Test Opacity of Artistic Paints

  

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Oil and acrylic paints are applied with brushstrokes (impasto) and glazes — thin, almost transparent layers.
To achieve this, you need to see the true transparency of each paint in a thin layer.

Here are the results of testing artists' oil,
water-mixable oil colors and acrylic paints from various companies and brands
for students, amateurs and professional painters.
- Not all colors of each brand (and the brands themselves) are presented, but only those that were found for testing.
You can perform a similar test yourself with your own paints.

- The declared transparency of a paint (if indicated on the tube) does not always correspond to reality.
On a white background, this is difficult to notice,
but on a black background, it is clearly visible.
The transparency marker on the tube (a small square or circle, if present)
can be considered the manufacturer's recommendation for use,
and not its actual transparency.

- Click on a brand on the page to the left
and use the visible opacity of each paint
as a hint for how to use it.

- Opaque or semi-opaque paint (the black background is tinted with paint)
is suitable for impasto work – for covering the background
or creating texture.
In a thin layer, it opaques the background and can make the painting appear muddy.
It's only suitable for creating a fog effect.

- Transparent or semi-transparent paint
(the black background is clearly visible)
is suitable in thin layers for glazing the background
(like a varnish). In a thick layer, it applies unevenly and the background
still shows through.

- The colors of dark paints can be difficult to distinguish at full strength,
and the bleaching side helps reveal the "true color" and tone of the paint
(warm, cool, neutral).

Parameters of Artistic Professional Colors:
Degree of Lightfastness under museum conditions:
*** (or +++) - above 100 years completely
** (or ++) - 25..100 years
* (or +) - 10-25 years
o = 0-10 years (use for sketch or poster)
Sign (A) on a tube = Analogous (Hue).

Opacity (small image or/and our chars code):
  TR = Transparent
  ST = Semi-Transparent
  SO = Semi-Opaque
  OP = Opaque.

International Pigment's Color Code:
PW - Pigment White
PY - Pigment Yellow
PO - Pigment Orange
PR - Pigment Red
PV - Pigment Violet
PB - Pigment Blue
PG - Pigment Green
PBr - Pigment Brown
PBk - Pigment Black
Fx - Fluorescent Pigment
Sample:
PR264/PV19 *** ST
- Pigment Red #264 + Pigment Violet #19,
Lightfastness very high,
Semi-Transparent Paint.

The color swatches in the catalog are applied over white and black
stripes of primer in a single coat of paint to demonstrate
the paint's transparency and opacity.
The left side of the swatch contains a mixture of wet paint
and titanium white (except for the lightest colors).

Vitaly Eromenko



Rembrandt Oil Colors
Rembrandt Oil Colors are world-wide known for their consistent professional quality.
These oil paints are the ultimate choice for professional artists around the world.

They are made in Holland by craftsmen who mill the paint on triple rollers.
Rembrandt uses lightfast pigments and the purest Linseed and Safflower oils making them permanent and durable.
They can be mixed with each other extremely well.
They are safely intermixable with other oil paints.

The highest possible pigment concentration and the fact that they are ground extremely finely
means that all the colours have maximum colour intensity.
As regards lightfastness Rembrandt oil colour is unique.
All 120 colours have the highest degree of lightfastness (+++).
Each shade has its own formula which guarantees a high level of stability and quality.
The range of colours is well-balanced:
there is equal distribution over different colour groups and a good balance between opaque
and translucent colours.

* Sublime brilliance and intensely deep colours
* Optimal colour strength due to the highest possible concentration of pigments and very fine grinding
* Highest degree of lightfastness
* Very pure colours and greatest durability of the paint coat

Characteristics:
* Zinc white and Titanium white both based on linseed oil (for painting grounds) and based on non-yellowing safflower oil
* Permanent madder lake colours
The lightfastness of all these colors has been tested in accordance with ASTM Standards D4303
Tube 40 ml (1.35 oz)
120 colors (include Metaallic).
Royal Talens, Netherlands

