Merck defines blue-glow purple as the effect colour of 2017

Merck has announced its first effect colour of the year for 2017. It is blue-glow purple. The violet shade continues the trend towards shades of reddish blue and bluish red. With effect pigments from Merck, the extraordinary colour can be imparted in a variety of shades to cosmetics, printed and plastic products, as well as coated surfaces.

Colour interpretation of societal developments "Fruity and fresh like plums and at the same time reminiscent of old roses and ripe fruit are attributes inspiring the trend towards reddish shades. Our versatile trend shade creates both punky and royal impressions through a calm and mysterious colour, which can also appear vibrant", said Filip Roscam, Design Director for Pigments & Functional Materials within the Performance Materials business sector.

The Merck effect pigments allow the trend shade to vary between a more reddish shimmer transitioning to bluish, depending on the viewing angle and properties of the surface. Applying their sharp sense of direction and keen instinct for trends, the Merck trend scouts monitor societal developments and interpret them into colours, giving rise to the annual Colour Forecast for the cosmetics industry, new colour-intense effect pigments and now also the "Effect Color of the Year". They observe street scenes and exhibitions, collaborate with other trend scouts and advisors and also probe the international terrain. Roscam, for example, is a management board member of the international Color Marketing Group.

First and foremost, a combination of the Merck effect pigments Iriodin Icy White Lightning and Xirallic NXT Tigris Blue with other red shades lends a trendy violet appearance to consumer goods and lifestyle products. A variant of Timiron Splendid Violet rounded off by Ronastar Diamond Black creates lipsticks, eyeshadows and nail polishes that shine in the trend colour. With its intense blue-violet effect, Colorona Patagonian Purple enhances cosmetic formulations.