Recent ArticlesPRODUCT REVIEW
ALSA ECLIPSE CUSTOM PAINT
by Tom Banks, aka Big Daddy
“ALSA Eclipse is a single event heat reactive basecoat that changes from Black to White or from Blue to White. Eclipse can be sprayed through any standard paint equipment. For the most brilliant white change, Eclipse should be applied over a white base. For unlimited possibilities try putting a Candy Concentrate over the Eclipse.” Excerpt from ALSA’s webpage.
ALSA Eclipse is a urethane based special effects paint that reacts to temperature. While the description states that is changes from “BLACK to WHITE or BLUE to WHITE”, it actually changes to a translucent clear…..almost like when Elmer’s glue dries…....it has a milky white appearance that is transparent. It does not completely disappear (crystal clear), but you can see through it. That is why it is recommended to spray over a white base for the most dramatic change.
I have experimented quite a bit with the “Black to White” paint, and see much potential for it’s use beyond the typical “mid-coat” application that it has been used for in the past. The temperature range for “activation” is around 75 degrees F. When the temp goes above 75 F, the paint activates and changes from black to “clear”. When the temperature goes below 70 F, the paint then switches back to black.
As far as sprayability, it is a finicky paint. The website and tech support recommend a 2:1 reduced mix. 2 parts ALSA Eclipse reduced with 1 part ALSA Medium Reducer. The can of product I receieved stated a 1:1 mix. I found that a 2:1 mix does not spray very well. It is extremely thick, and does not atomize well out of the spray gun, leaving the painted surface extremely rough (almost like sandpaper or chip guard). It is evern more pronounced when trying to spray out of an airbrush at this mix ratio.
When reduced in a 1:1 ratio, the paint sprays much better, laying down even and smooth. When mixed 1:1, the paint has very little “body” to the color. It takes several coats to start building the color up. Very similiar in the way a Candy Color self builds. In my experiance, it takes between 4 and 5 coats to build up a full bodied dark color. The more coats you use, the darker the paint becomes (closer to black). If only a few coats are applied, then the paint’s color is closer to charcoal grey than black, and is somewhat transparent. NOTE: The more coats you apply, the more translucent (milky) the paint will appear when activated!
There are several examples and videos on ALSA’s website that illustrate the use of Eclipse paint. It can be used in combination with candy paints for amazing color change.
Example: Lay ALSA Eclipse Black to White over a white basecoat, then use any candy color over the eclipse…..say lime green for example. The panel will appear black when below 75 F, but when heated, the paint activates and disappears. Now the Candy Lime Green is visible over the white base coat. The panel changes from Black to Lime Green.
You can hide graphics under the eclipse, which will only be visible when the paint activates and disappears. Once again, remember, the paint doesn’t disappear completely, so it is best used on Black / White or Greyscale graphics, or it will slightly distort the colors of the graphics.
I am currently experimenting with the paint for use in painting the actual graphics.
The paint is not for the feignt of heart, or those of us that are a bit light in the wallet. Eclipse sells for $60 for a 4oz bottle of unreduced paint. So it is very pricey to “play” with. ALSA recommends that you only use their reducer for this product. I tend to agree. When experimenting, I mixed the Eclipse with PPG 860 reducer (fast), 870 reducer (medium), and 885 reducer (slow). When mixed with the fast dry and medium dry reducers, the paint was completely unsprayable, and the mixed paint separated, and became unusable. When mixed with the 885 slow reducer, the paint sprayed well enough after tweaking the air pressure. Unless you have money to burn, don’t take the chance of the paint reacting badly to non-recommended reducers!
All in all, I am extremely impressed by this product and the possibilities. It is absolutely amazing to watch and it’s use in custom paint is very rare. If you have the discriminating customer who wants something truely unique, and is willing to pay for it, this product fits the bill.
I have attached several of my photos showing “before” and “after” heat has been applied.
You can see more examples of my work on my website at:
Big Daddy Customs
Big D
ALSA Eclipse is a urethane based special effects paint that reacts to temperature. While the description states that is changes from “BLACK to WHITE or BLUE to WHITE”, it actually changes to a translucent clear…..almost like when Elmer’s glue dries…....it has a milky white appearance that is transparent. It does not completely disappear (crystal clear), but you can see through it. That is why it is recommended to spray over a white base for the most dramatic change.
I have experimented quite a bit with the “Black to White” paint, and see much potential for it’s use beyond the typical “mid-coat” application that it has been used for in the past. The temperature range for “activation” is around 75 degrees F. When the temp goes above 75 F, the paint activates and changes from black to “clear”. When the temperature goes below 70 F, the paint then switches back to black.
As far as sprayability, it is a finicky paint. The website and tech support recommend a 2:1 reduced mix. 2 parts ALSA Eclipse reduced with 1 part ALSA Medium Reducer. The can of product I receieved stated a 1:1 mix. I found that a 2:1 mix does not spray very well. It is extremely thick, and does not atomize well out of the spray gun, leaving the painted surface extremely rough (almost like sandpaper or chip guard). It is evern more pronounced when trying to spray out of an airbrush at this mix ratio.
When reduced in a 1:1 ratio, the paint sprays much better, laying down even and smooth. When mixed 1:1, the paint has very little “body” to the color. It takes several coats to start building the color up. Very similiar in the way a Candy Color self builds. In my experiance, it takes between 4 and 5 coats to build up a full bodied dark color. The more coats you use, the darker the paint becomes (closer to black). If only a few coats are applied, then the paint’s color is closer to charcoal grey than black, and is somewhat transparent. NOTE: The more coats you apply, the more translucent (milky) the paint will appear when activated!
There are several examples and videos on ALSA’s website that illustrate the use of Eclipse paint. It can be used in combination with candy paints for amazing color change.
Example: Lay ALSA Eclipse Black to White over a white basecoat, then use any candy color over the eclipse…..say lime green for example. The panel will appear black when below 75 F, but when heated, the paint activates and disappears. Now the Candy Lime Green is visible over the white base coat. The panel changes from Black to Lime Green.
You can hide graphics under the eclipse, which will only be visible when the paint activates and disappears. Once again, remember, the paint doesn’t disappear completely, so it is best used on Black / White or Greyscale graphics, or it will slightly distort the colors of the graphics.
I am currently experimenting with the paint for use in painting the actual graphics.
The paint is not for the feignt of heart, or those of us that are a bit light in the wallet. Eclipse sells for $60 for a 4oz bottle of unreduced paint. So it is very pricey to “play” with. ALSA recommends that you only use their reducer for this product. I tend to agree. When experimenting, I mixed the Eclipse with PPG 860 reducer (fast), 870 reducer (medium), and 885 reducer (slow). When mixed with the fast dry and medium dry reducers, the paint was completely unsprayable, and the mixed paint separated, and became unusable. When mixed with the 885 slow reducer, the paint sprayed well enough after tweaking the air pressure. Unless you have money to burn, don’t take the chance of the paint reacting badly to non-recommended reducers!
All in all, I am extremely impressed by this product and the possibilities. It is absolutely amazing to watch and it’s use in custom paint is very rare. If you have the discriminating customer who wants something truely unique, and is willing to pay for it, this product fits the bill.
I have attached several of my photos showing “before” and “after” heat has been applied.
You can see more examples of my work on my website at:
Big Daddy Customs
Big D
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