Have you ever heard of special effect paint? It’s not something straight out of a movie; it’s a real phenomenon in the world of automotive painting. Here’s a definition for these new special effect paints that are increasingly common on motorcycles.
A special effect paint produces a visual or reaction effect depending on an external action or a change in viewing angle. More specifically, it can be motorcycle paint that changes color with temperature (thermochromic), depending on the viewing angle (chameleon or holographic), or even when viewed in the dark (phosphorescent).
Despite often restrictive regulations in Europe, we still have some freedom to personalize our motorcycle paint jobs with our favorite colors. Good news! Because today there are many innovations in the field of professional paints for car bodies, which offer some pretty incredible possibilities in terms of visual appearance!
Dare To Use A Chameleon Special Effect Paint For Your Motorcycle
One of my favorite effects is chameleon paint. It’s one of the best-known special effect paints, and in my opinion, one of the most effective for motorcycle paint jobs.
Some chameleon motorcycle paints can display up to nine different colors. We’re talking about the color emitted and received by the eye, because it’s not a color created with dyes, but a color created by the reflection of light. These paints are therefore intense and luminous.
There are about forty listed chameleon colors. These special motorcycle paints have the unique property of changing color depending on the viewing angle. More precisely, they reflect primary colors when viewed head-on and secondary colors at angles. So, the more angular a part is, the more you can see the colors change. Motorcycle fairings are ideal for this.
Aside from their sensational color effects, chameleon paints also offer significant advantages, particularly regarding their excellent UV resistance. The colors are completely sun-resistant and guaranteed for well over 20 years. It’s also a very easy painting system to use, for professionals or even individuals, as these products are also available in aerosol form.
Your Motorcycle with a Candy Paint Finish
Here’s a motorcycle paint job that’s clearly a special paint job and one you’ve probably already heard of, simply because it’s the most well-known special effect. It’s been around since the 1960s, and this special motorcycle painting technique originated in California.
I’ve ranked it second because it’s a slightly more difficult special paint effect to achieve. The definition of a Candy paint job for motorcycles is a paint system that involves layering a completely transparent colored base coat, which allows light to pass through and filter, over a reflective metallic layer designed to bounce the light. The result is the Candy paint job: deep and luminous.
Although it’s a multi-layered technique with specific instructions to follow, I have no doubt that individuals and motorcycle painting enthusiasts can successfully achieve this look!
Candy red is a favorite color among motorcyclists. Of course, when we talk about candy paint, there are about twenty colors available, so you can create a candy paint job in purple, orange, blue… and more, because you can also vary the intensity, depth, and level of darkness.
Phosphorescent Motorcycle Paint
I think you’re already familiar with phosphorescent paint, but you probably never imagined it could exist in a motorcycle paint formula. Well, now it does!
It’s a very surprising and rare effect, which, in my opinion, can be a bit too unusual. First of all, it’s not easy to apply, as it requires several steps, including a white base coat, followed by numerous layers of phosphorescent paint, and finally covered with a clear coat for weather protection.
This type of paint has the property of acting like a battery, storing light energy when available and emitting light, or rather phosphorescence, completely autonomously for many hours. Phosphorescent colors are very effective when viewed in total darkness. And that’s the weak point of these special motorcycle paints; I doubt they’d be effective in an urban environment, with headlights, streetlights, and all kinds of nighttime lighting.
Chrome Paint for Motorcycles
Recently, some innovations have emerged in the field of chrome effects. This is all very recent. There are new techniques for creating very high-quality, corrosion-resistant chrome plating with paint. This chrome paint can be applied to motorcycle parts because it is flexible and resistant to temperature variations, as well as UV rays, of course! You could even chrome-coat an entire motorcycle if you wanted, because, as far as I know, no legislation prohibits it.
Chrome paint is capable of creating a true mirror effect. With a little effort, it can be worthwhile to paint it yourself with a paint gun or even with spray cans, firstly for economic reasons, as chrome plating services by galvanizing are extremely expensive and have become quite rare, but also simply because it’s a magnificent effect!
Opalescent Motorcycle Paint
I wanted to show you my favorite special effect. It’s a very elegant and quite subtle effect, yet it’s absolutely extraordinary. There’s no paint like it anywhere else. Motorcycle paint with an opalescent effect is still quite rare, and if you ever come across one, you’ll see for yourself that this effect is truly otherworldly.
What is opalescent paint? It’s a white or light-colored effect, depending on the base color, because it’s a transparent effect that produces effects similar to those of mother-of-pearl and pearls.
Technically, it’s a paint system applied with a spray gun or aerosols, in three steps: the white base coat, the opalescent color, and the clear coat, which can be glossy or matte. This type of paint is easy to make and extremely resistant to both temperature and sunlight.
Crystallized Effect Motorcycle Paint
Here’s an effect you may have heard of, but which is still quite rare and little known. It’s an effect paint that imitates crystallization. It’s a visual effect of textures. It doesn’t change color, but it creates a kind of optical illusion, with an impression of depth. This is achieved thanks to the crystal-like pattern, but also, and especially, thanks to the application of a Candy-colored transparent topcoat, which enhances the visual depth effect.
This is also a very special motorcycle paint that anyone can apply themselves at home, or rather in the garage or garden. It doesn’t require any special skills, nor, in some cases, professional equipment or tools, since this type of paint is available in aerosol form on specialized websites.
I’ll let you admire for yourself how surprising this effect is!
Holographic Motorcycle Paint
Holographic paint is a special paint that acts like a prism, reflecting light and emitting it not as white light, but as the colors of the rainbow. The effect depends on the viewing angle and the shape of the motorcycle’s fairing. This type of motorcycle paint job can be done in various styles, from bold to bold, and from subtle to striking.
The background color is also a crucial element, determining whether the effect is highly visible (you’ll be seen from 100 meters away) or, conversely, more discreet and mysterious, especially when holographic paint is applied over a white or light gray background. Prices can vary significantly depending on the type of paint, as different types and qualities are available. Generally, the finer and more microscopic the paint, the more difficult and expensive it becomes to apply.
If you are simply looking for technical information on motorcycle paint repair, we recommend that you consult this article written by a professional: Guide of motorcycle paint : Touching Up Chips & Other Minor Blemishes
