Watercolour
Typically uses gum arabic as a binder and water as its vehicle. Watercolour is commonly applied in transparent washes, though opacity and handling vary by pigment and formulation.
Explore watercolour
Nobel Creators' Atlas · Materials
Understand your paints.
Learn what paint is made of, how pigments affect colour and performance, and what the ratings on a paint label actually tell you. Then use those details to compare paints for your practice.
What is paint?
Paint is a material applied to a surface to create a coloured or protective layer. Artist paints generally combine pigment, which provides colour and some of the paint’s visual properties, with a binder that holds the pigment together and helps it adhere to the surface. The formulation may also include water or another liquid, plus additives that adjust flow, drying, texture or stability. The exact ingredients depend on the type of paint.
Browse each section, or search to filter matching guide content.
01 / Start here
Different paints, different behaviour.
Paint type influences drying time, finish, handling, cleanup and the surfaces that suit it. These are useful starting points, not rules that limit your technique.
Acrylic
Uses an acrylic polymer binder. It is available in different bodies and fluidities, from heavy body that holds brush marks to fluid paint for smooth applications and fine detail. It becomes water-resistant as it dries.
Explore acrylicOil paint
Uses drying oils such as linseed, walnut, safflower or poppyseed oil as binder. Its working time and handling depend on the pigment, formulation, layer thickness and any medium added.
Explore oil paintTraditional artist gouache
An opaque, matte watercolour-type paint, commonly bound with gum arabic. It can be reactivated with water after drying, so later layers may interact with earlier ones.
Explore gouacheAcrylic gouache
Designed for a flat, matte, opaque appearance but uses an acrylic binder. Unlike traditional gouache, it is generally water-resistant once dry. Check the specific product directions.
Explore acrylic gouacheTempera
Traditional tempera can use egg yolk or casein as a binder. Formulations vary, so check the product label rather than assuming every paint sold as tempera has the same composition.
Explore temperaArtists' ink
Ink formulations differ in binder, fluidity, opacity and water resistance. Choose one made for your tool and purpose, such as brushwork, pen, calligraphy or illustration.
Explore artists' inkInk sticks and ink stones
A solid ink stick is ground with water on an ink stone to create liquid ink. The practice is traditionally associated with East Asian calligraphy and brush painting.
Explore ink sticksBlock-printing ink
Made for processes such as linocut, woodcut and stamping. Oil-based and water-based inks behave differently, so follow the product's instructions for the block, paper and cleanup.
Explore printing inkNo paint types match this filter and search. Try another filter or clear your search.
02 / The ingredients
What paint is made of.
A paint's behaviour comes from the combination of pigment, binder and other ingredients. The same colour name does not guarantee the same pigment or handling.
Colour name
The name printed on the tube or pan. It is useful for identifying a colour in a range, but does not by itself identify the exact pigment or tell you whether the paint contains one pigment or a mixture.
Shop paints ↗Pigment
A powdered substance that gives paint its colour. Pigments may be naturally or synthetically derived. Their properties contribute to colour strength, opacity, transparency, drying behaviour and other handling characteristics.
Learn more ↓Binder
The material that binds pigment into a paint film and helps it adhere to a surface. Examples in the Atlas source include drying vegetable oils for oil paint, acrylic polymers for acrylics, gum arabic for watercolour, and egg yolk or casein for tempera.
Vehicle
The substance used to suspend or dilute a paint and, in the source guide, the substance used for brush cleanup. Water is listed for acrylic, watercolour, ink and tempera; oil paint may use drying oil or an appropriate solvent. Always follow the product label for cleanup.
Additives
Ingredients that help stabilise or preserve a formulation, or modify how it behaves. The examples vary by medium and manufacturer; they are not a universal recipe for every paint.
Rheology modifiers
Ingredients that influence flow, thickness and workability. The source document calls these “rheologies.” Some formulations also contain fillers, which can change the pigment-to-binder ratio and how much paint is needed to achieve a result.
Painting medium
A product mixed with paint to adjust properties or consistency. Examples in the source include drying oils and alkyds for oil paint, gels and glazing mediums for acrylics, and gum arabic or other watercolour mediums for watercolour.
Shop mediums ↗Important: these ingredient examples describe common or source-listed materials. A specific product's label and technical documentation take precedence over a general category description.
03 / Look beyond the name
Learn to read pigment information.
Pigment information helps explain why colours with similar names can behave differently. Use the pigment name and Colour Index information together with the paint's own ratings.
Colour Index name
A standardised pigment identifier helps distinguish pigments that may share a common colour name. “Phthalocyanine Blue,” for example, is not specific enough to identify one exact pigment variant.
Single-pigment colours
A single-pigment colour contains one pigment. Jackson's guide notes that single-pigment paints are often useful for predictable mixing because mixes containing many pigments can become muddy more readily.
Pigment classification
Organic and inorganic are broad chemical categories, not a quality ranking. Pigment behaviour depends on the individual pigment and formulation. Do not assume every organic pigment is transparent or every inorganic pigment is opaque.
