PW4
Zinc White
- Chemistry
- Zinc oxide (ZnO)
- Origin
- Synthetic mineral.
- History
- Introduced c.1780; transparent, slow-drying, and non-yellowing.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic.
Zinc White (PW4) is Zinc oxide (ZnO).
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
What is PW4?
PW4 (Zinc White) is Zinc oxide (ZnO). Synthetic mineral..
What is the chemistry of PW4?
PW4 is Zinc oxide (ZnO).
Is PW4 toxic?
Non-toxic.
Is PW4 lightfast?
In the Michael Harding range, colours using PW4 are rated excellent for lightfastness.
Which Michael Harding colours use PW4?
PW4 appears in 16 Michael Harding colours: Zinc White (Withdrawn), Chinese White, Warm White, Warm Light Yellow, Warm Yellow, Brilliant Pink and 10 more.
The story of PW4
Valued for transparency, slow drying and a lack of yellowing - the white of choice for pale tints and delicate glazes.
How it is made
Zinc oxide is produced by burning zinc in air and collecting the oxide fume. Milled into oil it gives a transparent, slow-drying, non-yellowing white - often blended with titanium to balance opacity with flexibility.
In the hands of the masters
A late arrival, zinc white was taken up by the Impressionists for clean, non-toxic tints and by 19th-century watercolourists; Turner was among the early adopters.
Michael Harding colours using PW4
16 colours across both rangesLightfastness: ExcellentOil Colours containing PW4
1 colour
Watercolours containing PW4
15 colours
No. W103 Chinese White
- Pigment
- PW4, PW6
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 1
No. W102 Warm White
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PY43
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 3
No. W104 Warm Light Yellow
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PY43
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W105 Warm Yellow
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PY83
- Lightfastness
- Very Good
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W207 Brilliant Pink
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PR112, PR122
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 3
No. W233 Blue Verditer
- Pigment
- PB28, PW4, PB36
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W114 Sky Blue (Phthalo)
- Pigment
- PW4, PB15.3
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 3
No. W149 Pale Violet
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB29, PV23
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W142 Kings Blue Deep
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB29
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W141 Kings Blue Light
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB29
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W143 Vivid Blue
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB15.3, PG7
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 1
No. W140 Phthalocyanine Turquoise
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB15.3, PG7
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 3
No. W145 Permanent Green Light
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PG36, PY3
- Lightfastness
- Very Good
- Tint Power
- 2
| Colour | Medium | Transparency | Lightfastness | Granulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc White (Withdrawn) No. 103 | Oil | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Chinese White W103 | Watercolour | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | NO |
| Warm White W102 | Watercolour | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | NO |
| Warm Light Yellow W104 | Watercolour | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | NO |
| Warm Yellow W105 | Watercolour | Semi-Opaque | Very Good | NO |
| Brilliant Pink W207 | Watercolour | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | NO |
| Blue Verditer W233 | Watercolour | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | YES |
| Sky Blue (Phthalo) W114 | Watercolour | Semi-Transparent | Excellent | NO |
| Pale Violet W149 | Watercolour | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | YES |
| Kings Blue Deep W142 | Watercolour | Opaque | Excellent | YES |
| Kings Blue Light W141 | Watercolour | Opaque | Excellent | YES |
| Vivid Blue W143 | Watercolour | Opaque | Excellent | NO |
| Phthalocyanine Turquoise W140 | Watercolour | Opaque | Excellent | NO |
| Permanent Green Light W145 | Watercolour | Opaque | Very Good | NO |
| Emerald Green W146 | Watercolour | Opaque | Excellent | YES |
| Neutral Grey (N5) W136 | Watercolour | Opaque | Excellent | YES |
Complementary pigments to mix with PW4
Opposite-family pigments that pair cleanly with PW4 for neutrals, shadows and chromatic greys.
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