How much glow pigment do I add to a lacquer?

As a guide, 15–20 % relative to the lacquer, i.e. around 20 g of pigment per 100 ml. Opaque systems such as white wall paint need 30–50 %.

Does more pigment make it glow brighter?

Only up to a point. 30 % can be incorporated but adds hardly any brightness compared with 15–20 %. A lighter or more transparent carrier usually has a bigger effect.

Can I mix glow pigment into concrete?

It has little effect because the pigment disappears below the surface. Granules pressed into the fresh surface or a clear, walk-resistant top layer containing pigment work better.

How Much Glow Pigment to Add

The guide value: 15–20 % relative to the carrier

For transparent and light-coloured systems, a loading of 15–20 % glow pigment relative to the carrier material has proven itself. For orientation: that is around 20 g of pigment per 100 ml of lacquer.

More is possible – even 30 % can be incorporated. With sensible material use, however, it adds hardly any brightness. Beyond a certain point you are paying for pigment nobody can see.

Why the carrier matters more than the amount

Glow pigment has to absorb light and release it again. Everything between the pigment and the viewer therefore affects the glow:

Transparent or light carriers – clear lacquer, transparent resin, light plastics – let light through. The guide value of 15–20 % is sufficient here.
Opaque carriers such as white wall paint absorb part of the light. They need 30–50 % to achieve a comparable effect.
Dark carriers and substrates absorb the most. On a dark substrate, a white primer helps – or correspondingly more pigment.

Guide loadings by carrier material – always verify in your own system
Carrier	Guide value	Note
Clear lacquer, transparent coating	15–20 %	Large areas: spray in several coats
Casting resin, epoxy, silicone	15–20 %	Use pure pigment, not ready-made glow paint; watch for settling
Transparent or light plastics	15–20 %	For masterbatch, match to the later let-down ratio
Opaque carriers, e.g. white wall paint	30–50 %	Opacity absorbs brightness
Concrete, screed, paving	do not mix in	Bring pigment or granules to the surface (see below)

Processing: where dosage alone is not enough

Resins and silicone

In low-viscosity resin the pigment settles. Then only the underside of the part glows instead of the whole part. A proven method is to let the resin start to gel or to thicken it before stirring in the pigment – or to add the pigment only to a top layer. Air bubbles stirred in can be removed with a heat gun.

Large areas

Making walls, panels or façades glow evenly is demanding. Spraying gives the most uniform result: pigment in clear lacquer, in several thin coats. When rolling, two to three coats with a soft roller make sense.

Concrete and floors

Mixed into concrete, the pigment disappears almost completely below the surface. It is more effective to press granules into the fresh surface and grind it – or, after curing, to apply a clear, walk-resistant layer (epoxy, exterior lacquer) containing pigment or granules.

In practiceTest every formulation on a small scale first – with your binder, your layer thickness and your substrate. That is exactly what sampling is for.

Common dosing mistakes

More pigment to compensate for a dark carrier. Has little effect – better to lighten the carrier or use a white primer.
Ready-made glow paint in resin. For resin and silicone, use the pure pigment.
Mixing different glow colours. Possible, but not homogeneous because of different particle sizes.
Mixing water-based and oil-based systems. They cannot be mixed directly; thanks to its SiO₂ coating, the pigment itself can be used in both.

How much glow pigment to add