Series number
A series number indicates relative price within a paint range, often reflecting the cost of its pigments. In the Atlas source's Nobel Extra Fine Oil Colors example, Series 1 is least expensive and Series 10 is most expensive. Other ranges may use different scales.
Opacity and tinting strength
These are pigment and formulation characteristics. Opacity describes coverage; tinting strength describes how strongly a colour influences a mixture. Neither is a stand-alone measure of paint quality.
Lightfastness and permanence
Lightfastness focuses on resistance to change from light exposure. Permanence can include additional influences and the durability of the binder or paint film. Check the definitions used by the specific manufacturer.
04 / Decode the label
Paint ratings, explained.
A rating only makes sense when you know what it measures and which scale is being used. The examples below preserve the specific scales documented for Nobel Extra Fine Oil Colors where applicable.
Do not compare unlike scales. The source's lightfastness, permanence, tinting-strength and toxicity examples are explicitly tied to Nobel Extra Fine Oil Colors. A different manufacturer or paint type may use another scale or test method.
05 / Put it together
Choose for the result you want.
Start with your technique and surface. Then compare paint type, handling, pigment information and product ratings. No single rating tells the whole story.
Transparent layers
For luminous washes or glazing, look for paints suited to layering and check their opacity. A transparent rating alone does not tell you whether a pigment is lightfast.
Explore watercolourOpaque colour
For stronger coverage or flat illustration, compare opaque colours and paints such as traditional gouache or acrylic gouache. Their binders and rewetting behaviour are different.
Explore gouachePredictable colour mixes
Read the pigment identifiers and check whether the colour uses one pigment or a blend. Consider tinting strength when deciding how much of each colour to mix.
Compare paintsWork intended to last
Check the paint's lightfastness and permanence information, including which scale is being used. Consider display conditions and follow appropriate conservation guidance.
Browse paint rangesThick marks or fluid lines
For acrylics, body and fluidity help describe handling. Heavy body can retain brush marks; fluid acrylics can suit smooth applications, staining, glazing or detail.
Explore acrylicsUse product-specific information
Never infer toxicity from a colour name or broad pigment family. Read the label and current SDS, especially when working with dry pigments or materials with cautionary labelling.
Shop paints06 / Ink and printmaking
Not every liquid colour is paint.
Ink products are formulated for different tools and processes. Identify the intended use before choosing, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for dilution, drying and cleanup.
Artists' ink
Liquid colour for drawing, painting, calligraphy and mixed media. Formulations vary, so check whether the ink is intended for a brush, dip pen, fountain pen or another tool.
Shop inks ↗Ink stick
A solid ink traditionally made with soot and a binding agent. It is ground with water on an ink stone to create liquid ink for calligraphy or brush painting.
Shop ink sticks ↗Ink stone
A stone surface used with water to grind an ink stick into liquid ink. The result can vary in richness and viscosity depending on the materials and grinding process.
Shop ink stones ↗Block-printing ink
Ink made for transferring a carved or cut block design onto paper or another suitable surface. Oil-based and water-based formulations can require different handling and cleanup.
Shop printing inks ↗07 / Commonly asked questions
Paint questions, answered.
A few useful things to know when comparing paints, reading labels and choosing materials for your next project.
Is the colour name enough to identify a pigment?
No. Different pigments and pigment blends can share similar colour names. The Colour Index name is a more specific identifier and can help you compare paints across ranges.
Does transparent paint have lower quality than opaque paint?
No. Opacity describes how much a paint allows the surface or underlying layers to show through. Transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque and opaque paints can all be useful, depending on the technique and result you want.
What is the difference between lightfastness and permanence?
Lightfastness describes resistance to fading when exposed to light. Permanence is a broader indication of durability and resistance to change. The rating system can vary by paint range, so read the scale used on the specific product rather than comparing unlike systems.
Why does tinting strength matter when mixing colours?
Tinting strength describes how strongly one colour influences another in a mixture. A strong colour can dominate a mix in a small amount, so add it gradually and test as you go.
What is the difference between traditional gouache and acrylic gouache?
Traditional gouache is a watercolour-type paint that can usually be reactivated with water after drying. Acrylic gouache uses an acrylic binder and is generally water-resistant once dry. Check the individual product instructions.
How can I check whether a paint is safe to use?
Read the product label and current Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and follow the manufacturer's handling instructions. Do not assume a pigment is safe or hazardous based only on its colour name or whether it is described as organic or inorganic.
Are all paints with the same series number priced the same?
Series numbers indicate relative price within a particular paint range and are often influenced by pigment cost. Numbering systems are not universal, so compare series only within the range that defines them.
Ready to compare?
Find the paint that fits your practice.
Use the guide to narrow down the medium and properties that matter to you, then compare the actual product information before choosing.
Use the product label and current safety information for product-specific ratings and handling guidance.
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