Color Description Opacity Light Fastness Oil Absorption

Color Index C.I. Common C.I.

Generic or Historical Constitution † = Long Term 1 = Opaque I = Excellent Side Notes Grade
Name Name Number (ml/100g)
Effects of Light 4 = Transparent IV = Fugitive
* PV23 Red Shade has ASTM I 'excellent' in oils &
Deep dark blue or red acrylics (2003), but less in watercolor with a rating of
shade purple; there ASMT II 'very good' (2003), the Blue Shade has
I-II (ASMT oil,
are blue shade & red poorer lightfastness and is only ASTM II 'very good' Yabang
acryl. 2003)*
shade versions of this (2003) in oils and IV 'poor' (ASMT ca. 1999) in 2350D (PV23
PV23 Dioxazine Violet 51319 pigment. 2-3 35-94 watercolor. for S/B),
Very staining w/ Picofine
excellent tinting II ASTM WC, Violet C-1107
Most Paint manufactures give it a 'very good' light
strength 2003)* fastness rating.
† Fades
Yabang
Benzidine Brownish orange PY12,
PY12 21090 4 II-III 45 Used mainly for inks
Yellow G yellow Cosmos
Yellow GR

Yabang
PY14 &
Diarylide Yellow Yellow leaning 1454G
PY14 21095 3 III-IV (NR) 40-68 Used mainly in inks
AAOT towards green (PY14),
Cosmos
Yellow GGTN

Said to be a good primary yellow for color mixing in

artist paints, although it appears that the light fastness
Bright mid to greenish of this pigment is not good in tints and transparent
yellow versions. It appears to be rated higher in acrylics
Arylide Yellow which may add some degree of protection? Most
PY74 11741 2-4* I-III?* (NR) 40-65 paint makers only use it in acrylic or inks. Yabang PY74
5GX

* transparency depends on formulation. Comes in

Fair to good tinting
both opaque and transparent versions. It appears that
strenght
the light fastness is better in opaque formulations.

Light, deep yellow,

reddish undertone; * can be produced in opaque, semi-opaque and
Staining w/ good transparent forms.
Diarylide Yellow
PY83 21108 tinting strength 1-3* II** (ASMT) 57 Yabang PY83
HR
† slight darkening in
masstone; fades in ** some loss of lightfastness in tints
tints
Very light, bright,
greenish to reddish
yellow*; * The reddish yellow shade is extremely opaque. The Picofine
Quinophthalone
PY138 56300 1-3* II (ASTM) 19-43 greenish shade is transparent and has higher Yellow C-
Yellow Staining with high
tinctorial strength 6106
tinting strength
†Lightens
 May be a good light fast Indian yellow substitute;
Light to deep reddish
yellow*; Dry pigment powder may require wetting agent to
Picofine
Isoindoline incorporate into binder.
PY139 56298 2-3* I (NR) 45-69 Yellow C-
Yellow * Varies by particle size and formulation (Ref. 6204
† slight fading Industrial Organic Pigments 3rd ed - W. herbst, K.
Hunger (Wiley, 2004) p.415)
* The name Indian red derives from the red laterite
soil found in India, which is composed of naturally
occurring iron oxides. The first recorded use of Indian
red as a color term in English was in 1792.[2], it does
various brownish not refer to, or have anything to do with the skin color Picofine Red
yellow to orange to I* (ASTM oil, of Native Americans; (Ref Indian_Red_(color) C-3303, IO
Synthetic Iron Wikipedia)
PR101 77491 red shades with 1-4** Acry. disp. and 15-25 Red 120 NM
Oxide Red
yellow to violet under WC) ** Transparency depends on particle size, amount of & 130 M
tones**** grinding, formulation, binder, method of manufacture, (Bayyferrox)
mineral content, impurities and additives.
*** Environox Terra Cotta and Environox Falun Red
from Earth Pigments is Iron Oxide produced from
reclaimed iron sludge
* lightfastness appears to vary considerably by
manufacturer and brand; Bruce MacEvoy of
Handprint rates the Daniel Smith watercolor very
Blue shade deep red;
good, but he rates Old Holland watercolor very poorly,
I (ASTM oil) which is strange, because Old Holland is considered
to be very high quality artist paints.
Staining w/ good Most paint brands using this pigment label their tubes
tinting strength with excellent or very good lightfastness. Picofine Red
Anthraquinone
PR177 65300 4 55 C-3509 & C-
Red Guerra Paint & Pigment rate their Anthraquinone Red 3510
pigment dispersion as excellent in all tints. Lansco (a
pigment manufacturer) rates the light fastness as
III (ASTM excellent in masstone, and good to very good in tints.
† Fades, Lightens
watercolor)*
It would be wise to make your own light fastness tests
on the product you have. It appears that relying on
the quailty of name brand paints may not be enough
to ensure good results.
Good substitute for Alizarin Crimson but not the exact
Deep dull violet red;
shade or chroma;
Perylene Highly staining w/ Picofine Red
PR179 71130 3 I (ASTM) 55-60 Perylene dyes are a group of red and violet synthetic
Maroon high tinting strength C-3106
organic vat dyes discovered about 1912. Perylene
† Fades, Dulls has been laked as an artist pigment since 1957.
Slightly
Dark deep red, violet Beautiful deep ruby red; Good substitute for Alizarin
undertone; Crimson;
Pyrrole Red * Not rated by ASTM, manufacturer spec sheets and Picofine Red
PR264 561300 3 I-II* (NR) 62
Rubine some paint brands indicate a rating of I, BWS 8;8;8 C-3403
† Fades Slightly
(excellent) for the pure pigment, other sources give
only a marginal II (very good) in watercolor tests
 There are transparent types of Quinacridone Red,
mostly used for automotive finishes, and opaque
forms of PR122 widely used in exterior paints as a
blue shade red (Ref at Paint & Coatings Industry
Clean Bright blue I (ASTM oil &
Magazine, article "Evaluation of Various Organic Picofine
shade light red acryl.,2003)
Quinacridone Color Pigments"January 1, 2010 ). From my Magenta C-
PR122 73915 2-4 40-97 experience the transparent types are more often used 3208 & C-
Magenta
in artist's paints, but some paint makers may use the 3215
opaque versions.
†Dulls slightly, Hue ** ASTM rated III (fair) in watercolors, but rated
III (ASTM WC
shift towards light mid Excellent (I) light fastness in tests of popular water
1999)**
red color brands, at handprint.
Permanent Red Cosmos Red
PR48:1 15865:1 Bright yellowish red 3 IV (NR) 38-45
BB [FIAT] G Toner
Permanent Red Yellower to bluer than Cosmos Red
PR48:2 15865:2 3 IV (NR) 45-91
BB PR 48:1 DWG
* The PR48:4 form of PR48 seems to be more light
fast than other forms of this pigment.
" Pigment PR48:4 is considered more lightfast and
Permanent Red durable than other PR48 salts" (Ref. Blick Art Cosmos Red
PR48:4 15865:4 Mid-shade red 1 II* (NR) 45-63
2B Materials) 430
Chroma Archival Oil Paint and some pigment
manufacturers rate this with very good in masstone to
fair light fastness in tints.
Dull reddish to Mid-
Orange; * Varies by manufacture
Staining with average Picofine
PO71 Pyrrole Orange 561200 to good tinting 2-4* II (NR)** 55-65 Orange C-
strength ** Not rated in WC by the ASTM. Rated with 'very 5101
good' (II) light fastness in watercolor test;
† Darkens in
masstone slightly
Deep green blue Extremely strong in tints; Artist paint makers usually
shade; add fillers to help control this unusually strong color.
Heavily staining w/
over powering tinting Can "bronze" over in masstone, usually additives help
strength, unless prevent this.
extended.
† Darkens, Dulls, Picofine
Phthalocyanine Fades; Can 'bronze'
PG7 74260 4 I (ASTM) 22-62 Green C-
Green BS over (develope a
Phthalocyanines have a tendency to flocculate 7103
iridescent sheen).
(granulate) extremely, paint makers usually add
These effects are
additives like Surfactants & flow improvers to
inherent to their light
counteract this, as a result they usually are non-
fastness and may
granulating in watercolors.
take decades or
centuries to have any
noticeable effects.
Intense deep blue in
mass tone reddish to I (ASTM oils &
greenish bright blue in Acryl.);
shades; Extremely powerful tint strength, usually extended to
some degree;

