Pigment Metal PM, Inert Additives, Siccatives and Other Unclassified and Exotic Pigments
Color Index Pigment Codes, Color index Number And Chemical Composition
| KEY For Pigment Table Key Click Here or Scroll to the bottom of the page | KEY Open Key in a New Window |
Metal Pigments, Inert Pigments and Miscellaneous
Pigment Metal  PM
Metallic | Inert | Mineral Pigments & Unclassified | Oil Driers/Siccatives| KEY | Top ^
Color Index Name
Pigment Name
Common / Brand Names
 C.I. Number
Chemical Composition/Type
Color Description
Opacity
Light Fastness
Oil
Absorption
 toxicity
Notes
N/A Bismuth Powder Bismuth metal powder;
Bismuth Powder [KP];		 N/A Bismuth;
CAS 7440-69-9		 Grey - - - A -
N/A Iron Cast-iron powder [KP];
Iron Filings [KP];
Iron Powder		 N/A Iron Grey to black - - - A Rusts easily, could be used to make iron oxide pigments.
N/A Metallic Silver Metallic Silver;
Silver		 N/A Powdered Silver Metallic light Gray 1 I L A -
N/A Stainless Steel Powder Stainless Steel Powder [KP] N/A Carbon reduced sponge iron powder (Ref);
CAS 7440-44-0		 Light silver grey - I - A-B* * Can cause irritation of the eyes by direct contact
PM1 Aluminum Powder AL Pigment;
Aluminum;
Aluminium
Chromalux;
Aluminum Powder [KP];
Horna Silver;
Metalure;
Pigment Metal 1;
Silver [HO, MA, PF, WN];		 77000 Powdered Aluminum* (Ref);
CAS 7429-90-5		 Silvery metallic gray 1 I L A-C* * Uncoated aluminum in powder form can be explosive, and can be ignited by nothing more than a physical shock, the powder is usually coated with a polymer to prevent ignition and is generally safe with the coating.
It is safe once incorporated into paint.
Contact with water can liberate extremely flammable gases.
PM2 Bronze Powder Bronze Powder;
Bronze powder, dark [KP];
Bronze powder, light [KP];
Copper [MA];
Copper Bronze Powder;
Ducat Gold [MA];
Gold;
Goldbronze;
Metalic Gold [MW];
Metalstar;
Pale Gold [MA];
Pigment Metal 2;
Rich Gold [MA];
Sequin Gold [MA];
Standart Dorado;		 77400 Powdered Bronze; 80-90% Copper; 1% Zinc, Iron, tin (Ref) Goldish Metallic Yellow Brown* 1 I* L B * Can corrode and turn greenish by exposure to moisture; more stable in oils
PM2 Copper Alloy Copper [GB, PF];
Copper Alloy;
Copper Paste [KP];
Copper Powder [KP];
Gold [PF];
Pigment Metal 2		 77400 Powdered Copper Alloy, Copper, zinc, aluminum, tin
CAS 7440-50-8		 Goldish Metallic Yellow Brown* 1 I* L B * Can corrode and turn greenish by exposure to moisture; more stable in oils
PM3 Metallic Gold Gold;
Gold Dust;
Pigment Metal 3;
Rosenoble Gold [KP];
Painter's Gold [KP]		 - Gold Dark, Deep, Metallic Gold 1 I L A Gold is completely inert to all known chemicals
PM4 Metallic Lead Metallic Lead;
Lead;
Pigment Metal 4		 - Powdered Lead Metallic Gray 1 I* L C * Paints containing lead may darken when exposed to pigments containing free sulfides and/or atmospheric sulfides
PM5 Pewter Pewter;
Pewter Powder;
Pigment Metal 5		 - Powdered Pewter (a tin alloy usualy consisting of 80-90% tin with copper, antimony and sometimes lead) (Ref);
CAS 7440-31-5		 Yellowish silver grey - I - A -
PM6 Metallic Zinc;
Pigment Metal 6		 Metallic Zinc;
Pigment Metal 6;
Zinc;
Zinc Powder;
Zinc dust [KP]		 77945 Powdered Zinc (Ref);
CAS 7440-66-6		 Grayish White 2 I 6 B* * Large concentrations of fine zinc powder can cause explosive reactions
with air near sources of ignition. Fine zinc powder can react with
water or acids giving hydrogen gas
Inert Pigments; Fillers and Additives
Metallic | Inert | Mineral Pigments & Unclassified | Oil Driers/Siccatives| KEY | Top ^
Color Index Name Code
CI Pigment Name
Common / Brand Names
 C.I. Number
Chemical Composition/Type
Color Description
Opacity
Light Fastness
Oil
Absorption
 toxicity
Notes
N/A Alum Alumen,
Potassium Alum,
Soda Alum,
Kalunite (natural)		 N/A Aluminum Potassium Sulphate
Anhydrous:
CAS 10043-67-1
Dodecahydrate:
CAS 7784-24-9		 White powder 4 N/A - A Used to precipitate lake pigments from dyes; Also used as filler and extender; Almost completely transparent in oil paint; Aluminum Hydrate PW24 may be a better choice for the above uses.; Used as mortant
N/A Aluminum Stearate Aluminum Stearate;
Aluminum octadecanoate;
Aluminum tristearate;
aluminum salt;
Aluminium tristearate		 N/A Metallic Soap; The salt of aluminum hydroxide and stearic acid; Dihydroxy(octanoato-O)aluminum;
CAS 637-12-7		 White powder N/A N/A N/A A Used as filler and adulterant; Used to stabilize tubed oil paints and provide a "buttery" consistency.; Only use smallest amount possible to get the desired effect. Often bee's wax is recommended as a stabilizer for studio use, instead of Aluminum Stearate.
N/A Asbestine Agalite;
Asbestin;
Asbestine;
Beaver White 200;
Cosmetic Talc;
French Chalk;
Magnesium Silicate Talc;
Snowgoose;
Talc?		 N/A Natural Magnesium Silicate with a short fibrous structure;
CAS 14807-96-6		 Bright White to blue grey 1 I 28-33 A

