The Permanent Palette

In order to eliminate the confusion surrounding the naming of artists' colors, a system known as the Color Index has been established [p. 33] This system consists of a color index name assigned to every pigment, as well as a color index number assigned to most. These approved pigments have, for the most part, undergone accurate lightfastness testing and have been placed into a lightfastness category of either I Excellent Lightfastness or II Very Good Lightfastness. The following is a list of abbreviations assigned to the Color Index Names.

NR Natural Red

PB Pigment Blue

PBk Pigment Black

PBr Pigment Brown

PG Pigment Green

PO Pigment Orange

PR Pigment Red

PV Pigment Violet

PW Pigment White

PY Pigment Yellow

[p. 34]

Some pigments which do not perform as well as the pigments in the list in terms of lightfastness and their tendency to bleed have been assigned a lightfastness of III or NL [Not sufficiently lightfast]. These colors are included because of their uniqueness of hue. These pigments are generally more lightfast [p. 36] when used in an undiluted form. When tinted with white or thinned with solvents and mediums they tend to change over a relatively short period of time. The permanence of the pigments in this group may be prolonged if they are protected from ultraviolet rays.

Some painters seldom use more than one pigment from each category in the same picture, but when needed, a sufficient variety and choice to fulfill all color requirements among the permanent pigments is available. Choice and number of colors used depends upon personal preference and on the requirements of the particular work at hand. A working palette that contains less than a dozen colors can be considered a simplified palette, whereas one in which more colors are used would be a full or elaborate palette. [pp. 33-37]