Questions about FINETEC pearlescent colours

Product Questions

All our FINETEC Premium Colours are characterised by an even higher colour brilliance and a more intensive colour lustre compared to the proven, classic FINETEC Essential Colours. This is achieved in particular through the use of exclusive effect pigments up to real silver. This is made possible by a novel pigment technology. The colour tone "Silver (6100)", which is included in our "Antique Tones" set, can also be perfectly blended with other pearlescent colours due to its physical properties, giving them greater opacity and a more intensive gloss. It contains an exclusive pigment with real silver, which gives your creations an extraordinary shimmer. 

The latest generation of iridescent FINETEC "High Sparkle" colours is characterised by an extraordinary sparkling effect and more intensive hues.The strong sparkling effect is the result of the fact that the FINETEC Premium iridescent colours are highly transparent and the pigments reflect the light exceedingly well. This unique transparency is made possible by the use of a new technology for the production of high-quality, particularly pure pigments. This means that the pigments we use have the properties of diamonds: The purer and better their quality, the more they sparkle and shine. 

Depending on which of our five different FINETEC premium colour sets you choose, you can expect extraordinary glitter effects, even greater opacity or the fascinating radiance of daylight fluorescent pigments. In addition, the new product line "FINETEC Premium series" now also includes for the first time a colour set that contains only flip-flop colours.

In addition, there is a new effect in our newly developed TwoTone colours.


The "FINETEC Premium series" product line comprises five colour sets with six colour pans each and, from 2023 onwards, a 24 colour set. Depending on the set, the following colour types are included:

  • 2 metallic colours with real silver
  • 6 opaque pearlescent colours with satin effect
  • 2 opaque pearlescent colours with TwoTone effect
  • 5 pearlescent colours Flip-Flop effect
  • 19 opaque pearlescent colours
  • 12 iridescent colours
  • 6 neon watercolour colours also with afterglow effect (N901)

In total, there are 52 FINTEC Premium colours.

By mixing colours, a much wider range of colours can be achieved.

While classic pearlescent colours tend to appear grey without direct incident light, our newly developed FINETEC TwoTone pearlescent colours always show a coloured base tone under such lighting conditions. When exposed to direct light, they appear in a different colour characteristic of the respective shade. The TwoTone colour blue gold (7205), for example, appears in a beautiful blue without direct incidence of light; with incidence of light it shines golden. The secret of the mono-pigmented TwoTone colours is an exclusive colour pigment based on a special pigment technology.

The latest generation of FINETEC TwoTone pearlescent colours is part of the new product line "FINETEC Premium series". These are opaque water-soluble artists' colours based on our proven gum arabic colour formulation.

Two single colours of the FINETEC TwoTone pearlescent colours are currently available:

  • 7205 Blue Gold
  • 7600 Blue Violet

The latest generation of FINETEC Metallic colours is part of the new product line "FINETEC Premium series". These are opaque water-soluble artists' colours based on our proven gum arabic colour formulation. 

The metallic colours contain an exclusive pigment containing real silver, which gives your artworks an exceptional shine.  They can be mixed with other pearlescent colours and give them a higher opacity and a more intense lustre.

The latest generation of FINETEC pearlescent colours is part of the new product line "FINETEC Premium series". These are opaque water-soluble artists' colours based on our proven gum arabic colour formulation. 

The latest generation of opaque FINETEC pearlescent colours has extraordinary colour brilliance and a unique colour lustre. The opaque pearlescent colours unfold their full colour brilliance and colour lustre on all surfaces.

The latest generation of FINETEC iridescent colours is part of the new product line "FINETEC Premium series". These are water-soluble artists' colours based on our proven gum arabic colour formulation. 

The latest generation of iridescent FINETEC colours is characterised by an extraordinary glitter effect and more intensive colour hues. The iridescent colours appear nearly transparent on a light background and they shimmer magically or fairy-like depending on the point of view and incidence of light. On a dark surface they show their exceeding colourfulness. It is a real eye-catcher!

