Decorative sequins are widely used in many areas of human life. They are used for making toys, soap, cosmetics, nail polish, Christmas tree decorations, accessories, plastic products, stationery, party supplies, printing, furniture, clothing, shoes, etc. The industry has even developed an “edible glitter” which is used by pastry chefs around the world. Thanks to its excellent characteristics, glitter has gained such popularity, so many companies buys glitter in bulk.
They, like many types of pigments, are able to withstand large temperature differences, do not lose their properties depending on the environment, and demonstrate resistance to water and ultraviolet radiation. High-quality production of decorative sequins involves:
preservation of the given shape of each particle;
absence of stuck together glitter particles;
preservation of color and size.
What is glitter
Glitter is a shredded metallized polyester film of various colors, shapes, sizes. Particle sizes can vary depending on the glitter selected. Glitter is available in sizes from 50 to 6250 microns, so you can find the perfect glitter for you. When choosing a glitter, it is necessary to take into account that the flatter and finer glitter particles cover the surface more densely, creating a beautiful reflective effect.
Decorative sequins can be produced not only from film, but also from aluminum foil, synthetic fibers coated with metal oxides, and also from the smallest glass. The palette of colors is very wide, and in the Tricolor online store you can buy glitter of various shades. Rainbow glitters, fluorescent, iridescent, holographic sparkles are very popular. Most often they come in the shape of a five-hex, but you can also find glitter in the form of flowers, animals, or glitter in irregular shapes.
Glitter manufacturing technology
Specialized equipment is required to make sequins. For production, machines are used designed to create glitter or confetti.
The metallized film of the desired color is installed on the machine. After it starts working, the film is automatically crushed to a glitter state. Each machine produces glitter of a specific size and shape.
Making sequins at home
Sequins are inexpensive, so you can always get them in the right quantity for any decorative work. However, you can also make your own sequins if you can’t buy them or want to experiment. It should be added that they are unlikely to shine and shimmer, like sequins made in an industrial environment, but the effect will be quite interesting. The shine of homemade glitter will depend on the quality of the ingredients used. To work you will need:
fine-grained epsom salt. For this type of work, another salt is also suitable, but the brilliance and transparency of its crystals will not be so strong;
food coloring that can be replaced with liquid watercolors as an alternative;
a small plastic or cellophane bag.
Pour a small amount of salt into a bag. Dilute the dye in the required proportions to achieve the desired color. If the color is too saturated, it is allowed to dilute it with a little water. Then the dye is added to the salt, the bag is closed, and the contents are thoroughly mixed until the dye is evenly distributed over the salt crystals. The bag is then opened and left to dry for 24 hours. Choose bright shades for glitter production as they look especially beautiful. You can store glitter in bags or special containers with a tight-fitting lid.