Used for Anti settling, filler and stabilizer
N/A Attapulgite Attapulgite [KP];
Clay Mineral;
Attapulgite;
Kaopectate;
Palygorskite		 N/A Colloidal magnesium-aluminium-hydrosilicate; hydrated magnesium aluminium silicate;
CAS 12174-11-7
CAS 71396-54-8
CAS 8031-18-3
 Cream White - - - A Viscosity building, gelling, thickening, protective colloid, suspending agent, adsorbent, bonding agent; Used as thickener in oils
N/A Bleached Bee's Wax Bleached Bee's Wax;
Bee's Wax;
Wax		 N/A Bleached wax from Bee honey combs Translucent off-white 3-4 I N/A A Used as a stabilizer in oil paints; Used to give "buttery" quality to oil paints; Used in mediums for oil paints; Used as a binder in encaustic painting; oil pastels and crayons; Used as a varnish
N/A Bentonite Calcium bentonite;
Cat liter;
Fuller`s Earth;
Montmorillonite clay;
Sodium bentonite; 		N/A Hydrous Aluminium Silicate, a swelling clay consisting mostly of Montmorillonite; Calcium bentonite Off white to yellowish 4 N/A N/A A Absorbs several times its dry mass in water; Used as thickener in oils
N/A Bone Ash Bone Ash;
Hartshorn (deer antlers)		 N/A Calcined animal bones; Tricalcium phosphate with traces of calcium carbonate Slightly greyish to brownish off white 2 I - A White pigment; Thickening extender in lime paints
N/A Carnauba Wax Copernicia Cerifera Wax N/A Derived from the leaves of the Carnauba palm: Copernicia Prunifera Off white 3-4 N/A N/A A Used as varnish and as stabilizer. Harder that bees wax. High melting point.
N/A Ceresine Wax Ceresin;
Mineral Wax;
Ozokerite (crude Ceresine);
Ozocerite (crude Ceresine) 		N/A Ceresine is the purified end product of Ozokerite; a natural mineral wax. Translucent white 2-4 N/A N/A A Used as varnish; Used in wax mediums and stabilizer.
N/A Ceramic Microspheres 3M Ceramic Microspheres;
3M Hollow Ceramic Microspheres		 N/A Various products and pigment sizes; Solid Spheres or hollow spheres of Alkali Alumino Silicate Ceramic White 2-3 I 28-46* A Filler; reduces gloss; Improves hardness; adds abrasion resistance.
*Various particles sizes available from 12 -40 microns. Oil absorption is less the larger the spheres.
N/A Chlorite Chlorite;
Chlorite Clinochlore;
Kaemmererite		 N/A Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide Greenish to White; Natural forms can be green, white, yellow, red, lavender and black 4 - 35 - 45 A Filler; barrier properties
N/A Clove Oil Oil of Cloves N/A The essential oil from the clove plant, Syzygium aromaticum Clear Liquid Strong smell of cloves 4 N/A N/A A Used as preservative and odorant in watercolor; Used to slow the drying of oil paints, use very little or the oil paint will never dry.
N/A Diatomaceous Earth Infusorial Earth N/A Fossilized remains of single cell algae White powder 1 N/A 100 - 300 A Often used to add "tooth" or texture
N/A Dolomite Dolomite N/A Carbonate of Calcium and magnesium White Crystalline Powder - I 12 –14 A -
N/A Fumed Silica Fumed Silica Gel;
Nanospheres		 N/A Silicon Dioxide White translucent powder 4 N/A 150 - 300 B Wear respirator until combined with oil. Used in thixotropic gel mediums; Filler; Rheology;
and Flatting agents
N/A Glass Microbeads Ballotini;
Glass Beads;
Glass Microbeads;
Glass Nanobeads		 N/A Very Small to microscopic glass beads Translucent white beads 4 N/A L A Adds texture and reflective qualities. Used in road paint to make reflective.
N/A Glass Powder Powdered Glass;
Glass Powder		 N/A Powdered Glass White powder 4 N/A L B Glass containing lead, manganese or cobalt might act as driers in oil paint
N/A Nepheline Syenite Minex*;
Nepheline Syenite		 N/A *Refined Natural Nepheline Syenite; Sodium-potassium alumina silicate pale blue to colorless translucent 4 N/A 21 - 29 A Filler; extender; inert;
helps with exterior durability
N/A Laponite Laponite RD N/A Hygroscopic; Aqueous sodium lithium magnesium silicate White powder 4 N/A N/A A Hygroscopic; Thickener for water based paints: Acrylics, Tempera, Watercolor, Gouache, Lime, Fresco
N/A Oil of Spike Lavender Spike Lavender Oil;
Oil of spike		 N/A Oil extracted from the Spike lavender plant (Lavandula latifolia or L. spica) Clear Liquid; strong smell of Lavender flowers 4 N/A N/A A Used as solvent in oils; A preservative and odorant in aquatic mediums.
N/A Pumice Pumice [NP]; N/A Volcanic Rock Gray white 1 I 45 A Mostly used to add "tooth" or texture
N/A Sepiolith Sepiolith N/A Hydrous magnesium silicate White powder 4 N/A N/A A Anti-settling agent and thickener for water based paints: Acrylics, Tempera, Watercolor, Gouache
N/A Tixogel Tixogel N/A Chemically changed Bentonite White to yellowish brown 4 N/A N/A A Thickener and stabilizer for oil paints
PW5 Lithopone Albanol;
Beckton White;
Blanc de Titane [LB];
Charlton white;
Diamond white;
English White;
Graves white;
Griffith's white;
Jersey lily white;
Knight's white;
Lithopone [GEN, KA, KP, SCH];
Lithopone White [SE];
Marbon white;
Mixing White [SCH];
Navin's white;
Oleum white;
Opaque White [LK];
Orr's white;
Pigment White 5;
Ponolith;
Ross' white;
Snow white;
Structure White;
Sulphogen white;
Transparent White [LA];
White;
White smalt;
Zinc Baryta White;
Zinc Mixing White [DR];
Zinc White [DR, HO, WN]
White smalt;
Zinc Baryta White;
Zinc Sulfide White		 77115 Inorganic; "an insoluble mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide that precipitates upon mixing solutions of barium sulfide and zinc sulfate. The precipitate is recovered by filtration, then calcined" (Ref); CAS 1345-05-7 White to off white 1 I 14 A Sometimes used as a base for opaque lake pigments; Added to gouache for opaqueness; Often used as a extender in white paints or light colored paints. Used as a white pigment in student paints and cheaper brands of light colored convenience mixes.
PW18 Chalk Aragonite [KP];
Alba Albula [KP];
Alabaster White;
Aragonite;
Bianco Carrara White Marble Dust [NP];
Bianco Verona White Marble Dust [NP];
Bologna Chalk [NP];
Calcite [NP];
Calcite White [KP];
Calcium Carbonate;
Carrara marmor dust [KP];
Carrara Marble, White [KP];
Chalk [GEN, NP];
Chalk from Bologna [KP];
Chalk from Champagne [KP];
Chalk from Ruegen [KP];
Coarse calcium carbonate chalk [KA];
Colourless [RT];
Extra-fine calcium carbonate chalk [KA];
Gilders Gesso;
Gilders Whiting;
Grey Chalk from Sarti [SI];
Limestone;
Marble;
Marble Dust [GEN, KP, SI, UT];
Marble Dust Italian [KP];
Paris White;
PCD French Chalk [SI];
Pigment White 18;
Powdered Marble [SCH];
Sarti Chalk Greyish [KP];
Stone Chalk [KP];
Tailor's chalk;
Veroneser White [KP];
Veronese White Marble[KP];
White Chalk [KP];
Whiting [GEN, GB, SI];
Yellow Chalk from Sarti [SI] 		77220 +
77713		 Inorganic; Natural Calcium carbonate with some Magnesium carbonate and other impurities.;
CAS 471-34-1		 White to blue white 1-4* I 15-20 A Affected by acids; Generally used as extender, thickener, matting agent and to add tooth; Added to watercolors to make Gouache; Neutralizes acids; Used in traditional and acrylic gesso; Promotes thru drying and other claimed benefits to an oil paint film**.; Added to lead white to make the soft tranlucent mixing white Ceruse and lootwit (Ref);
* Opaque in water media, but nearly transparent in oil Binder.
** see Calsite Sun Oil and Chalk Putty
PW18 Precipitated Chalk Calcium Carbonate [KP];
Calcium Carbonate CP;
Calcium Carbonate (precipitated chalk) [GU];
Calcium carbonate (USP);
Calcium monocarbonate;
Calcium trioxidocarbonate;
Pigment White 18;
Levigated chalk;
Precipitated Chalk

