The Pigment Index
The Michael Harding Pigment Index
One knowledge base connecting every pigment we use to its chemistry, behaviour, swatches, mixing partners, comparable pigments, the palettes that use it, and the colours we make from it. Start anywhere — the index carries you to the answer.
By family
The pigment families
Whites
4 pigments
Yellows
18 pigments
Oranges
5 pigments
Reds
16 pigments
Violets
7 pigments
Blues
9 pigments
Greens
7 pigments
Browns
4 pigments
Blacks
3 pigments
Reference table
All pigments in the oil range
| Pigment | Common name | Family | Transparency | Lightfastness | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PW1 | Lead White / Flake White | Whites | Opaque | Excellent | 4 colours |
| PW4 | Zinc White | Whites | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PW6 | Titanium White | Whites | Opaque | Excellent | 23 colours |
| PW6.1 | Titanium White | Whites | Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PY129 | Green Gold (Nickel Azo) | Yellows | Transparent | Average | 1 colour |
| PY139 | Isoindoline Yellow | Yellows | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PY150 | Nickel Azo Yellow | Yellows | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 3 colours |
| PY151 | Benzimidazolone Yellow | Yellows | Semi-Transparent | Good | 1 colour |
| PY154 | Benzimidazolone Yellow | Yellows | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PY175 | Benzimidazolone Yellow (Lemon) | Yellows | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PY184 | Bismuth Vanadate | Yellows | Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PY216 | Turner's Yellow | Yellows | Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PY3 | Arylide / Hansa Yellow | Yellows | Opaque | Excellent | 4 colours |
| PY31 | Lemon Yellow | Yellows | Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PY35 | Cadmium Yellow | Yellows | Opaque | Excellent | 5 colours |
| PY40 | Aureolin / Cobalt Yellow | Yellows | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PY41 | Naples Yellow | Yellows | Opaque | Excellent | 4 colours |
| PY42 | Synthetic Yellow Oxide | Yellows | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 4 colours |
| PY43 | Natural Yellow Ochre | Yellows | Opaque | Excellent | 4 colours |
| PY74 | Arylide Yellow | Yellows | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 9 colours |
| PY83 | Diarylide Yellow | Yellows | Opaque | Excellent | 3 colours |
| PY97 | Hansa Yellow | Yellows | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PO20 | Cadmium Orange | Oranges | Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PO34 | Pigment Orange 34 | Oranges | Semi-Opaque | Good | 1 colour |
| PO36.1 | Benzimidazolone Orange | Oranges | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PO62 | Benzimidazolone Orange | Oranges | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PO73 | DPP Orange | Oranges | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR101 | Synthetic Iron Oxide / Mars Red | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 8 colours |
| PR106 | Vermilion / Cinnabar | Reds | Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR108 | Cadmium Red | Reds | Opaque | Excellent | 3 colours |
| PR112 | Naphthol Red | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 3 colours |
| PR122 | Quinacridone Magenta | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 5 colours |
| PR149 | Perylene Crimson | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR170 | Naphthol Red | Reds | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 2 colours |
| PR177 | Anthraquinone Red (Alizarin substitute) | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR179 | Perylene Maroon | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR188 | Naphthol Red AS | Reds | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR202 | Quinacridone Magenta | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR209 | Quinacridone Red | Reds | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 3 colours |
| PR254 | Pyrrole Red (DPP) | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR259 | Ultramarine Pink | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR264 | Pyrrole Crimson (DPP) | Reds | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PR83 | Alizarin Crimson | Reds | Transparent | Good | 1 colour |
| PV14 | Cobalt Violet | Violets | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 2 colours |
| PV15 | Ultramarine Violet | Violets | Opaque | Excellent | 2 colours |
| PV16 | Manganese Violet | Violets | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PV19 | Quinacridone Violet / Magenta | Violets | Transparent | Excellent | 8 colours |
| PV23 | Dioxazine Violet | Violets | Transparent | Excellent | 5 colours |
| PV29 | Perylene Violet | Violets | Transparent | Good | 1 colour |
| PV55 | Quinacridone Purple | Violets | Transparent | Very Good | 1 colour |
| PB15.1 | Phthalocyanine Blue (red shade) | Blues | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 3 colours |
| PB15.3 | Phthalocyanine Blue (green shade) | Blues | Transparent | Excellent | 9 colours |
| PB27 | Prussian Blue | Blues | Transparent | Very Good | 1 colour |
| PB28 | Cobalt Blue | Blues | Opaque | Excellent | 2 colours |
| PB29 | Ultramarine | Blues | Opaque | Excellent | 13 colours |
| PB36 | Cobalt Turquoise | Blues | Opaque | Excellent | 3 colours |
| PB50 | Cobalt Teal Blue | Blues | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PB60 | Indanthrone Blue | Blues | Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PB74 | Cobalt Blue Deep | Blues | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PG17 | Chromium Oxide Green | Greens | Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PG18 | Viridian | Greens | Opaque | Excellent | 2 colours |
| PG19 | Cobalt Green | Greens | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PG23 | Green Earth / Terre Verte | Greens | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PG36 | Phthalocyanine Green (Yellow Shade) | Greens | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 3 colours |
| PG50 | Cobalt Green Deep | Greens | Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PG7 | Phthalocyanine Green | Greens | Transparent | Excellent | 8 colours |
| PBR24 | Chrome Titanium Yellow | Browns | Opaque | Excellent | 1 colour |
| PBR25 | Quinacridone Brown | Browns | Transparent | Very Good | 1 colour |
| PBR6 | Raw / Burnt Umber | Browns | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 6 colours |
| PBR7 | Raw / Burnt Sienna | Browns | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 6 colours |
| PBK11 | Mars Black | Blacks | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 2 colours |
| PBK6 | Carbon / Gas Black | Blacks | Opaque | Excellent | 5 colours |
| PBK9 | Ivory / Bone Black | Blacks | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | 2 colours |
| NBR8 | Vandyke Brown (Natural Brown 8) | Other | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | 1 colour |
| NR9 | Madder Lake (Natural Red 9) | Other | Semi-Transparent | Low | 1 colour |
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Connected tools
Explore the index
Pigment Finder
Search any Colour Index code or colour name.
Pigment Encyclopaedia
Every pigment behind our colours, A–Z by code.
Colour Compare
Place colours side by side before you choose.
Mixing Studio
Preview how colours combine on the palette.
Find Your Palette
A guided palette matched to how you paint.
Master Palettes
Historical palettes reconstructed in modern oils.
Colour Disclaimer: Colours shown on screen or in print may vary from the actual product. For the most accurate representation of colour, texture and finish, we recommend viewing a physical sample or swatch in person before making your final selection.