Special effects watercolours are designed to do what traditional paints can’t - catch light, shift colour, and add dimension to your work in a way that instantly stands out.
At CVArtColours, our handmade paints are created specifically for detailing, highlighting, and elevating your artwork, rather than replacing your full palette.
They can be used on any porous surface (like paper or wood), but for the best results, we recommend a good quality 300gsm watercolour paper, where the pigments can properly sit on the surface and reflect light.
Activating Special Effects Watercolours
Using special effects watercolours is simple, but activation is key to getting the best results.
- Add a few drops of water directly onto your paint pan using a brush or dropper
- Let it sit for up to 3 minutes (some colours activate faster than others)
- Once softened, gently load your brush with paint
- Apply to your surface, adding small amounts of water as needed for flow
Unlike standard watercolours, these paints benefit from a little patience upfront. This is what gives you that smooth, creamy consistency and strong pigment payoff.
How Different Types of Special Effects Watercolours Behave
Hyper Colour Shifters, Ghost Chameleons, Chromes, Holographics and Metallics are bold, opaque and highly saturated. They sit on top of the paper with strong coverage and intense shine, making them perfect for sharp highlights, metallic details and high-impact finishing touches. These work best with less water to keep their opacity and reflectivity strong.
Pastel Colour Shifters, Shimmers and Chameleons are softer and more luminous. They are slightly transparent, allowing light and underlying colours to show through, which creates subtle shifts and glowing effects. These are ideal for layering, glazing over darker tones and adding a more delicate, ethereal finish.
What Makes These Colours Different?
Traditional watercolours are designed for flat, matte colour.
Special effects watercolours are designed for movement, light, and dimension.
When diluted, they may create granulating or textured effects which can be beautiful in itself, but their real strength is in controlled application.
As light hits your artwork from different angles, the pigments reflect and shift, revealing colours that aren’t always visible head-on. This is what creates that signature “colour shift” effect.
Tips for Using CVArtColours
To get the most out of your paints:
- Use less water for stronger shine and opacity
- Apply as a final layer to keep effects crisp and visible
- Work on darker or matte bases for maximum contrast
- Tilt your artwork to see how colours shift in different lighting
Special effects watercolours aren’t about covering the page, they’re about finishing the piece.
They’re the detail people notice last… and remember most.
Whether you’re adding a subtle shimmer or a bold metallic highlight, these paints give your work a level of depth that standard watercolours simply can’t achieve.
Not Sure Which Set to Start With?
If you’re new to special effects watercolours, the easiest way to start is by choosing based on the kind of finish you want in your work.
Want bold, high-impact shine?
Go for Metallics, Chromes, Hyper Colour Shifters, or Holographics. These give strong coverage and that instant “wow” factor, especially for highlights and fine detailing.
Prefer something softer and more luminous?
Start with Pastel Shifters or Shimmers. These layer beautifully and create subtle, glowing colour shifts that change with the light.
Just want to try a bit of everything first?
Our Dot Cards are the perfect entry point. You can test multiple colours, understand how each type behaves, and find your favourites before committing to full pans.
Ready to See the Shift for Yourself?
Special effects watercolours are one of those things you need to see in real life to fully appreciate. Photos don’t capture the full shift, the depth, or the way they catch the light as you move.
If you’re ready to add that extra dimension to your work, explore the full range here:
Shop CVArtColours Special Effects Watercolours →
Or, if you’re just starting out:
Try a Dot Card and experience the difference first →