Columns=1:   1   2   3   4   5  
Select Brand
1) Oil Colors Daler-Rowney Georgian
Daler-Rowney
2) Oil Colors Hoenig Classic
Hoenig
3) Oil Colors Hoenig Top Oil
Hoenig
4) Oil Colors Ladoga
Nevskaya Palitra
5) Oil Colors Louvre
Lefranc & Bourgeois
6) Oil Colors Maimeri Classico
Maimeri
7) Oil Colors Maries
Maries
8) Oil Colors Master Class
Nevskaya Palitra
9) Oil Colors Rembrandt
Royal Talens
10) Oil Colors Rosa Gallery
Ukraine
11) Oil Colors Van Dyck
Ferrario
12) Oil Colors Van-Gogh
Royal Talens
13) Oil Colors Winsor & Newton (China)
China
14) Oil Colors Winton
Winsor & Newton
15) Aqua-Oil colors Artisan
Winsor-Newton
16) Aqua-Oil Cobra/Van-Gogh
Royal Talens
17) Acrylic Amsterdam
Royal Talens
18) Acrylic Bianyo
Bianyo, China
19) Acrylic Daler-Rowney System 3
Daler-Rowney Ltd.
20) Acrylic Expert
Royal Talens
21) Acrylic Honig PRO
Hoenig
22) Acrylic Mont-Marte
Mont Marte Intl.Pty Ltd.
23) Acrylic Rembrandt
Royal Talens
24) Acrylic Renaissance
Qinzhu Ltd.
25) Acrylic XTC
Hoenig
[Code RMO]: Oil Colors Rembrandt (113 Colors)
Royal Talens

