Cernit Sparkling is a range of mica powders made in Belgium by The Clay and Paint Factory. Brushed onto raw clay before baking, or onto a cured surface, they add metallic and pearlescent shimmer — and because mica is directional, the effect shifts as the piece moves in the light.

What to expect: apart from the opaque Metallics, these powders are sheer. They lay a hint of colored shimmer over what is underneath rather than covering it, so the clay you brush them onto matters as much as the powder. The same color reads very differently on white and on black.

About the Metallic line: the opaque end of the range, and the one that behaves most like a straightforward metallic finish rather than a sheer shimmer. If you want the powder to read as metal rather than as a hint over the clay, this is the line to reach for.

On this color: worth knowing that the Silver reads as a pearl rather than a true metallic silver. Over a white or pale base it can disappear almost entirely, so it is best used over a mid or dark color where the pearl has something to sit against.

Using them: a soft dry brush and a light touch. Mica powders travel, so work over a sheet of paper and keep separate brushes per color if you can. On raw clay the powder bakes in and stays put; on cured clay it needs sealing, and a water-based varnish will hold it without dulling the shimmer.

Ginger Davis Allman worked through all four sub-lines, on light and dark clay, in her Cernit Sparkling Review at The Blue Bottle Tree.

• Cernit reference: CE6100005080C
• Range: Sparkling Metallic
• Color: Silver
• Size: 5g jar