Phthalocyanine Cosmos Blue

PB15:2 74160 a form 4 55-78

Heavily staining w/
over powering tinting
strength, unless
extended.;
Phthalocyanine
PB15:2 74160 a form 4 55-78
Blue
† Darkens, Dulls,
Fades*; These effects
are inherent to their
light fastness and
may take decades or
centuries to have any
noticeable effects.
Intense deep blue in
mass tone greenish
bright blue in shades;
Heavily staining w/
over powering tinting
strength, unless
extended.
Phthalocyanine
PB15:3 74160 b form 4 45-84
Blue BGS
† Darkens, Dulls,
Fades*; These effects
are inherent to their
light fastness and
may take decades or
centuries to have any
noticeable effects.
Dark blue, comes in
reddish & greenish
Indanthrone shades;
PB60 69800 3=4
Blue
† Fades, Dulls over
over a very long time
Deep Black, brown
undertone;
Med. Staining w/
good tinting strength;
PBk7 Lamp black 77266 1-2
Slow drying in oils
Extremely powerful tint strength, usually extended to
some degree;
Cosmos Blue
* Most of the Phthalocyanine pigments can "bronze"
PRPL-HS
over in masstone, usually additives & modern
II (ASTM WC); manufacturing techniques help prevent this.
Phthalocyanines Have a tendency to flocculate
(granulate) extremely, paint makers usually add
additives like Surfactants & flow improvers to
counteract this, as a result they usually are non-
granulating in watercolors. Particle size effects color
and light fastness (Ref handprint.com)
I (ASTM oils & Extremely powerful tint strength, usually extended to
Acryl.); some degree;
* Most of the Phthalocyanine pigments can "bronze"
over in masstone, usually additives & modern
manufacturing techniques help prevent this.
Phthalocyanines Have a tendency to flocculate
(granulate) extremely, paint makers usually add
additives like Surfactants & flow improvers to
counteract this, as a result they usually are non- Picofine Blue
granulating in watercolors. Particle size effects color C-8107
II** (ASTM WC); and light fastness (Ref handprint.com)
** Appears to have slightly less lightfastness in some
brands of watercolors than plain old PB-15, but still
rated as excellent in watercolor tests by Bruce
MacEvoy @ handprint.com. See PB-15 @
Handprint.com;
* Tested w/ excellent lightfastness in most watercolor Yabang
I (ASTM oil &
brands at Handprint, however a few brands seemed a PB60,
acryl., not rated in 37-45
little under par. See more on PB-60 in watercolors at Picofine Blue
WC)*
Handprint.com by Bruce MacEvoy C-8300
Lamp black PBk7 is a very lightfast, very opaque,
heavily staining black pigment, available from 6
pigment manufacturers worldwide. The ASTM (1999)
rates its lightfastness in watercolors as "excellent" (I).
This is typically the darkest valued, most opaque Picofine
I (ASTM) 58-117
black in a watercolor line (ivory or bone black is Black C-9106
usually offered as a slightly less intense, warmer
alternative). Because it is so dark, it shows a large
proportional drying shift increasing in lightness by
180%.