FAQs
We are always happy to speak to you directly about any questions regarding Color-Rare's products. Please feel free to also review our FAQ's, located below!
On parle français! Veuillez nous envoyer un courriel à info@colorare.ca si vous avez une question ou avez besoin d'informations en français.
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1. Additional product information
1.1 Where can I find a Color-Rare product's MSDS or Technical Data Sheet?
Although many product MSDS and Technical Data sheets are available on our website under each project, we are in the process of translating some Technical Data Sheets/ MSDS from French to English. If the information you require is not on our website, please email use at info@colorare.ca and we will ensure that we send you the translated version of the document you require.
1.2 Are there any books available to purchase that speak to the uses of Color-Rare pigments?
Yes, Color-Rare has books available that can be purchased from our store at this link: https://colorare.ca/collections/books however the books are only available in French at this time.
1.3 Does Color-Rare sell milk paint in larger quantity and if yes, in what package size?
We sell our TUTTI milk paint in large 20KGS bags. If you are looking for a no texture/ matte finish, we recommend the TUTTI milk based paint. TUTTI can be used on interior walls and/or wood furniture and is 100% natural.
2. Pigments
2.1 What colours, form and size do Color-Rare’s pigments come in and what are they compatible with?
Most of our pigments come in powder form. The SP pigments however, are micro-beads that are water-soluble and can be used on exterior and interior surfaces. They can be mixed with water-based products (including concrete sealer). The smallest package size is 25ml and the largest package size is 15kgs to 25kgs. Our Oxides come in 25kg bags. There is no minimum order quantity. Our SP line of pigments is best for bright colours and more information on colours can be found here:
Canada https://colorare.ca/collections/sp
USA https://colorare.us/collections/sp
2.2 Are the following types of pigments suitable for use in concrete, cement, brick and mortar? - enhanced pigments, natural pigments & oxides
Yes, the natural, enhanced and oxides pigments can also be used for concrete, cement, brick and mortar. Please note, these do not have the same colouring power as the SP line of pigments, which we recommend when looking to create bright vivid colours (red, blues, greens...).It is necessary to respect ratios: a maximum 10% volume of pigment should be added to the mixture. We recommend 10kg of oxide pigment per m3 for concrete when colouring "in the mass". The pigments can also be sprinkled on the wet concrete surface and then sealed, or added directly to the sealer or be burnished with a finishing trowel to create unique effects. . We recommend to use a white cement or mortar base when adding pigments. Pigments may also be added to a sealer/protective coat. This option will require less pigment than coloring “in the mass”.
2.3 What other products can Color-Rare pigments be added to?
Color-Rare pigments can be used to color epoxy. (The SP pigments are only compatible with water-based epoxy) It is however necessary to respect ratios: a maximum 10% volume of pigment should be added to the mixture. Color-Rare pigments can be sprinkled into wet concrete for a ‘faux rock’ look. Color-Rare pigments may be used to make watercolor paints or fired with clay slip. They can also be further ground to achieve a finer-grained texture, as desired.
Ochres and Natural Earths are suitable for making stoneware or ceramics, but changes in tint may occur after firing. For bright colors, it is preferable to use pigments manufactured specially for ceramic use as these are very stable at high temperatures.
Color-Rare pigments can be mixed into plasters and stuccos. We recommend mixing the pigments with equal part water to properly dilute before adding to your mixture.
Our pigments can be used to stain seashells as long as they are added to the proper binder solution (i.e. resin, varnish, stain, paint, etc.)
For porous (terracotta) tiles, Color-Rare pigments may be added directly to penetrating stains. For nonporous tiles, Color-Rare pigments may be added directly to a varnish or resin intended for countertop use.
Color-Rare pigments are not certified for cosmetic use (example soap or make up) except for the pigments shown in our COSMETIC section.
https://colorare.ca/collections/cosmetic-pigments.
But, as most of our pigments are 100% natural, they are harmless and non-toxic. Black Oxide Cosmetic and Red Oxide Cosmetic are not recommended for bath products as they may stain porcelain.
Colour-Rare pigments can be mixed with alcohol and are compatible with most binders. Color-Rare minerals, oxides, enhanced, glitter & pearlescent pigments can be used in acrylic nail powder bases but we cannot guarantee the colours will dry as shown on our colour charts when our products are not used as directed. The SP line of pigments are micro-beads that are water-soluble only. All pigments are offered in 500 gr/1.1 pound packages.
2.4 How can I achieve a beige coloured pigment?
Mixing Light Yellow Ochre France with Natural Umber CPR Italy will yield wonderful shades of beige (try using a 4:1 ratio to start and adjust according to your liking).
