Frequently Asked Questions
Are All of Your Products Manufactured in the US?
Absolutely Yes! All the resins, colorants, paints, and other additives are all produced in the United States. Even the packaging and other complementary items are all made here in the US.
Can Your Paint Be Covered With Naturalis Epoxy Resin, and is There Any Synergy or Benefit?
Yes, the paint, when dry, can be covered with our Epoxy Resin. And yes, there are some helpful synergies. The clear polymer in the paint helps to demonstrate the color changes, and when a painting in our water-based paint is further coated with a protective layer of clear Epoxy resin, the two are formulated to complement each other still further. The flow rate and butter-like spreadability of our Gallery grade help to cover and highlight the effects. The Gallery Grade also has several important formula choices to offer the very best anti-yellowing properties. From Resin Choice to SPF-like UV protective additives, the Gallery grade offers a further protective layer against the effect of the sun's rays.
Do I Need a Black Background or Canvas to See the Color-Changing Effects?
Yes, you do. The color that we see is the reflection from a surface. That surface absorbs some of the radiation (light in the visible spectrum with different colors at different frequencies), that naturally comes from the sun. The surface will absorb some radiation and reflect others. White, for example, reflects that radiation, and a black surface absorbs all those frequencies. A black or dark surface, in effect, draws in all those wonderful colors. Many artists either work fully with a black canvas or have accented areas of a piece with a dark color and add color-changing effects to those areas. These are showcased in our featured artists section, which will excitingly continue to grow.
Is This the Full Portfolio, or is There More to Come?
We have started with 24 colors and effects in PAINT, and those same products are available as EPOXY RESIN colorants. That is an initial product offering, and we intend, over time, to offer over 80 products. Some new exciting effects are currently in final testing and will roll out soon. We also have a team of scientists constantly looking at the “latest generation” materials in other application areas, from automotive coatings to aerospace coatings. Specialty paints, plastics, and other specialty applications like security inks and electronics constantly strive to bring new ideas and concepts to the amazing creativity of the artist's community.
Are Your Materials Suitable for Children?
We have designed these formulas and effects with the professional artist in mind. The paint itself is permanent (like a similar acrylic), and the pigment loading is very high (strong). For that reason, these materials are more suitable for adult customers than for children.
What is New About Your Paint, and How Do I Use It?
Our Paint is water-based, with a new polymer system that sets totally clear like glass to complement and, in many cases, exaggerate the amazing color changing and other special effects. The paint is used in the same way as other paints, such as acrylic paint, and can be watered down in the same way. It also has a drying time and working time similar to those of acrylics.
How Does the Color Change Effect Work?
A dark surface absorbs light. The “color” that we see is the reflection of the sun's rays from that surface, and it will absorb some colors and reflect others. It is possible to interfere with that reflection by usually creating two or more semi-transparent layers on the surface, which create multiple reflections and excitement. Those observed “colors” can completely change based on the viewing angle. Naturalis products utilize specialty pigments, additives, and complimentary resins to create those layers and surfaces that change color, exhibit holographic-like effects, and also have special responses to different light sources.
How Do I Achieve Some of the Effects Showcased?
We are constantly adding to our tutorial videos, and we will also showcase various wonderful artists sharing their own styles and techniques. Please check in regularly at www.naturalisresin.com for new products, styles, and techniques.
Do You Have Changing Light Source Effect Products?
Yes, we do. Not as part of the initial portfolio, but we have specialty materials that respond to and offer special effects when the light source is changed.
Do Your Paints Need to Be Stirred Each Time Before Use?
Yes, they do. We are carefully creating semi-transparent layers on the surface. High-energy mixing, or high shear, as it is called, can actually damage the pigments and other additives. Some work by offering almost plate-like mirror surfaces, and traditional mixing could break them. Equally, traditional paint additives that “hold” products in suspension can get in the way of the multiple light reflections we are achieving. Our material has a careful recipe that balances the needed additives, but some of the pigments will settle. Our containers are chosen to be able to get a brush inside the bottle, and mix up the material before painting.
Do Your Paints Comply With ASTM D4236?
Yes, they do. All our paint and resin products conform to ASTM D4236.