Also all the names above for natural chalk		 77220 Pure Calcium Carbonate
CAS 471-34-1		 White 1-4* I 55 A See above
PW18:1 Dolomite Ankerite;
Aragonite;
Calcite;
Dolomite [KP];
Egyptian Dolomite;
Huntite;
Magnacite;
Pearl Spar;
Pigment White 18:1;
Spanish White [KP];
Sugar Dolomite [KP];		 77220:1 +
77713:1		 Inorganic; Natural Calcium carbonate with Magnesium carbonate; Mineral (Ref); (Ref); (Ref); As pigment (Ref);
CAS 7000-29-5;
CAS 546-93-0		 White to pale pink to yellowish white 1-4* I 12 –14 A see above
PW19 Kaolin Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide;
Aluminum Silicate Hydrated;
Bentone;
Bentonite [KP];
Brick Dust;
Caolin;
China Clay [KP];
China clay, kaolin [KA];
Electros;
English Caolin;
Devonshire Clay;
Kaolin [GU];
Kaolinite;
Natural White Earth [KP];
Neokaolin;
Organoclay*** [NP];
Paper Clay;
Pipe Clay;
Pigment White 19;
Porcelain clay;
Supreme White;
Vicenza Earth [NP];
White Bole;
White Bolus;
White Kaolinite [NP];
White Heart		 77004
77005		 Inorganic; White Clay Rock; mostly natural hydrated Aluminium Silicate; with Impurities of Magnesium; Iron carbonates; Ferric hydroxide; Mica; Quartz-sand; etc.
CAS 8047-76-5		 Bright White; orange to green undertones 1-4* I 26-55** A Calcined Kaolin produces whiter shades
* Nearly Transparent in oil paint, opaque in watercolor. Opacity depends on manufacture method and/or binder.
** Oil absorption depends on manufacture method, purity and other natural mineral properties
PW20 Mica Biotite;
Fine Mica [GU];
Gold Coarse Mica [GU];
Lepidolite;
Metallic White [HO];
Mica [GEN];
Mica Powder [SI];
Mica Titanate;
Mica White [KP];
Mother Of Pearl [TA];
Muscovite Mica [KP];
Muscovite Mica, brilliant[KP];
Natural Mica, Perlescent Powder [KA];
Pearl White [HO];
Phlogopite;
Pink Mica [GU];
Pigment White 20;
Russet;
Titanated Mica;
White Coarse Mica [GU];
White Fine Mica [GU];
White Medium Mica [GU];
Zinnwaldite;