2.5 How much concrete will a pigment pack color?
The amount of concrete you can tint will depend on the desired color (pale or dark). We recommend using a maximum 10% pigment per volume and it is preferable to use a white concrete/cement mix (as opposed to regular grey concrete) to achieve more vibrant colors. You can color from 1 quart to 1+ gallon (pastel color to deeper tints) with one of the 150ml/ 5oz package. Should you require larger quantities, please note that all our pigments are also offered individually in 1kilo/2.2pounds bag. You can refer to the color charts on the Color Rare website https://colorare.ca/products/color-chart.
2.6 Which pigment will lighten concrete from its natural color?
Titanium Dioxide added to the mixture will lighten grey concrete from its natural color but will never yield white concrete. To achieve a true white countertop, we recommend using Titanium Dioxide added to a white cement/concrete mixture.
2.7 Can Titanium dioxide be mixed with water to stain old concrete floors?
Titanium dioxide can be mixed with most binders. We recommend mixing it with a hard oil to stain concrete floors.
2.8 Can Color-Rare pigments be mixed together to create unique colours?
Absolutely, our pigments can be mixed together to obtain other colours. Be creative and enjoy!
2.9 Can Color-Rare pigments be used to dye fabric?
Yes, natural pigments can be used to dye fabric as long as an appropriate binder is used to "stick" to the fabric. Here is an article of a fibre artist in Amsterdam who is experimenting with earth pigments to sustainably dye textiles. (https://waag.org/en/article/using-earth-pigment-dyes-textilelab). A mordant or dye fixative is a substance used to set (i.e. bind) dyes on fabrics. Depending on the colour, pigment type and fabric; acetic acid, alum, copper sulfate, iron sulfate, lime, tartaric acid, etc. may be used.
2.10 Do you offer custom colors or color swatches?
Yes, we customize colours. Please email us at info@colorare.ca to learn how!
2.11 Can Color-Rare pigments be used to make gum prints?
Yes, our pigments (primarily ochres and natural earths) can be used to color arabic gum solutions for gum bichromate printing. We recommend to dilute the pigments in the solvent used in the solution beforehand. The pigments can also be further ground to achieve a finer-grained texture, as desired.
2.12 Can Color-Rare’s pearlescent pigments be used in jewelry making and come in contact with skin?
The Color-Rare pearlescent pigments are mica-based. As is the case with all fine powders, take precaution when handling and do not inhale. Some people may have skin irritations/allergies to natural mineral mica. Assuming that the pigments used will be added into a binder (ex resin), as long as the resin is approved for this use, there should be not risk to using these pigments for jewelry.
2.13 How can I make the "perfect white" colour using Titanium Dioxide?
Titanium Dioxide is the pigment used to create the colour white. It is a pure white powder with no undertones. The more Titanium Dioxide is added, the crisper and opaque the white will be. Depending on the opacity or brightness of the white required, the amount of Titanium Dioxide you will want to use can vary from 20ml to 75ml Titanium Dioxide per litre.
Color Rare paints and coatings come untinted with the pigments separately; this way you can test out and make changes at home and create your perfect "white". It is recommended to do a small test patch (ex. with one litre of paint), letting the paint dry and assessing the colour before tinting the full amount. From there, you can add more pigment to make the white crisper, or completely change colours with different pigments/ratios. It is important to write down the ratios of paint & pigments you use so you can recreate the same colour later. If you add in smaller increments the water and pigments you can always adjust with more/different pigments, add more water for different consistency.
For 1 L of Paint: Combine 40ml titanium dioxide + 40ml lukewarm water in a small container. Mix until homogeneous (no lumps). Pour this mixture into your paint and mix well.
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3. Are Color-Rare Products Safe?
3.1 Are Color-Rare pigments toxic and do I need to protect myself when using them?
Most of Color-Rare’s pigments are 100% natural and non-toxic, but we recommend using a mask to avoid inhaling dust particles. Gloves and protective clothing are recommend if the user is allergic to clay or earth.
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4. Primer
4.1 Is a primer required when using Novita on drywall?
We do recommend using a primer before applying Novita to unpainted drywall to make sure the joints are properly covered and do not "show" through. It also improves adherence for increased longevity. Apply one coat of Base Plus and only one coat of Novita (depending on the colour).
4.2 Can Color-Rare primers be used under a non-Color-Rare lime or milk paint?
Yes. you can make/ use your own lime paint and use Color-Rare primers. The Base Plus is the most appropriate for lime coatings/paint. Lime-based primers/paints are grainy, for better adherence. Our primer can be applied directly to drywall or with some resin on an already painted surface.