The latest generation of FINETEC Flip-Flop colours is part of the new product line "FINETEC Premium series". These are water-soluble artists' colours based on our proven gum arabic colour formulation. 

The latest generation of our FINETEC Flip-Flop colours is characterised by the use of exclusive colour pigments that enhance the fascinating chameleon effect. Flip-Flop colours fascinate especially on dark surfaces with their impressive colour variation. The innovative chameleon effect changes the colour tone according to the incidence of light and the perspective of the viewer within a broad spectrum. They take full effect in 3D painting and thus offer an effect for the third dimension.

The latest generation of FINETEC neon watercolours is part of the new product line "FINETEC Premium series". The newly developed colour formulation of FINETEC neon watercolours is part of the "FINETEC Premium series". It is based on purified gum arabic and finest fluorescent pigments, which give your artwork a special radiance – for an eye-catching appearance! The colour "Yellow afterglowing (N901)" is charged by light and glows not only during the day but also at night in the dark.

No, only the colour "Yellow afterglowing (N901)" also glows in the dark.

Compared to our previous round colour pans, our square shaped pans allow a brush-friendly dissolving of the paint. While the hairs of the brush are constantly bent in different directions when dissolving the paint in round pans, the brush hairs fatigue faster and can break more often. Within square pan, however, the brush hairs are only bent in one direction at a time due to the intuitive linear movements, so that the brush is saved when dissolving the paint and the brush hairs tend to break less often. This saves valuable resources and money.

Our FINETEC pearlescent paints convince especially by their very high quality and solubility. Due to the use of high-quality pearlescent pigments, they are characterized by a high light fastness, color brilliance and there shimmering color gloss. The new formulation, which we have developed together with artists and calligraphers, has very good solubility. Our aim is to constantly develop our colours further and adapt them to the needs of our customers.

You can identify our colours mainly by the eye-catching black outer packaging with the different animal motifs as well as the square black colour pans inside the metal box. On our products there is Reiszeugfabrik Seelig GmbH & Co. KG indicated as the manufacturer.

The standard range currently includes 85 colour tones:

  • 49 opaque pearlescent colours
  • 6 opaque pearlescent colours with satin effect
  • 2 opaque pearlescent colours with TwoTone effect
  • 2 metallic colours with real silver
  • 8 pearlescent colours Flip-Flop effect
  • 18 iridescent colours

By mixing colours, a much wider range of colours can be achieved.

The pearlescent colours show their full colour brilliance and their unique colour shine on all surfaces. The iridescent colours appear almost transparent on a light background and shimmer magically or elvishly depending on the angle of view and the incidence of light. Their magical colours can be seen on a dark, preferably black surface - a real eye-catcher.

Regarding this, our pearlescent colours fulfil all European regulations as well as the American requirements according to ASTM D-4236. According to the current state of science, all raw materials used are considered non-toxic. In addition, the colours are subject to constant quality controls.

Our FINETEC pearlescent colours are produced with a lot of handwork, of which we are very proud. Sometimes, however, machines perform certain tasks better than humans. That's why selected production steps are executed with the help of machines. For example, the colour mixture is produced by a special mixer that ensures even and homogeneous pigment distribution. This ensures, among other things, a consistently high quality of the colours.

No, we don't use fillers. In addition to the main component, which consists of high-quality pearlescent pigments, we use purified gum arabic as a binder and a small amount of functional additives. These help to improve specific color properties.

Sustainability is very important to us. We only use solar power for the production of our colours. The solar modules installed on the roof of our production facility produce even more environmentally friendly green electricity than we consume.

Our cooperation partner, Draw.TEC GmbH & Co. KG, owns the trademark rights for both the European and US markets. The trademark "FINETEC" is registered within the European Union as a Union trademark under the number 004840435.

The Reißzeugfabrik Seelig GmbH & Co. KG is an official licensee of the brand "FINETEC".