Also many colors with Iridescent, Pearl, or Metallic prefix or suffix.		 77019 Inorganic; Aluminium potassium silicate; Mica Titanate (micronised mica flakes)
CAS 12001-26-2		 Translucent off-white 4 I 45-50 A Adds metallic, iridescent or pearlescent properties to paints. Natural Mica may not be stable in oil; Micronised Mica Titanate may be better suitable for oil paint
PW21 Barium Sulfate Barite [NP];
Barium Sulfate [KA];
Barium White;
Blanc Fixe [KP, SCH];
 Italian Gesso [NP];
Permalba;
Pigment White 21;
Pigment White 22
Precipitated Barium Sulphate;
Sulfate de Baryum;
Sulfato de Bario;
Synthetic Barium Sulfate		 77120 Inorganic; Synthetic Barium Sulfate (Ref), (Ref), Natural Barium Sulfate Ore (Ref);
CAS 7727-43-7		 White 2-3* I 15-25 A** *Used as an extender, to improve handling increase opacity, and/or adulterant in oil colors. Also used as a base for more opaque lake pigments;
** Pure Barium Sulfate is not soluble so it is safe, but poorly made synthetic Barium Sulfate may have free soluble barium compounds as impurities that are very poisonous (Ref). I Recommend only getting from a reliable source.

see inert pigments
PW22 Barytes Barite;
Baryte;
Barytes;
Natural Barium Sulfate;
Calk;
Cauk;
Cawk;
Pigment White 22		 77120 Inorganic; Natural Barium Sulfate
CAS 7727-43-7		 White 1-2* I 11 A

used as an filler, extender and/or adulterant generally in more opaque colors;
High quality natural Barite avaliable from NP.

PW23 Gloss White Alumina Blanc Fixe;
Pigment White 23		 77122 Aluminum hydroxide and Barium sulfate White Crystalline Powder 3 - - A -
PW24 Aluminum Hydrate Alumina ;
Aluminum Hydrate;
Aluminum Hydroxide;
Aluminum Hydroxide Fine [KP];
Aluminum Hydroxide Medium [KP];
Aluminum Trihydrate [NP];
Hydrated alumina;
Hydrated Aluminum Oxide;
Aluminum oxide trihydrate;
Transparent Blender [DS];
Trihydroxyaluminum;
Alumina White;
Pigment White 24		 77002 Aluminum hydroxide
CAS 21645-51-2		 Translucent White powder; Transparent in oils* 4 I 26-55 A Transparent in oil or water media; Used as a base for precipitating Lakes; Used to give "buttery" or "short" consistency to oils; Used extend heavy tinting colors; i.e. Phthalocyanines; Used to dilute pigments in "student" paints;
Aluminum trihydrate can be aquired from NP.
PW24 Natural Aluminum Hydroxide

Aluminum Hydroxide;
Bayerite;
Boehmite;
Diaspore;
Doyleite;
Gibbsite;
Hydrargillite;
Natural Aluminum Hydroxide;
Nordstrandite
Pigment White 24

 77002 Natural Aluminum Hydroxide (Ref), (Ref); May take different crystalline forms (Ref);
CAS 21645-51-2		 Brown tinted to white Translucent Flakes 4 I 33 B Can be used the same as Aluminum Hydroxide
PW25 Gypsum Anhydrous sulfate of lime;
Alabastar [NP];
Alabaster Gypsum;
Alabaster White [KP];
Atlas Spar;
Bologna White;
Gypsum;
Lady's Ice;
Mineral White;
Magnesia White;
Natural Gypsum;
Pigment White 25;
Plaster of Paris;
Satin spar;
Silk Spar;
Selenite;
Specular Stone;
Terra Alba [KP		 77231 Inorganic; Calcium Sulfate
CAS 91315-45-6
CAS 10101-41-4		 White 1-4* I 18-23 A

*Nearly transparent in oils used as an extender; filler and/or adulterant; Said to possibly make oil paints brittle.
High quality Terra Alba available from NP.
Alabaster Natural Hydrated Cacium Sulfate also from NP
PW26 Talc Pigment White 26;
Tak;
Talc [GU, KA];
Talcum [SCH];
Talcum Powder [SI];
Talcum White [KP];		 77718 +
77019		 Inorganic; Mixed Hydrated Silicate of Magnesium with Calcium Iron and other compounds
CAS 8005-37-6		 Off white 1-4* I 30 - 45 A *Nearly transparent in oils used as an extender; filler and/or adulterant; stress mitigation;
film reinforcement
PW27 Amorphous Silica Pigment White 27;
Silica;
Sand;
Quartz		 77811 Inorganic; Silica
CAS 7631-86-9		 White to off white transparent crystals 4 N/A 20 - 50 A Filler; Flatting;
Abrasion resistance. Usually added to paints or grounds for tooth or texture
PW 27 Silica Cristobalite Powder [KP];
Diatomaceous Earth [GU];
Diatomaceous Silica;
Diatomic Earth;
Diatomite;
Fossil Flower;
Fuller's Earth;
Infusorial Earth;
Microdol;
Mountain Crystal [KP];
Pigment White 27;
Precipitated amorphous silica;
Rock Crystal [KP];
Silica;
Sand;
Quartz;
Quartz Powder [KP];
Tripolite;		 77811 Inorganic; Silica; Natural Diatomaceous Earth is made up of the fossilized skeletal remains of aquatic plants called diatoms (Ref); Silicon dioxide (amorphous) pure chemical form;
CAS 61790-53-2
Calcined:
CAS 91053-39-3
CAS 68855-54-9		 White to off white transparent crystals 4 N/A 100 - 300 A Used to add "tooth" or texture; Filler and flatting agents
PW27 Fumed Silica Fumed Silica Gel;
Nanospheres;
Pigment White 27;
Pyrogenic Silica		 77811