1) SKU: RMB104 (104)
Zink White SF
  PW4 *** SO

2) SKU: RMB117 (117)
Zink White LN
  PW4 *** SO

3) SKU: RMB105 (105)
Titanium White SF
  PW6/PW4 *** OP

4) SKU: RMB118 (118)
Titanium White LN
  PW6/PW4 *** OP

5) SKU: RMB103 (103)
Mixed White
  PW6/PW4 *** OP

6) SKU: RMB119 (119)
Transparent White
  PW6/PW4 *** TR

7) SKU: RMB279 (279)
Nickel Titanium Yellow Light
  PW6/PY184 *** OP

8) SKU: RMB222 (222)
Naples Yellow Light
  PW6/PY154/PBr24 *** OP

9) SKU: RMB207 (207)
Cadmium Lemon
  PY35 *** OP

10) SKU: RMB254 (254)
Permanent Lemon Yellow
  PY184 *** SO

11) SKU: RMB272 (272)
Transparent Yellow Medium
  PY128 *** TR

12) SKU: RMB208 (208)
Cadmium Yellow Light
  PY35 *** OP

13) SKU: RMB283 (283)
Permanent Yellow Light
  PY154 *** SO

14) SKU: RMB271 (271)
Cadmium Yellow Medium
  PY35 *** OP

15) SKU: RMB284 (284)
Permanent Yellow Medium
  PY154/PO43 *** SO

16) SKU: RMB223 (223)
Naples Yellow Deep
  PW6/PY154/PBr24 *** OP

17) SKU: RMB251 (251)
Stil de Grain Yellow
  PY110 *** TR

18) SKU: RMB210 (210)
Cadmium Yellow Deep
  PY35/PO20 *** OP

19) SKU: RMB285 (285)
Permanent Yellow Deep
  PY154/PO43 *** SO

20) SKU: RMB224 (224)
Naples Yellow Red
  PW6/PO43/PBr24 *** OP

21) SKU: RMB211 (211)
Cadmium Orange
  PO20/PY35 *** OP

22) SKU: RMB266 (266)
Permanent Orange
  PO73/PY154 *** SO

23) SKU: RMB311 (311)
Vermilion
  PO73 *** SO

24) SKU: RMB303 (303)
Cadmium Red Light
  PR108/PO20 *** OP

25) SKU: RMB370 (370)
Permanent Red Light
  PR255/PO73 *** SO

26) SKU: RMB314 (314)
Cadmium Red Medium
  PR108 *** OP

27) SKU: RMB317 (317)
Transparent Red Medium
  PR207 *** TR

28) SKU: RMB377 (377)
Permanent Red Medium
  PR255 *** SO

29) SKU: RMB306 (306)
Cadmium Red Deep
  PR108 *** OP

30) SKU: RMB371 (371)
Permanent Red Deep
  PR254 *** SO

31) SKU: RMB334 (334)
Scarlet
  PR149 *** SO

32) SKU: RMB309 (309)
Cadmium Red Purple
  PR108 *** OP

33) SKU: RMB348 (348)
Permanent Red Purple
  PR264/PW6 *** SO

34) SKU: RMB321 (321)
Permanent Madder Light
  PR254/PR264/PV19 *** ST

35) SKU: RMB395 (395)
Permanent Madder Medium
  PR264/PV19 *** ST

36) SKU: RMB342 (342)
Permanent Madder Deep
  PR264 *** ST

37) SKU: RMB366 (366)
Quinacridone Rose
  PV19 *** TR

38) SKU: RMB318 (318)
Carmine
  PR176 *** SO

39) SKU: RMB323 (323)
Burnt Carmine
  PR264/PB29 *** ST

40) SKU: RMB567 (567)
Permanent Red Violet
  PR202 *** ST

41) SKU: RMB537 (537)
Permanent Violet
  PV19 *** ST

42) SKU: RMB539 (539)
Cobalt Violet
  PV14 *** ST

43) SKU: RMB568 (568)
Permanent Blue Violet
  PV16 *** ST

44) SKU: RMB507 (507)
Ultramarine Violet
  PV15 *** TR

45) SKU: RMB505 (505)
Ultramarine Light
  PB29 *** TR

46) SKU: RMB506 (506)
Ultramarine Deep
  PB29 *** TR

47) SKU: RMB513 (513)
Cobalt Blue Light
  PB28 *** SO

48) SKU: RMB512 (512)
Cobalt Blue Ultramarine
  PB29/PB15 *** SO

49) SKU: RMB515 (515)
Cobalt Blue Deep
  PB74 *** SO

50) SKU: RMB533 (533)
Indigo
  PB15/PB29/PBk9 *** ST

51) SKU: RMB508 (508)
Prussian Blue
  PB27 *** TR

52) SKU: RMB585 (585)
Indantherene Blue
  PB60 *** ST

53) SKU: RMB583 (583)
Phtahlo Blue Red
  PB15 *** TR

54) SKU: RMB576 (576)
Phtahlo Blue Green
  PB15 *** TR

55) SKU: RMB517 (517)
King's Blue
  PB28/PW6 *** OP

56) SKU: RMB530 (530)
Sevres Blue
  PB15/PW6 *** OP

57) SKU: RMB534 (534)
Cerulean Blue
  PB35 *** ST

