Do you want to know how to read a paint tube? What do the numbers on acrylic paint mean? Understanding the labels on acrylic paint and oil paint tubes is crucial for enhancing your painting experience. These labels offer vital information about the paint’s properties. Here’s a guide to help you decode these label meanings and select the right paints for your artistic needs.
First, a quick look at paint components and their roles in general:
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- Pigments: These are finely ground particles that give paint its color, a crucial detail often indicated on labels on acrylic paint and oil paint tubes. The quality and type of pigments affect color strength and opacity. Organic pigments, known for their vibrancy, may be less durable, a factor often noted on the labels, while inorganic pigments offer subtlety and longevity.
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- Binders: Hold pigments together and help adhere to surfaces. Oil paints use natural oils for a glossy finish and slow drying. Acrylics use acrylic polymers for quick drying and flexibility.
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- Solvents and Mediums: Oil painting uses solvents like turpentine for thinning and cleaning. Mediums modify oil paint’s texture and drying. Acrylic mediums alter consistency and sheen, and are water-soluble.
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- Additives: Improve paint properties like flow and texture. In acrylics, stabilizers maintain consistency; retardants slow drying.
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- Fillers: Fillers, also commonly listed on paint labels, increase the volume of the paint without altering its color. They also impact the texture and thickness of the paint.
LABELS on Both Acrylic and Oil Paint Tubes
- Color Name: Indicates the specific name of the color. Sometimes accompanied by a color swatch. For example:
ReflexRose (on the pic). Ultramarine Blue – This label on a paint tube indicates the specific shade of blue, known for its deep and vibrant hue. Often, the tube might feature a swatch showing the actual color of the paint when applied. Burnt Sienna – On another tube, this name denotes a rich, earthy brown color.
- Pigment Information: Lists the pigment(s) used in the paint, often with a chemical composition and pigment number (e.g., PW6 for Titanium White).
Read more about some most common pigment numbers along with their color properties.
- Series Number or Letter: Often indicates the price range based on the pigments used. The higher the series number, the more expensive the paint. Series 1 is usually the most affordable, with higher series numbers being more expensive due to the cost of the pigments. For example:
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- Series 1: This might include basic colors like Titanium White (PW6) or Ultramarine Blue (PB29). These paints are generally more affordable because the pigments used are less expensive to source or produce.
- Series 3 or 4: Here, you might find colors like Cadmium Red (PR108) or Cobalt Blue (PB28). These paints are typically priced higher due to the costlier nature of the pigments, which might be rarer or more difficult to manufacture.
- Lightfastness Rating: Measures the paint’s resistance to fading when exposed to light. Remember: the more lightfast, the better! Sometimes measured in Roman numerals (I-V) – in that case number I is the best choice. Though both ratings I and II are considered permanent for artists’ use. Sometimes it is instead marked with stars: then the more stars, the better.
Lightfastness I: Indicates excellent lightfastness. For instance, a tube of Phthalo Blue might have this rating, suggesting that it will remain vibrant and unchanged for many years, even when exposed to light.For further information, check out my blog post about lightfastness and which lightfastness to choose for your artwork.
Related: about the lightfastness of high-quality Liquitex paint.
- Opacity or Transparency Symbol: Often shown as a solid square (opaque), an empty square (transparent), or a half-filled square (semi-transparent). This indicates how much the paint will cover underlying layers.
Sometimes, transparent colors can be marked ‘T’ and semi-transparent ‘ST’ on the labels of acrylic paint and oil paint tubes, while opaque colors are marked ‘O’ and semi-opaque ‘SO’.
For your first set of paints, it’s beneficial to choose a mix of opacities to give yourself versatility in your painting techniques.
Check out this simple guideline for choosing the right paint opacity.
- Permanence: Signifies resistance to change when exposed to light and the atmosphere. Scale:
AA – Extremely Permanent
A – Permanent
B – Moderately Durable
C – Fugitive
The rating may include also:
(i) ‘A’ rated in full strength may fade in thin washes
(ii) Cannot be relied upon to withstand damp
(iii) Bleached by acids, acidic atmospheres
(iv) Fluctuating colour; fades in light, recovers in dark
(v) Should not be prepared in pale tints with Flake White, as these will fade
(vi) ‘A’ rated with a coating of fixative
- ASTM Rating: If present, shows that the paint conforms to specific standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
Additional LABELS On Acrylic Paints
- Finish Type: Some tubes specify the finish (matte, satin, gloss) of the paint when dry.
- Body Type: Indicates the paint’s viscosity. Ranges from fluid (high flow) to heavy body (thick)- read here, how to choose the one you need.
- Heavy Body Paints: These are thick and have a buttery consistency, ideal for techniques like impasto where the paint stands out from the canvas. For example, a tube might be labeled as “Heavy Body Acrylic” indicating its thick texture, suitable for retaining brush strokes and creating texture.
- Soft Body or Medium Body Paints: These have a smoother, cream-like consistency. They are less thick than heavy body paints but still hold their form well. A tube might be labeled as “Soft Body Acrylic,” indicating it’s suitable for general painting techniques and offers moderate texture.
- Fluid Acrylics: These are thinner in consistency, akin to heavy cream. They are ideal for detailed work, staining, and watercolor techniques. Tubes or bottles might be labeled as “Fluid Acrylic,” indicating their runny nature and ease of spreading.
- High Flow or Ink-Like Acrylics: These have a very thin, ink-like consistency, perfect for airbrushing, pen & ink techniques, or very fine details. They might be labeled as “High Flow” or “Acrylic Ink,” signifying their watery texture.
Other LABELS On Oil Paint Tubes
- Drying Time: Sometimes indicated, especially if the paint has additives to speed up or slow down the drying process. For example, a tube of Alkyd-modified oil paint might be labeled as “Fast Drying,” indicating it could dry within 24 hours.
- Oil Content: Rarely specified, but some brands might indicate the type of oil used in the paint (e.g., linseed, safflower).
- Consistency: Some brands indicate the paint’s consistency (from very fluid to very thick).
Knowing these signs will help you choose the right paint for your project, ensuring that the colors, transparency, and durability align with your artistic vision and technique. I recall myself finally buying my first beautiful set of acrylics many years ago, only to discover later that half of these paints were transparent and the rest semi-transparent. . . making it so hard to cover my surface and get the vibrant strong result that I was expecting. So, I really hope, you don’t make the same mistake, as you now know, how to read a paint tube correctly.