Inorganic; Silicon Dioxide;
CAS 69012-64-2

 White Translucent Powder 4 N/A 150 - 300 B Wear respirator until combined with oil. Used in thixotropic gel mediums; Filler; Rheology;
and Flatting agents
PW28 Calcium Silicate Anhydrite;
Calcium Silicate;
Baysical K;
Pigment White 28;
Wollastonite (mineral)		 77230 Inorganic; Calcium Silicate;
CAS 10101-39-0;
CAS 10101-41-4;
CAS 13397-24-5;
CAS 26499-65-0;
CAS 7778-18-9		 White to light cream 2-3* I M A *Depends on binder and partical size
PW28 Hydrated Calcium Silicate Hydrated Calcium Silicate;
Okenite;
Pigment White 28;		 77230 Inorganic; Hydrated Calcium Silicate Bright White 4 I H A -
Rocks, Mineral Pigments, Semi-Precious Stones, Unclassified and Exotic Pigments
Metallic | Inert | Mineral Pigments & Unclassified | Oil Driers/Siccatives| KEY | Top ^
Color Index Name
Pigment Name
Common / Brand Names
C.I. Number
Chemical Composition/Type
Color Description
Opacity
Light Fastness
Oil
Absorption
 toxicity
Notes
N/A Amazonite Amazonite Genuine;
Potassium Feldspar;
K-feldspar		 N/A Feldspar microcline containing lead Dark turquoise green 4 I - A -
N/A Apatite Blue Apatite Genuine;
Green Apatite Genuine		 N/A Calcium fluorine-chlorine-hydroxyl phosphate; often with manganese and cerium

Dark, Navy Blue; yellow green; olive green; light yellow

 4 1 - A -
N/A Azurite Azurite Genuine N/A Copper Carbonate Hydroxide bright blue with green undertone 3 I

-

 B Decomposed by acids; may be blackened by sulfur compounds and Sulfide paints
N/A Bauxite Mummy Bauxite N/A Bauxite; Aluminum ore Dull reddish brown 3 I - A Semi-precious stone
N/A Bloodstone Bloodstone Genuine; Heliotrope N/A Green jasper with red spots of iron oxide; Chalcedony quartz Reddish gray when made into a powder 4 I - A -
N/A Bronzite Bronzite Genuine N/A Silicate of magnesia and iron Brown bronze with metallic lustre 4 I - A -
N/A Cavansite Cavansit; Cavansite N/A Calcium vanadium silicate Llight sky blue - - - A -
N/A Cinnabar Chinese red;
Cinnabarite;
Llimpi Merkurblende;
Mercurblende;
Minium;
Nium;
Quecksilbersulfidrot;
Sulfur Red Mercury;
Vermeil Zinnober;
Vermillion;
Vermilion		 N/A Mercury Sulfide Bright Scarlet to to red brown 1 I-III* L C Natural mineral of Vermillion (Ref);
*light fastness seems to be affected by origin, hydrothermal silica, preparation method and impurities. (Ref); (Pic);
N/A Conichalcite Conichalcite [KP] N/A Natural mineral, Copper arsenic carbonate; 24,5 % copper and 28 % arsenic. (Ref); (Ref and Pic) Dull pale green - - - D -
N/A Coral Black Coral;
Blue Coral;
Coral Pink [KP]
Precious coral;
Red Coral;
Sango Matsu		 N/A Mostly calcium carbonate. Composed of skeletons from colonies of soft-bodied marine animals of the class Cnidaria Anthozoa. White; off-white; reddish; pink; blue; and black 4 I - A Red (precious coral) is the most valuable; and makes a delicate pink pigment. Used mostly in Japan.
N/A Egg Shells Eggshell White;
Calx de tistis ovorum;
Shell White		 N/A Powdered egg shells; mostly calcium carbonate; Brown eggs contain Ooporphyrin with a small amount of biliverdin with 2-3% eggshell pigment White; light brown*; light blue* 1 I* - A "an incomparable white that can not be surpassed by lead white or any other white in the world if it is made carefully and well" - Secreti di Don Alessio Piemontese (Secrets of Alessio Piemontese), 1557. (Ref); * Any coloring other than white is probably fugitive
N/A Egyptian Mummy Caput Mortuum N/A The ground up bodies of mummies, containing asphaltum and embalming resins Dark Dull violet Brown 4 III - A I'm skeptical as to whether this color was really mummies or just rumors. Usually imitated with asphaltum or earth brown pigments.
N/A Epidote Epidot; Epidote N/A Calcium aluminium iron sorosilicate Golden yellowish green 4 I - A "It has a hue that could be described as a golden pea green, and when mixed with white has a low tinting power but is quite lovely. However, the texture is unpleasantly gooey" - Margret Short
N/A Fuchsite Fuchsite Genuine;
Chrome-mica;
Chromian Muscovite;
Chrommuscovite;
Gaebhardite 		N/A Greenish variety of Muscovite Iridescent green; Iridescent Reddish 4 I - A -
N/A Garnet American Ruby;
Bohemian Ruby;
Carbuncle;
Garnet Powder Red [KP];
Garnet Sand Red;
Pyrope;
Red Garnet;
Rocky Mountain Ruby		 N/A Garnet mineral;
CAS 1302-62-1

