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Colour Index Code
PW6
Titanium White
- Chemistry
- Titanium dioxide (TiO₂)
- Origin
- Synthetic mineral pigment.
- History
- Introduced as an artists' white in the early 20th century; the standard high-opacity white today.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic.
Titanium White (PW6) is Titanium dioxide (TiO₂). In our watercolour range it is opaque, no granulation, excellent lightfastness.
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Granulation
- NO
- Staining
- Non Staining
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Toxicity
- Contains toxic pigment
PW6: Questions & Answers
What is PW6?
PW6 (Titanium White) is Titanium dioxide (TiO₂). Synthetic mineral pigment..
What is the chemistry of PW6?
PW6 is Titanium dioxide (TiO₂).
Is PW6 toxic?
Non-toxic.
Is PW6 lightfast?
In the Michael Harding range, colours using PW6 are rated excellent for lightfastness.
Is PW6 transparent or opaque?
PW6 is opaque.
Does PW6 granulate?
In watercolour, PW6 is non-granulating.
Which Michael Harding colours use PW6?
PW6 appears in 40 Michael Harding colours: Titanium White No. 1, Titanium White No. 2, Titanium White No. 3, Foundation White, Warm White, Unbleached Titanium Dioxide and 34 more.
Pigment History
The story of PW6
The modern painter’s workhorse - the brightest, most opaque white available, and non-toxic. It overtook lead white through the 20th century and now anchors nearly every palette, prized for covering power and clean tints.
How it is made
PW6 is milled from synthetic titanium-dioxide pigment and bound in linseed oil on a triple-roll mill. Because the pigment is inert and extremely fine, the craft is in even dispersion and the right oil load - enough to preserve its legendary opacity without turning chalky.
In the hands of the masters
Titanium white arrived too late for the Old Masters, who worked in lead. It became the dominant white from the mid-20th century - think of the crisp, opaque highlights in Lucian Freud’s flesh, or the brilliant whites of modern abstraction.
Origin
Synthetic mineral - titanium dioxide, first produced as a pigment in the early 20th century.
Chemistry
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a synthetic inorganic white.
Michael Harding colours using PW6
40 colours across both rangesLightfastness: ExcellentContains toxic pigmentOil Colours containing PW6
23 colours
No. 101 Titanium White No. 1
Series 1
Very OpaqueVery SlowⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Very Low
- Tint Power
- High
No. 102 Titanium White No. 2
Series 1
Very OpaqueSlowⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Very Low
- Tint Power
- High
No. 130 Titanium White No. 3
Series 1
Very OpaqueFastⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Very Low
- Tint Power
- High
No. 225 Foundation White
Series 2
OpaqueSlowToxicⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PW1
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Very Low
- Tint Power
- High
No. 137 Warm White
Series 1
OpaqueAverageⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PY43, PY74
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- High
No. 117 Unbleached Titanium Dioxide
Series 1
OpaqueFastⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6.1
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- High
No. 226 Warm Light Yellow
Series 2
OpaqueAverageⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PY43, PY74
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Very Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 249 Warm Yellow
Series 2
OpaqueAverageWarm
- Pigment
- PW6, PY83
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- High
No. 254 Rose Blush
Series 2
Semi-OpaqueAverage
- Pigment
- PW6, PY42, PV19
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 207 Brilliant Pink
Series 2
OpaqueAverageCoolⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PR112, PR122
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 242 Wisteria
Series 2
OpaqueAverageⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PR122, PB29
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 211 Kings Blue Light
Series 2
OpaqueAverageWarmⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PB29
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 212 Kings Blue Deep
Series 2
OpaqueSlowWarmⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PB29
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 227 Pale Violet
Series 2
OpaqueAverageWarmⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PB29, PV23
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 243 Lavender
Series 2
OpaqueSlowCoolⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PV15, PB29, PV19
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 240 Vivid Blue
Series 2
OpaqueAverageCoolⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PB15.3, PG7
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 318 Blue Verditer
Series 3
OpaqueSlowWarmⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PB28, PW6, PB36
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 114 Phthalo Blue & Titanium White
Series 1
OpaqueAverageCoolⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PW6, PB15.3
- Type
- Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 210 Phthalocyanine Turquoise
Series 2
OpaqueAverageCoolⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PB15.3, PG7, PW6
