😩😂 and no I don't get out of the house very much. These look like lots of fun and so many ways to use them! This comparison of different brands was interesting, informative and as always fun! Hoping and praying you get over this cold sooner rather than later, God bless 🇦🇺
Thank you so much for your kind words! I dont get out too much either! LOL
I did this technique with the Pearl-ex powders, on a black gesso canvas, and, I used copper, and a blue interference color... it looks like copper with patina...
That sounds beautiful!
Thanks for this comparison - HUGE price difference! Love how they mixed with the clear embossing powder! I like using them as a paint or a spray but the other techniques are fun too! TFS Desiree! ~ C ~ uk
You are very welcome!
@@IncludeaThankYou Years ago I was taught to mix them with gum-arabic - why was this - do you know?
By doing that you can make a watercolor! I just learned that myself!
This was great. I have pearl ex and didn't know all the possibilities. When making spray with them I understood you had to mix a certain way bc it needs a fixative. How do you so It?
So with the Arteza and the Pearl Ex yes you will need a fixative, now I actually use hair spray in a pinch! Just a very light spray and you are good to go...
There is a lot of information here, so I might have missed it, but I was wondering your opinion on which brand had the most shimmer? It is hard to tell on camera and I am sure in person it is much easier to tell. I also was wanting to know, for whatever reasons, which brand you are leaning toward using the most? I realize you probably don't want to "knock" any of them, but each person will have their own preferences, ie: wanting more shimmer, less shimmer, binder, non, etc. I am sure each has their own good qualities, but I would really love to know which you lean toward and why? I have perfect pearls and love it, and I also sometimes use cheap make up (and then seal one way or another) as I can get more range of colors that way, and less expense. But your opinions would be helpful. =)
Thanks so much for sharing this, I found it very useful. Plus I always enjoy hearing you chatter. =) (I am not sure where you originally hail from, but your accent reminds me of back home in NY, and I miss it there and the days of growing up there.) Oh, and love your sense of humor. You make me laugh often. LOVE it when you do junk journals too! You often feel like a soul sister...despite not knowing me at all (sadly.)
One last thought...I was thinking a Versa Mark pen and any mica powders would be fun together. Could make for some fun and shimmer writing/lettering.
TFS as always. =)
~Kat
OK each question broken down, LOL.... When looking at each of them when on the black paper they are all equal in shimmer.... I am not a mica powder user normally or on a regular basis, so my focus would be on cost, so it would be Arteza, now with that being said I honestly feel that Arteza is VERY similar to the others I used - now if we look at convenience that would be the Ranger Perfect Pearls, they set with a quick mist of water, I have to use hair spray for the others.... I hope this helps? But let me know if you have any other questions!
Do you know if the Arteza lightfast? I Believe, Pearl-Ex are both archival safe and lightfast...
I have no data on that from Arteza, I can say that they are cosmetic safe and non-toxic, yes got that form the box...
Thank you for the review and reminder about what can be done it’s the mica powders. I can sense a whole lot of fun coming.😀👏
You are very welcome!
New here, but what did you mix in the mini mister with the powders??????
Water?
Alcohol?
Ect ??????
She states water.
It was water!
Is there any reason why my (dozens) brass stencils wouldn’t work with the modeling paste?
I think they would work just fine!
How do you think these mica powders will mix well with epoxy for tumbler cups?
Oh I do not know... sorry! But honestly I think they would be fine? Please I do not want to say yes give it a try and then something bad happen!
Cool review, and mica powder usage ideas. TFS, Desi! 😘✨👍🏾
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing. It does show me other ways to use mica powder.
Terrific!
Did you use Bristol Smooth or Bristol Vellum?
The Bristol Vellum... for me though there is no difference...
I thank you for doing all these comparisons. I have been destashing and I can now destash more. Bought the Mica powder set of 50 and can’t wait to make my own EP and shimmers.
Wonderful!
Thanks for sharing this comparison!
You are welcome!
Great comparison Desiree, I love all the great affects that they all leave . Who doesn’t like shimmer?? X
Exactly!
I would have been wearing all of them and it would have been all over my desk too! Lol. I’m a messy crafter no matter how hard I try to be neat. Thanks for the demos. Appreciate you as always!
I moved very slowly! LOL...
Am so excited by this. Bought a bunch of pigments and mica powders from TKB Trading to make makeup. Have so much of it. Now I know what I can do. Thanks so much!!
Terrific!
Thanks for the review, I will use my mica powders in new ways.
Terrific!
Thorough review Desiree. Thank you for showing the possabilities. I have neither of these products but I have a seperate packiging of silver white mica powder. I guess I can add that to my inks.
I must say I really dig the Arteza mica powder because of the awesome colour selection and looked into pricing. The small price difference between the 35 and the 60 pack is because the 35 pack contains double the amount of powder in the bottles.
Wonderful! OK now I know! It was driving me crazy...LOL
This was fun. Love new ways to use our products
Thanks!
I already own a few Perfect Pearls and Pearl Ex and I'm always looking for new ways to use them. Thanks.
I hope this helped!
Nice to see Arteza with their own version as well.
Yes!
Wished I'd found this a week ago. I just received my arteza mica powders. I could've used that discount code.😉
AWE, sorry!
U should be wearing a mask with pigments
I have a question. How is Brusho different from these? Great video. I have a few Perfect Pearls and I use them rarely. I just forget about it. I really need to get them out
Brushos are more a paint pigment, most do not have a shimmer to them, but when they do have a shimmer it is because mica powder is being added! I hope that makes sense!
I have had pearl ex for years....never really use them. This was helpful, but not sure how to use on actual cards....maybe a future video to show how you used these. Thanks for all you effort.
Good idea to use them for a tutorial on cards. Could you do that Desiree?
Carolyn Picken You would use them in all the ways she has shown you. For example, create a spray and use it to do a background for your card. Mix with clear embossing powder and emboss a sentiment or die cut. Mix with texture paste or similar and make a background or pattern on your card through a stencil. Mix with water and use as a paint.....etc They are simply a pigment powder that you can mix with water and various other supplies.
I will get that together!
One will be coming...
Nice job. FYI: Perfect Pearls pots are 0.25ozs. Amazon has it incorrect. that equals about 7 gms, Pearl X you said was 3 grams and the Arteza you used about 5gms. I think that makes Arteza gram for gram the cheapest and the Pearl X the most costly and they both need added fixatives as you said. On camera they all looked like about the same shine. Good to know.
Yes, yes and yes...
Great review and techniques! I have one question, I was wondering since the Arteza spray made a different color on black card stock will all the colors make the same color that you show on the black card stock or will they all be different? I hope I framed my question right lol. Thank you for this review, you did a fantastic job!! 😁
I think she used an interference color
Louise Brown No, not all, only some of the Arteza colours are interference which simply means they show different depending on paper colour. You notice the green one she used was not interference and stayed the same.
Kyomii stated it... Thank you!