Deep red to rose-red to violet*

 4 I - A *Garnets exist in all colors except blue
N/A Guanine Fish Silver [KP];
Guanin;
Guanine;
Natural Pearl Essence 		N/A

Guanin, Iminoxanthin, 2-Amino-6-oxypurin;
Pearl essence extracted from scales of fish, mostly from herring and sardines.;
CAS 73-40-5

 Iridescent white to silver 4 - - A -
N/A Iron Pyrite Fool's Gold;
Iron Sulfide;
Pyrite Powder		 N/A Iron Pyrite; Iron Sulfide Metallic Goldish Yellow to lustrous greenish gray - - - A Used to color beer bottles
N/A Jadeite Jade;
Jadeite Genuine		 N/A sodium; aluminium-rich pyroxene Deep, dark green; blue shade 3 I - A Semi-precious stone
N/A Kinoite Hydrated Calcium Copper Silicate;
Calcium Kupfersilicat		 N/A Natural Crystalline Hydrated Calcium Copper Silicate light azure blue 4 I - B Similar to Egyptian Blue PB31; Utah, Arizona, USA largest sources; (Ref); (Pic)
N /A Kyanite Kyanite Genuine N/A Aluminum Silicate; Kyanite is a polymorph with the two other minerals: Andalusite and Sillimanite Blue gray 4 I - A Gemstone
PB29 Lapis Lazuli Lapis Lazuli Genuine;
Pigment Blue 29		 N/A Natural ultramarine blue; Lazurite with calcite; sodalite and pyrite - - - - A Semi-precious stone
N/A Malachite

Malachite Genuine;
Copper Green;
Green Bice

 N/A Copper carbonate Deep green 3 I - B Decomposed by acids; May be darkened by sulfur compounds and Sulfide paints
N/A Mica In mixtures:
Pearl (colors);
Iridescent (colors);
Metalic (colors)		 N/A Mineral; silicate Translucent; iridescent with red and greenish varieties 4 I - A Added to paints to impart a luminous iridescent property
N/A Oyster Shells Shell White;
Gohun		 N/A Powdered oyster shells; probably mostly calcium carbonate with smaller amounts of mother of pearl White may have a slight iridescence 3 I - A Has been used in Japan for centuries
N/A Piemontite Piemontite Genuine N/A Monoclinic Crystal Silicate with high concentration of manganese Violet brown; red; brown red; reddish-black; black 3 I - A -
N/A Purpurite Purpurite Genuine;
Manganese Violet (natural)		 N/A Natural manganese phosphate Lavender violet 3 I 23-26 B -
N/A Rhodonite Rhodonite Genuine N/A Mineral Rhodonit; Crystalline manganese inosilicate Brilliant rose pink 4 I - A Semi precious stone used as a jewel
N/A Serpentine Serpentine Genuine;
Stichtite		 N/A Mineral; hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate Deep green with red-brown undertone 3 I - A Soft rock hard to grind
N/A Siderite Aerosiderit;
Aerosiderita;
Aerosiderite;
Bemmelenit;
Bemmelenita, Bemmelenite;
Chalybit;
Chalybita;
Chalybite;
Eisenpath;
Fer Carbonaté;
Gyrit;
Gyrita;
Gyrite;
Iron Spar;
Junckérit;
Junckérita;
Junckérite;
Pelosiderit;
Pelosiderita;
Pelosiderite;
Sidérose;
Siderit;
Siderite [GEN; NP];
Sparry Iron;
Spatformig Jernmalm, Spathic Iron;
Spathose Iron;
Thomaît;
Thomaîta;
Thomaîte;
Weißeisenerz
 N/A Natural carbonate of iron; (Ref and Pic); (Ref and Pic); (Ref and Pic) Light yellowish brown reddish brown to gray 1 I M A Reactive with acids (Ref)
PB 29 Sodalite Sodalite Genuine;
Pigment Blue 29		 - Component of Lapis Lazuli; Sodium aluminium silicate Light Pale blueish violet 3 I - A -
PB32 Smalt Smalt;
Starch blue;
Pigment Blue 32		 N/A Cobalt infused glass; Potassium Cobalt Silicate

