does pearl have to be mixed in with the paint or can it be spayed out onto something that is aready painted?

 

its usually mixed with the clear.

 

Correct, you can lay it over a solid base coat mixed in with clear.

 

Pearl tint is usually mixed in with the base. There is more 2 stage pearl colors or colors with pearl tint in the mix than tri-coat pearls in general. Tri-coat pearl colors have all, or a majority of the pearl tint in the 2nd base coat. The 2nd coat is clear base and pearl tints that create the effect, then the final 2K clear.

 

powerflow is right its mixed in a clear base coat not the Clear coat.

 

What powerflow said is correct.