OMG I just can not get the hang of painting/using luster dust and I have tried 3 times 
@ first I used as is out of the jar...NOT.then I tried adding a little H2O then paint...NOT. then I read on here that you have to use with an alchol base product like extract or liquer.so I attempted it again tonight with just a little liquer,and I got the same ole' same ole' results....lumpy,clumpy ugly what the heck am I doing or not doing?PLEASE does somebody know how to help me?I see cakes on here done beautifully with luster dust and I am dying to get it right 
I airbrush most of my decorations now. i do know that almond extract and sometimes Vanilla extract will clump. I used to use lemon but could not deal with the smell. I use vodka or andy 100 proof alcohol will work.
You just mix to suit the amount of luster you want. I mix a little at a time so I do not waste it.I dry dust plain pearls occasionally and noticed that if you use luster with like a lemon extract and let it dry out-And then you try to dry dust it on pearls it does not work. Some here measure out parts per but I find that I always have too much and that is why I do a little at a time.
I read somewhere that if you mix your luster dust and alcohol in the lid itself you could just seal it back up and the alcohol would evaporate so you wouldn't waste any. Is this true? I plan on trying luster dust soon and was just wondering. I did learn that there is a difference between shimmer dust and luster dust. LOL the hard way that is...after I had already bought a bunch of the shimmer dust.
Back on the topic though...I would assume that if it is still clumpy you would need a bit more liquid. If you have something that is as smooth as you would like you usually mix more or add more liquid. Right? I dunno just offering a wee bit of help, or at least trying 
that would sound right except when i added the liquer and dust together the consistency was like water or just liqued.in other words I did not get the clumps until I brushed it on. I just don't know by the way what is the difference with shimmer and luster? I thought they were/did the same effects 
well what I learned was shimmer dust is basically colored sugar--lol
you can't paint it...just sprinkle it and not very effectively I might add. If you check my pictures there should be a butterfly cake with some sprinkled. Actually I think two of the three have it on it.
Luster dust you can basically paint and cover the entire painted area basically changing the color.
There is also petal dust which is supposed to be similar to luster dust but a bit more transparent.
This is all jumbled info in my brian accquired from CC. Search for luster dust and you should find the post explaining a lot more.
To cover a medium sized cake, measure 1/4 teaspoon of luster dust and 1 teaspoon of pure lemon extract or clear alcohol (Vodka or Everclear) in a small container. It will be a very thin "paint" that shouldnt give you any clumps. You can brush it on or thin it a little more and use your airbrush.
HTH
Reecie
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-39258.html
This is one that I found that might help...even lists pearl dust...lol
I bought mine at my local cake supply house. But, kopy kake has a good set for cake decorating. http://www.kopykake.com/cd_airbrushes.html
A bit pricey though. Michaels also sells them. If you use a 40 or 50 % off coupon, you could get one at a reasonable price there.
If what your are painting, i.e. gumpaste, fondant, isn't completely dry, your brush will often get particles in it that contributes to clumping. You also need to continually add additional extract as it evaporates so that the clumps can be smoothed out regularly.
Rae
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