Bright violet to sky blue

 4 I - B Very transparent in oils
N/A Stringhamite Stringhamite N/A Hydrous copper calcium silicate Alpha form- light grey blue;
beta form- light blue;
gamma form- dark blue		 4 I - B Natural mineral; Similar in chemical structure to Egyptian Blue PB31 and Kinoite; found near other copper ore deposites; Utah, Arizona, USA largest sources; (Pic)
N/A Sugilite Sugilite Genuine;
Luvulite		 N/A Potassium Sodium Lithium Iron Manganese Aluminum Silicate Grayish lavender to pink to a deep purple 4 I - A Ornamental semi-precious stone used for jewelry
N/A Tigers Eye Tigers Eye Genuine N/A Quartz and iron oxide Brownish gold 3 I L A -
N/A Turquoise Sleeping Beauty Turquoise N/A Natural mineral turquoise; hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium Bluish green 3 I - A Semi precious stone often used for jewelry especially by Native Americas
N/A Vesuvianite Cyprine (blueish variation);
Californite (green variation);
Idocrase;
Vesuvianite;
Vesuvianite-jade (green variation);
Xanthite (purple variation)		 N/A Metamorphic silicate mineral; Complex of iron-manganese-silicate. Light green, brown, yellow, purple or blue - I - A -
N/A Vivianite Angelardite;
Anglarite;
Blue Iron Earth;
Blue Ochre;
Glaucosiderite;
Mullicite;
Native Prussian blue;
Ocre Blu;
Ocre Martiale Bleue;
Vivianite		 N/A hydrated iron phosphate Dark blue with reddish undertone 3 - - A -
N/A Zoisite Zoisite Genuine;
Tanzanite		 N/A Calcium aluminium hydroxy sorosilicate Dark, dull green, Blue, Lavender, Pink 3-4 I - A Many varieties of shades and colors. Used as a gemstone
Driers and Siccative's (oil paint)
Metallic | Inert | Mineral Pigments & Unclassified | Oil Driers/Siccatives| KEY | Top ^
Color Index Name
CI Pigment Name
Common / Brand Names
 C.I. Number
Chemical Composition/Type
Color Description
Opacity
Light Fastness
Oil
Absorption
 toxicity
Notes
N/A Alkyd Alkyd medium;
Alkyd Resin;
Fast drying medium;

Also various brands of imitation copal or resin varnishes and mediums		 N/A Alkyd resins are the reaction product of an oil or fatty acid; polyol(s) and polyacids Clear & colorless in it's self it takes on the color of the oil used; Weak yellowish to reddish, brownish N/A N/A N/A A When added to oil paints it accelerates drying; Used as paint binder to make faster drying oil paints
N/A Aluminium Various salts/soaps (see chemical composition) N/A Aluminum distearate; Aluminum stearate; Aluminium alkoxide; Oxoaluminium; Aluminium trimethoxypropoxide ethylacetoacetate; Boron-aluminium; Oxide of Aluminum Usually a white powder or flakes 4 N/A N/A A Usually used as an auxiliary drier; Promotes through drying; Use .2 - .6% metal
N/A Black Oil Walnut Black Oil;
Linseed Black Oil;
Leaded Oil		 N/A Litharge; Masticot or other lead salts cooked into linseed or walnut oil so that drying lead soaps are formed Dark brown coffee colored oil N/A N/A N/A C Can be used as a medium or in medium recipes to speed drying of oil paints.
N/A Calcium Various salts/soaps (see chemical composition) N/A Calcium 2-Ethylhexoic; Calcium abiotate; Calcium rosinate; Calcium Naphthenate; Calcium Octoate Various; White to yellow to brown N/A N/A N/A A Usually used as an auxiliary drier; use .1 - .3% metal
N/A Cerium Cerium octoate;
Cerium Oxide;
Cerium drier;
Cerous Naphthenate;
Cerium Carbonate;
Cerium Acetate;
Various other salts/soaps		 N/A Rare earth metal; Cerium (IV) 2-ethylhexanoate; lanthanum, neodymium cerium; Cerium octoate; Various other salts/soaps Salts are red through to yellowish; White to cololess N/A N/A N/A A Promotes through drying; Good polymerisation action; Said to be superior to zirconium & lead.; Use .1 - .3% metal
N/A

Chromium Octoate

 Chromium Octoate N/A Chromium Octoate Violet Liquid N/A N/A N/A N/A "New type of drier with better efficiency" (Ref)
N/A Cobalt Cobalt dryer N/A Cobalt Acetate; Cobalt Linoleate; Cobalt (II) octoate; Cobalt Octoate; Absorption; Cobalt Tallate; Cobalt 2-Ethylhexoic; Cobalt Sulfate Various; Usually a bluish to purplish Liquid; Cobalt Napthale- nate: yellow to brown resinous liquid; Cobalt (II) octoate: reddish liquid N/A N/A N/A B Considered the safest active drier for the paint film.; Said to be the most active top drier; When adding to paint use .02 - .1% metal
N/A Cobalt-zirconium-calcium octoate CoZiCa Drier N/A Common mixture of metalic salts/soaps with siccative properties Weak blue tint N/A N/A N/A B Combined driers enhance through-drying
N/A Iron Various salts/soaps (see chemical composition) N/A Iron Octoate; Iron-2-ethylhexanoate Dark red brown or blackish N/A N/A N/A A Usually used as an auxiliary drier; Promotes rapid drying by polymerization; Use .04 - .2% metal
N/A Lanthaum Octoate Lanthaum Octoate N/A Lanthaum Octoate Light Yelow - - - - Efficiently promotes through drying (Ref)
N/A Lead Various salts/soaps (see chemical composition) N/A Lead Acetate; Lead Naphthenate; Lead Monoxide; Lead Tallate; Lead Octoate; Lead 2-Ethylhexoic; Lead borate; Lead linoleate; Lead oleate; Lead resinate; Lead stearate Various; Yellow to red to brown; White to grey N/A N/A N/A C Not all lead soaps/salts are driers; Promotes through drying; Promotes polymerisation of drying oils; Addition of a calcium drier may minimize darkening due to sulfate reactions.
N/A Lead Acetate Sugar of Lead;
lead diacetate;
plumbous acetate;
Lead sugar;
Salt of Saturn;
Goulard's powder		 N/A Lead Acetate, Made by treating Lithage with Acetic acid White crystalls N/A N/A N/A C -
N/A Lead Naphthenate Lead Octoate;
Naphthenic acid lead salt;
Cyclohexane carboxylic acid;
lead salt		 N/A Lead salt added to solution of sodium naphthenate Yellow to brown resinous liquid N/A N/A N/A C Combustible
N/A Lead Monoxide Litharge;
Chrysitin;
Lead Monoxide;
Lead Ocher;
Masticot;
Plumbic Ochre;
Plumbous oxide		 N/A Prepared by heating lead metal in air at 600 C or thermal decomposition of lead nitrate or lead carbonate Litharge is the red form; Masticot is the yellow form 2-4* N/A N/A C *varies with binder; used as semi-opaque pigment in watercolor, said not to be practical as a pigment in oil due to it's drying action and transparency
N/A Lead Octoate Lead Octoate N/A Lead Octoate Yellow Liquid N/A N/A N/A C Promotes through polymerization, improved flexibility and resistance to water and salt. (Ref)
N/A Vanadium Various salts/soaps (see chemical composition) N/A Vanadium pentoxide; Vanadium linoleate; Vanadium naphthenate; Vanaium Octoate*; Vanadyl Acetylacetonate; Vanadium Acetylacetonate; Various; *Green liquid N/A N/A N/A B