4.3 Can Color-Rare Base Plus primer be used as a primer and paint, if pigment is added into the two coats?
Yes, you can use Base Plus as a primer & paint - burnishing (lightly pressing the trowel at a 30° angle while the coat is drying) the last coat "crushes" the grain and gives you the "concrete look". Yes, you can put the pigment in all the coats. You can look at the banner picture for the Base Plus. That will give you an idea of the finish if you do not burnish it.
4.4 Should my primer/ base coat be tinted and how many paint coats are required?
It is not recommended to use a commercial primer with Color Rare paints as we cannot guarantee the product will adhere properly. The Color Rare Base Plus Primer is designed specially to allow the adhesion of natural paints to synthetic substrates. It creates a porous support, unlike commercial primers & paints. For example, Methylcellulose acts as a glue, the grain provides a mechanical grip and the resin sticks between the natural and the synthetic. Color Rare’s Base Plus Primer can be tinted and used as a first coat of paint so that only one layer of finish paint (ex. Novita) is required as a finish coat.
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5. Joints and Grout
5.1 I am looking for a Color-Rare product to colour the grout for joints. What should I use?
Most of our pigments can be used to color grout. The amount/type of pigment required will depend on the desired intensity/tint and the color of the grout used; it may be preferable to use a white grout for brighter colors. Color Rare’s SP line of pigments work well to achieve vivid colors as they are up to 10x more powerful than regular pigment (Green SP 7 and Green SP 8). For more information, visit https://colorare.ca/collections/sp.
Recommend first properly mixing the pigments with water (follow the colouration guide) to ensure proper dilution prior to adding to the grout mixture. We suggest (for example if blue tile is surrounding the joints) to use 25ml SP blue 7 + 5ml SP Orange per ¼ litre of mortar. You can use a pale grey or white mortar. You likely have less than 1m2 of joints to cover – estimating approx 1litre of grout will cover 2m2. You would have approx 1/2 litre of grout and would therefore need approx 50ml of blue 7 + 10ml orange.
5.2 Can Color-Rare pigments be used to stain/colour tile grout that is already cured between tiles?
Yes, pigments can be used to stain grout as long as they are mixed with a binder/sealer recommended for this use.
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6. Orders and Shipping
6.1 Who can I contact about my order or shipping?
Please send any order or shipping questions to shop@colorare.ca and we will reach out to you directly and quickly. Most orders are shipped within 48 hours Monday - Friday. Your order will be filled in 1-2 business days and sent out for delivery. We typically ship "Expedited" but if you require the product faster, please email us at shop@colorare.ca and request faster shipping. There will be an additional charge for further decreasing the shipping time. See the Canada Post site for faster shipping of Canadian packages.
6.2 If I am not satisfied with the product, may I request a refund?
Yes. You can return products (as long as the package is unopened) by contacting shop@colorare.ca for instructions and we will refund you the product cost upon receipt. You can visit our return/refund policy via the link https://colorare.ca/pages/refund-policy
6.3 Do you ship outside of Canada and the USA?
Yes, please send us the list of pigments you are interested in purchasing, we can prepare a draft invoice for your review that would include shipping costs from Canada to your country of delivery. The website won't let you process an order outside of the USA and Canada, but we can manually prepare it.
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7. Other FAQs
7.1 My company is a third-party reseller and we would like to carry and sell the Color-Rare product for you. Who can I speak to about this?
Please email us at info@colorare.ca.
7.2 Does Color-Rare sell binders?
Yes! We sell Beeswax, Blacksoap, Savon de Marseille, etc. Please email us a list of the items you require to info@colorare.ca. Should we not have in stock in North America, we can order from France with our next shipment.
7.3 Can Color-Rare pigments be added to wax?
Pigments can be added directly into melted wax (except for our SP line of pigments which are water-soluble only). We recommend using black iron oxide or romana black earth for black, titanium dioxide for white and any brown coloured mineral pigment for browns.
7.4 Which Color-Rare products will make a "Sand" finish and a "Concrete" finish?
To create the “Sand” limewash look, you will require the Novita product. This paint must be applied with a whitewash brush (due to its lime and grainy consistency). Brushstrokes in all directions create unique effect. To create the “Concrete” look, you will require the Base Plus product. This paint/primer must also be applied with a whitewash brush (due to its lime and grainy consistency) and the last coat can be burnished with a trowel to create textured effects.
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