The colours created by pearlescent pigments are from thin coatings of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) onto a platelet substrate. The thickness of the Titanium Dioxide layers is strictly controlled to create what are called interference colours.

Interference colours can achieve all the colours of the rainbow, with each individual pigment having a characteristic single reflection colour at the spectral angle. It is the result of an optical effect caused by constructive or destructive light interference.