58) SKU: RMB582 (582)
Manganese Blue Phthalo
  PB15 *** SO

59) SKU: RMB522 (522)
Tuquoise Blue
  PB15/PG7/PW6 *** OP

60) SKU: RMB565 (565)
Phthalo Tuquoise Blue
  PB15/PG7 *** TR

61) SKU: RMB586 (586)
Cobalt Tuquoise Blue
  PB36 *** SO

62) SKU: RMB683 (683)
Ultramarine Green
  PB29/PY129 *** TR

63) SKU: RMB682 (682)
Cobalt Turquoise Green
  PG50 *** SO

64) SKU: RMB680 (680)
Phthalo Green Blue
  PG7 *** TR

65) SKU: RMB681 (681)
Phthalo Green Yellow
  PG36 *** TR

66) SKU: RMB615 (615)
Emerald Green
  PG36/PY109/PW6 *** OP

67) SKU: RMB619 (619)
Permanent Green Deep
  PG7/PY154 *** SO

68) SKU: RMB614 (614)
Permanent Green Medium
  PG7/PY154 *** SO

69) SKU: RMB616 (616)
Viridian
  PG18 *** ST

70) SKU: RMB650 (650)
Sevres Green
  PG7/PW6 *** OP

71) SKU: RMB668 (668)
Chromium Oxide Green
  PG17 *** OP

72) SKU: RMB610 (610)
Cobalt Green
  PG26 *** SO

73) SKU: RMB627 (627)
Cinnabar Green Deep
  PG7/PY42/PR101 *** OP

74) SKU: RMB625 (625)
Cinnabar Green Medium
  PG7/PY154/PY42 *** OP

75) SKU: RMB618 (618)
Permanent Green Light
  PG7/PY154 *** SO

76) SKU: RMB623 (623)
Sap Green
  PG7/PY110 *** TR

77) SKU: RMB620 (620)
Olive Green
  PG7/PY110/PR264 *** TR

78) SKU: RMB629 (629)
Green Earth
  PY42/PB15 *** ST

79) SKU: RMB633 (633)
Permanent Yellow Green
  PG7/PY154 *** SO

80) SKU: RMB626 (626)
Cinnabar Green Light
  PG7/PY154/PY42 *** OP

81) SKU: RMB281 (281)
Transparent Yellow Green
  PY129 *** TR

82) SKU: RMB282 (282)
Naples Yellow Green
  PW6/PY42/PG17 *** OP

83) SKU: RMB280 (280)
Nickel Titanium Yellow Deep
  PW6/PY154/PBr24 *** OP

84) SKU: RMB228 (228)
Yellow Ochre Light
  PBr24 *** OP

85) SKU: RMB242 (242)
Aureoline
  PY150 *** ST

86) SKU: RMB227 (227)
Yellow Ochre
  PY42 *** OP

87) SKU: RMB234 (234)
Raw Sienna
  PY42/PR101 *** ST

88) SKU: RMB231 (231)
Gold Ochre
  PY42 *** OP

89) SKU: RMB232 (232)
Orange Ochre
  PY42 *** OP

90) SKU: RMB265 (265)
Transparent Oxide Yellow
  PY42 *** TR

91) SKU: RMB273 (273)
Transparent Oxide Orange
  PY42/PR101 *** TR

92) SKU: RMB426 (426)
Transparent Oxide Brown
  PR101 *** TR

93) SKU: RMB414 (414)
Asphaltum
  PY110/PR264/PG7 *** TR

94) SKU: RMB339 (339)
Light Oxide Red
  PR101 *** OP

95) SKU: RMB418 (418)
Stil de grain Brown
  PY110/PR264/PG7 *** TR

96) SKU: RMB324 (324)
Permanent Madder Brown
  PR264/PR101/PV19 *** ST

97) SKU: RMB378 (378)
Transparent Oxide Red
  PR101 *** TR

98) SKU: RMB349 (349)
Venetian Red
  PR101 *** OP

99) SKU: RMB347 (347)
Indian Red
  PR101 *** OP

100) SKU: RMB411 (411)
Burnt Sienna
  PR101 *** ST

101) SKU: RMB344 (344)
Caput Mortuum Violet
  PR101/PB29/PR264 *** OP

102) SKU: RMB430 (430)
Brown Ochre
  PR101/PBk11 *** OP

103) SKU: RMB403 (403)
Vandyke Brown
  PR101/PBk11 *** SO

104) SKU: RMB416 (416)
Sepia
  PY42/PR101/PBk11 *** SO

105) SKU: RMB409 (409)
Burnt Umber
  PR101/PBk11 *** ST

106) SKU: RMB408 (408)
Raw Umber
  PY42/PR101/PBk11 *** ST

107) SKU: RMB410 (410)
Umber Greenish
  PY42/PBk11 *** ST

108) SKU: RMB718 (718)
Warm Grey
  PBk9/PR101/PW6 *** OP

109) SKU: RMB717 (717)
Cold Grey
  PBk9/PW6 *** OP

110) SKU: RMB708 (708)
Payne's Grey
  PBk11/PB29/PV19 *** SO

111) SKU: RMB701 (701)
Ivory Black
  PBk9/PB29 *** SO

112) SKU: RMB702 (702)
Lamp Black
  PBk7 *** OP

113) SKU: RMB735 (735)
Oxide Black
  PBk11 *** OP