Drying properties simular to Manganese; may stain; When adding to paint use .02 - .1% metal; * New type of drier with better efficiency (Ref)
N/A Manganese Various salts/soaps (see chemical composition) N/A Manganese Acetate; Manganese Carbonate; Manganese Octoate; Manganese Oxalate; Manganese Rosinate; Manganese Peroxide; Manganese Vitriol; Manganese Tallate; Manganese Napthenate; Manganese 2-Ethylhexoic; Manganese vitriol; Manganous chloride tetrahydrate; Manganous chloride anhydrous Various; Ordinarily brownish N/A N/A N/A B Acts as both an oxidizer and polymerizer; Said to promotes polymerization to a greater degree than Cobalt; When adding to paint use .02 - .1% metal
N/A Zinc Various salts/soaps (see chemical composition);
White white vitriolitriol		 N/A Zinc sulfite; Zinc octate; Zinc Octoate; Zinc Vitriol Whitish to light yellow N/A N/A N/A A Zinc oxide may slow drying (Ref); Usually used as an auxiliary drier; Use .1 - .2% metal
N/A Zirconium Various salts/soaps (see chemical composition) N/A Zirconium Octoate Light Yellow N/A N/A N/A A Only slightly active as drier in its self, but excellent at promoting the primary drier (Ref); Said to be the most efficient auxiliary drier; Promotes through drying; Active cross-linking agent; Use .2 - .6% metal


Metallic | Inert | Mineral Pigments & Unclassified | Oil Driers/Siccatives | KEY | Top ^
PAINT AND PIGMENT REFERANCE TABLE KEY:

Opacity:  1 = Opaque,   2 = Semi-Opaque,   3 = Semi-Transparent,   4 = Transparent

Light Fastness Rating:   I = Excellent,   II = Good,   III = Poor,   IV = Fugitive/Very Poor

Oil Absorption: (ml/100mg)
When the specific numbers are unavailable:   H = High,   M = Medium,   L = Low

Toxicity:  A = Low hazard;   B = Possible Hazard;  C = Hazardous;   D = Extremely Toxic;

(hue) = Refers to a hue color not designated on the label, when the word Hue is not in parenthesis is part of the pigment name as per ASTM guidelines.

? = a question mark next to a name, note, or data code indicates that it may or may not be correct information due to conflicting information, questionable reference, possible typo or other discrepancies in the manufacturer or other reference documentation. Further study is needed to clarify.

†Possible effects of long term light exposure are given when known, this may allow an artist to anticipate color changes and possibly use them as an advantage. These effects are all relative to the pigments inherent light fastness and may take decades or even centuries in normal conditions to be visible.
Fades = Becomes more Transparent; Lightens = Loses chroma but maintains relative transparency or opaque character; Whitens = Becomes lighter and more opaque; Darkens = Becomes darker but retains hue; Dulls = Loses chroma towards nuetral; Blackens = Turns very dark or black losing chroma; Hue shift = Changes hue towards a different color
Paint/Pigment Manufacturer Code:
d next to the manufacturer code indicates a pigment that is known to have been discontinued
AS = Art Spectrum
BR = Blueridge
BL = Blockx
CH = Charvin
CL = Classic, Triangle Coatings
CR = Chroma
DS = Daniel Smith
DR = Daler-Rowney
DV = Da Vinci		 DB = Dick-Blick
DG = Daniel Green
GB = Gamblin
GO = Golden
GR = Grumbacher
GU = Guerra Paint & Pigment
HO = Holbien
KA = Kama Pigments
KP = Kremer Pigmente  (USA site)		 LB = Lefranc & Bourgeois
LA = Lascaux
LQ = Liquitex
LK = Lukas
MA = Maimeri
MT = Matisse
MG = M. Graham
MH = Michael Harding
MR = MIR , Jaurena Art
 MW = Martin/F. Weber Co.
NP = Natural Pigments
OH = Old Holland
PF = Pebeo Fragonard
RF = R&F Handmade Paint
RGH = RGH Artists' Oil Paints
RT = Royal Talens
SH = Shinhan
SV = Shiva
 SE = Sennelier
SI = Sinopia
SCH = Schmincke
SQ = Steven Quiller
TA = Tri-Art
UT = Utrecht
WL = Williamsburg
WN = Windsor & Newton
GEN = Often used Generic term

©2009 by David Myers, All Rights Reserved. Please email me with corrections, additions or comments.

Resources:

Natural Pigments, Pigments, Education, The Best source of Natural and Historical Pigments
Dick Blick: Full Range of art supplies at discount prices
Handprint.com, Guide to Watercolor Pigments, Bruce MacEvoy 2008