pearls

[bassbuster]

what do pearls do to the plastics...anyone got some pictures..

[efishnc]

The key word with the pearls is the word "highlights" and you typically add a base color because the pearls don't do much on their own. I personally like a (somewhat) weak black as my base color because it really makes the highlights pop.





The plastic will show the amount of black (or whatever color) it has where the light shines through, but produces and almost hologram like pearl color when the light reflects off of it... I love the stuff, especially the violet. 

There are many more and better pictures than mine, but it was easier to take a few than search for the others.

[MonteSS]

Pearls are used like colororant and affect the main color of the bait (inside). Colors look metalic

Hilites add a "skin" of color to the outside of the bait.

Hilite are much better IMO and you can creat some nice effects.

[efishnc]

Just for clarification, "Hi-Lites" are Pearls... (the only difference between the "regular" pearl powder and the hi-lites is the latter have set colors directly infused into them)... they are labeled on the jars as green pearl, blue pearl, etc. 

Both mix the same in the plastic, but the colored pearls (aka hi-lites) with black produce a much more vibrant bait than adding regular pearl powder to a colored bait.   

You can see a really good example of all the hi-lites (aka colored pearls) in the store:
http://store.do-itmolds.com/HYPER-HI-LITES-6-pack_p_315.html

[BareKnuckleJigs]

If I had to choose between Hilites and Pearls, I'd take Hilites.  I have the Hilite 6-pack, but also the Pearls in non-X2 liquid (labeled CCM), and I use them both.  When I 1st started I had only Pearls but was unknowingly trying to get the effect of Hilites.  Now that I work with both, I'm glad I have both because they both have an application.  Try combining a Green Pumpkin base with equal (and small) amounts of White and Silver Pearls...killer natural minnow, other baitfish, or Sandeel.  Some Silver hilite would apply very nicely when making "Fish Skin"...and Lord to'day, Hilites and Pearls make hand-POURS come alive with swirls and stripes...

[efishnc]

Here's a couple of side by sides I shot this morning... Purple colorant with "regular" pearl powder on left; Black colorant with violet pearl powder on right.

The "regular" pearl powder give a frosted look, or has the hologram effect closer to the surface of the bait, while the black with the colored pearl give a deeper whole body hologram look.  No pictures do them justice as the colors are constantly changing with the light. 




So far we seem to be all in agreement that the colored pearl powders (hi-lites) are the ones to have.

[Muskygary]

Unless some one catches a hog or wins a tournament on the pearl one. Then sales will jump on both colors!

[MonteSS]

Pearls are pearls and highlites are hilites. Efishnc is making it confusing.

Green apple pearl powder with titanium flake


Purple pearl powder


Black pearl powder with gold tinsel


Copper pearl powder with copper flake


White pearl powder


Brown with green hilite


Green pumpkin with blue hilite


Purple with green hilite


Clear with blue hilite


Lavender pearl powder with green hilites

[efishnc]

Sorry for any confusion; I had a Do-it exclusive mindset with this and was actually trying to make it easier for bassbuster to understand what he is dealing with here. 

FYI: When I ordered my hi-lites a year or so ago, I didn't know what to expect, but the first thing I noticed was the labels used "pearl" on every jar.  Add to this that they essentially look the same in the jar (other than the slightest tint associated with the given color) and mix the same into the plastic as the regular pearl powder... so I have always referred to them collectively as pearl powders.

Call them by what you like, and use them how you like... they are fun to work with and make great looking baits.

[ctom]

"Pearl" powders and liquids opaque a color and their work on the inside of the plastic or bait. Hi Lite is a surface agent that appears to almost float on the surface of the plastic. When used in black or any other less transparent color with some opacity hi lites can look as though pearl agents have been added. Using a ton of hi lite in a color, even a transparent color, will do about the same thing as only a small amount of pearl will do. The only pearls I do are belly colors and even then I do not use very much. I like a subtle pearl, not one that looks solid white. I have some smoke pearl colorants that I used as back colors on some laminates but I do not mix them strong at all.

Hi lite can be used to contrast with a plastic color to give some really sweet color shifts if they are used in moderation. Adding gold or green to transparent fluorescent orange is one such combination. Adding violet to transparent chartreuse is crazy and blue to fluorescent pink is another. One of the most natural back colors for minnow laminates is a green made using green watermelon, brown watermelon in equal quantities and then stained with a drop of baby bass. The mix should stay transparent and then finished with a tiny amount each of gold and green hi lite plus some green and gold glitter. This is put over a thin pearl belly color separated by a smoke line. Too much pearl in the belly shuts down light movement from the top of the bait to bottom of the bait. Too much hi lite does the same thing.

There really isn't any advantage to over-dosing a color with a like color of hi lite. Make the color a little stronger, add a drop of white and add plain old pearl. Cheaper than using all that hi lite.

[MonteSS]

Looks like the kit Do-it sells are hilites and not pearls. Not sure why they say pearl on the bottle and I can see how you got confused. They are not pearls.

[Edgecrusher]

Montee, can I ask where you got that apple green pearl? I'm matching a Granny Smith green spinnerbait head I make and that is spot on!

[Botanophilia]

I'm going to guess those pearl's of Monte's are Pearlex brand.  You can get them at craft stores or on Amazon.

[MonteSS]

They are auto pearls.

http://www.custompaintingpearls.com/

I dont have much but can mail you a bit.

PM me your address?

[Edgecrusher]

Haha thanks monte, I'm in Australia so I won't get you to send! But I'll check the link out