The present invention relates to a method for coloring a surface, especially food surface, with an effective pigment, preferably a pearlescent pigment, based on a flaky substrate, which comprises a step (i) mixing the effective pigment into a paste-like transparent water-based material； and (ii) applying an application medium prepared in the step (i) to the surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple application method, which can apply the pearlescent pigment to very various surfaces, especially variety kinds of food surfaces, and at the same time, broaden the range of existing application methods in terms of cost effectiveness, visual impression and practicality.본 발명은 (i) 유효 안료를 페이스트성의 투명한 물-기반 소재에 혼입하는 단계； 및(ii) 단계 (i)에서 제조된 도포 매질을 표면에 도포하는 단계를 포함하는, 표면, 특히 식품 표면을 박편형 기재를 기반으로 한 유효 안료, 바람직하게는 진주광택 안료로 착색하는 방법에 관한 것이다.