Application Questions

FINETEC pearlescent colours are water soluble artist's colours of very high quality - Made in Germany. There are no limits to creativity when using the colours. Due to their high light fastness and high pigmentation, they are not only suitable for calligraphy and painting, but also for colouring sketches in the graphic art sector. The colours can be used with brushes, classic nibs and glass nibs. They can be mixed with each other as well as with other media and adhere to various absorbent surfaces - even wood or stone. Looking for inspiration? Visit us at Instagram and let yourself be enchanted by the many possible applications!

FINETEC pearlescent colours are particularly suitable for use on absorbent surfaces. These include, for example, wood and stone as well as different types of paper (e.g. watercolour paper).

Our colours are particularly popular with artists and calligraphers due to their brilliance and very good solubility. Even those who have just discovered their creative side will enjoy the many possible uses of our colours. The production of the latest generation of our FINETEC pearlescent colours is based on a new recipe that we have developed with artists and calligraphers. The high quality, colour strength and brilliance of our colours "Made in Germany" inspire people all over the world to paint and be creative.

Pearlescent pigments need light to show off their full brilliance and shine. Incident light is reflected by the pigment at a certain angle. The pearlescent colours shine particularly when the angle of vision corresponds to the angle of the reflected light. The colour brilliance is therefore strongly dependent on the viewing angle. For example, the application of colour can appear dull and greyish at one moment and shortly afterwards shimmer brilliantly in their colour tone.

Good to know: Our FINETEC TwoTone pearlescent colours always appear coloured and never greyish, regardless of the viewing angle.

 Yes, FINETEC pearlescent colours can be mixed with each other. Pearlescent colours are so-called light colours, i.e. the pearlescent pigments emit reflected light. Due to this property, the basic rules of additive colour mixing must be observed. According to additive colour mixing, different colour spectra overlap when mixing pearlescent colours. This is the light reflected by the pearlescent pigments. If, for example, you mix red with green, you get a brilliant gold. Pearlescent colours therefore behave differently from opaque or transparent watercolours, which are subject to the laws of subtractive colour mixing. If you mix red with green here, you get a grey or brown tone.

It is best to mix colours that are as close as possible to each other in the colour circle. Complementary colours that lie opposite each other in the colour circle together result in grey. Since these colors neutralize each other, they are less suitable for mixing.

By mixing two or more pearlescent colours, interesting and new shades can be achieved. This offers you unexpected possibilities to create your own and unique colour creations!

FINETEC pearlescent colours can be mixed very well with FINETEC transparent watercolours, for example. In addition, they can also be easily applied as a second coat to almost finished works of art. In this way they can, for example, give your watercolour or acrylic paintings the finishing touch and refine certain areas of colour in a targeted manner. Just give it a try and let your creativity run free!

This is due to the fact that the mixing of pearlescent colours is subject to the rules of additive colour mixing. This distinguishes them from opaque or transparent watercolours, in which colours are mixed subtractively.

Whoever mixes complementary colours with each other according to the additive colour mixture cancels their colourfulness and obtains a greyish effect. Since the colours blue and gold or yellow lie opposite each other in the colour circle, they neutralise each other and result is a grey tone. So you don't get a green as it would be the case with the subtractive colour mixing.

Yes, in this way you can give your motif a softly iridescent, elf-like effect. You may have been fascinated by the wings of a dragonfly or a soap bubble, which shimmer magically in different colours depending on the incidence of light. You will get a similar colour effect if you use our iridescent colours on a light background. The effect depends strongly on the incidence of light and the perspective of the viewer.

For the production of the individual colour stones, a fixed, always constant quantity of liquid paint is used. During the drying process, a slight curvature occurs on the reverse side of each colour stone. This curvature results in a slightly thinner colour thickness in the middle of each colour stone. When using the respective colour stone, one often unconsciously dissolves the colour in the middle, thus at the thinnest place with the brush. Over time, this process can result in a hole in the middle of the colour stone. However, this is normal due to the production process and does not say anything about the volume of the re-dissolved colour.