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 215 Permanent Green Light
Series 2
OpaqueAverageWarmⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PG36, PY3, PW6
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
No. 216 Emerald Green
Series 2
OpaqueAverageWarmⓋ Vegan
- Pigment
- PG7, PY3, PW6
- Type
- Organic/Inorganic
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Oil Content
- Low
- Tint Power
- Average
Watercolours containing PW6
17 colours
No. W101 Titanium White
Series 1
OpaqueWarm
- Pigment
- PW6
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 1
No. W103 Chinese White
Series 1
Semi-Opaque
- Pigment
- PW4, PW6
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 1
No. W102 Warm White
Series 1
Semi-OpaqueWarm
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PY43
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 3
No. W104 Warm Light Yellow
Series 1
Semi-OpaqueWarm
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PY43
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W105 Warm Yellow
Series 1
Semi-OpaqueWarm
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PY83
- Lightfastness
- Very Good
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W207 Brilliant Pink
Series 2
Semi-OpaqueWarm
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PR112, PR122
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 3
No. W234 Wisteria
Series 2
Semi-OpaqueCool
- Pigment
- PW6, PR122, PB29
- Lightfastness
- Very Good
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W149 Pale Violet
Series 1
Semi-OpaqueCool
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB29, PV23
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W235 Lavender
Series 2
OpaqueCool
- Pigment
- PW6, PV15, PB29
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W142 Kings Blue Deep
Series 1
OpaqueCool
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB29
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W141 Kings Blue Light
Series 1
OpaqueCool
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB29
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W143 Vivid Blue
Series 1
OpaqueCool
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB15.3, PG7
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 1
No. W140 Phthalocyanine Turquoise
Series 1
OpaqueCool
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PB15.3, PG7
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 3
No. W145 Permanent Green Light
Series 1
OpaqueCool
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PG36, PY3
- Lightfastness
- Very Good
- Tint Power
- 2
No. W146 Emerald Green
Series 1
OpaqueCool
- Pigment
- PW6, PW4, PG7, PY3
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 3
| Colour | Medium | Transparency | Lightfastness | Granulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium White No. 1 No. 101 | Oil | Very Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Titanium White No. 2 No. 102 | Oil | Very Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Titanium White No. 3 No. 130 | Oil | Very Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Foundation White No. 225 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Warm White No. 137 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Unbleached Titanium Dioxide No. 117 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Warm Light Yellow No. 226 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Warm Yellow No. 249 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Rose Blush No. 254 | Oil | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Brilliant Pink No. 207 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Wisteria No. 242 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Kings Blue Light No. 211 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Kings Blue Deep No. 212 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Pale Violet No. 227 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Lavender No. 243 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Vivid Blue No. 240 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Blue Verditer No. 318 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Phthalo Blue & Titanium White No. 114 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Phthalocyanine Turquoise No. 210 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Permanent Green Light No. 215 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Emerald Green No. 216 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Neutral Grey (N7) No. 140 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Neutral Grey (N5) No. 136 | Oil | Opaque | Excellent | — |
| Titanium White W101 | Watercolour | Opaque | Excellent | NO |
| 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 |
| Wisteria W234 | Watercolour | Semi-Opaque | Very Good | NO |
| Pale Violet W149 | Watercolour | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | YES |
| Lavender W235 | Watercolour | 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 |
| Titanium Buff W117 | Watercolour | Semi-Opaque | Excellent | YES |
| Neutral Grey (N5) W136 | Watercolour | Opaque | Excellent | YES |
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Mix with
Complementary pigments to mix with PW6
Opposite-family pigments that pair cleanly with PW6 for neutrals, shadows and chromatic greys.
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