The present invention is directed to effect pigments with solvochromic properties. These effect pigments have a structure comprising a substrate in platelet form and a coating applied to the substrate, wherein the coating comprises: optionally a layer (1) comprising or consisting of at least one of tin oxide, tin hydroxide and/or tin oxide hydrate, a layer (2) comprising at least one of metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, and a layer (3) comprising at least one of metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate, wherein the layers (2) and (3) comprise in their metal oxide, metal hydroxide and/or metal oxide hydrate in a majority two different metal ions from the group consisting of Ti, Fe, Sn or Zr and a further spacer layer (4) being located in between layers (2) and (3), wherein layer (4) has a porous structure comprising cavities and connectors. The solvochromic properties denote to the effect pigment having a first interference color under ambient atmosphere which changes reversibly to a second interference color, when the effect pigment comes into contact with a solvent.

Disclosed in the present invention are near-infrared reflecting functional pigment, paint, and panel, especially, used for a vehicle pigment or the like. The pigment according to the present invention comprises: a platelet-like substrate; a first metal oxide layer coated on at least a portion of the substrate and having a refractive index of 1.8 or larger, and a second metal oxide layer coated on at least a portion of the first metal oxide layer and containing an absorbent material, wherein the pigment reflects on average at least 30% of an IR electron beam of 850-950 nm.

Opaque fluoride-doped effect pigments having a metallic lustre based on flake-form substrates, and a process for the preparation of these pigments, and the use thereof, in particular in automotive paints and cosmetic formulations.