Burnt Umber
67 Burnt Umber paints from 21 brands, measured in CIE L*a*b* and compared with Delta E 2000.
Why Burnt Umber isn't one colour
Every brand makes its own Burnt Umber, and no two are quite the same. They pick different pigments, grind them differently and mix them to their own recipe — so two tubes with the same word on the label can look noticeably different once they are on the paper.
We measured all 67 of them from 21 brands and compared them the way a lab would, using a number called Delta E. It is just a measure of how far apart two colours look to the human eye. Under 2 and almost nobody can tell them apart; over 10 and most people would call them different colours.
Useful when your usual Burnt Umber is out of stock and you need the closest substitute, when you are deciding which brand to buy, or when a mix you got right last time will not come out the same again.
How far is each brand from the average?
Every brand's version measured against the average of all 67 paints. Below 2 is imperceptible to most people; above 10 is obviously a different colour.
| Brand | Distance from the average | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Talens | Delta E 0.42 | Near-identical |
| Daniel Smith | Delta E 0.64 | Near-identical |
| Holbein | Delta E 0.88 | Near-identical |
| M. Graham | Delta E 1.13 | Near-identical |
| Sennelier | Delta E 1.36 | Near-identical |
| Schmincke | Delta E 1.38 | Near-identical |
| Daler-Rowney | Delta E 1.69 | Near-identical |
| Old Holland | Delta E 1.72 | Near-identical |
| Williamsburg | Delta E 1.72 | Near-identical |
| Winsor & Newton | Delta E 2.43 | Very close |
| Lukas | Delta E 2.55 | Very close |
| Matisse | Delta E 2.75 | Very close |
| Michael Harding | Delta E 2.75 | Very close |
| Maimeri | Delta E 2.82 | Very close |
| Gamblin | Delta E 2.99 | Very close |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Delta E 3.17 | Very close |
| Amsterdam | Delta E 3.21 | Very close |
| Liquitex | Delta E 3.51 | Very close |
| Vallejo | Delta E 4.44 | Very close |
| Golden | Delta E 5.45 | Noticeably different |
| Atelier | Delta E 20.36 | Clearly different |
Which brands are interchangeable?
The closest pairs among 210 brand comparisons - swap one for another and most people would not see the difference.
- MatissevsMichael HardingDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- Old HollandvsWilliamsburgDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- MaimerivsNevskaya PalitraDelta E 0.53Near-identical
- Daniel SmithvsHolbeinDelta E 0.57Near-identical
- Daler-RowneyvsSennelierDelta E 0.68Near-identical
- HolbeinvsM. GrahamDelta E 0.79Near-identical
Which brands are clearly different?
The furthest apart. Same name on the tube, visibly different paint.
- AteliervsVallejoDelta E 24.29Clearly different
- AteliervsLiquitexDelta E 23.75Clearly different
- AteliervsGoldenDelta E 23.62Clearly different
- AteliervsNevskaya PalitraDelta E 23.20Clearly different
- AteliervsGamblinDelta E 23.05Clearly different
- AteliervsMichael HardingDelta E 22.99Clearly different
Pigments used
Brands do not always use the same pigment for the same colour name.
Atelier, Daler-Rowney, Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Liquitex, M. Graham, Maimeri, Matisse, Michael Harding, Nevskaya Palitra, Old Holland, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Vallejo, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
Lukas
Sennelier
Amsterdam
Daler-Rowney
Daler-Rowney
Daler-Rowney
Lukas
Sennelier
Lightfastness
How well the colour resists fading. ASTM I is the most permanent; V is fugitive.
Amsterdam, Atelier, Daler-Rowney, Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Liquitex, Lukas, M. Graham, Maimeri, Matisse, Michael Harding, Nevskaya Palitra, Old Holland, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Vallejo, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
Opacity
How much the paint covers what is underneath.
Daler-Rowney, Golden, Holbein, Lukas, Sennelier, Vallejo, Winsor & Newton
Golden, Lukas, Maimeri, Williamsburg
Amsterdam, Atelier, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Liquitex, Michael Harding, Nevskaya Palitra, Old Holland, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Winsor & Newton
Daler-Rowney, Daniel Smith, Golden, Holbein, M. Graham, Matisse, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Winsor & Newton
Brands that make it
Every brand in the database with a Burnt Umber. Each links to that brand's full range.
- Amsterdam · 2 paints
- Atelier · 3 paints
- Daler-Rowney · 8 paints
- Daniel Smith · 1 paint
- Gamblin · 1 paint
- Golden · 8 paints
- Holbein · 5 paints
- Liquitex · 3 paints
- Lukas · 2 paints
- M. Graham · 2 paints
- Maimeri · 2 paints
- Matisse · 3 paints
- Michael Harding · 1 paint
- Nevskaya Palitra · 3 paints
- Old Holland · 1 paint
- Royal Talens · 2 paints
- Schmincke · 4 paints
- Sennelier · 6 paints
- Vallejo · 1 paint
- Williamsburg · 1 paint
- Winsor & Newton · 8 paints
Available in
The kinds of paint this colour is made as.
Every Burnt Umber we have measured
All 67 paints, with the measurements the comparisons above are built from.
| Brand | Line | Medium | Hex | L*a*b* | Pigment | Opacity | Lightfastness | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Expert Series | acrylic | #5f3723 | 27.5, 15.6, 20.0 | PR101,PBk11 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Amsterdam | Standard Series | acrylic | #643c23 | 29.6, 14.9, 22.6 | PR101,PBk11 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Atelier | A2 Lightfast | acrylic | #97735b | 51.4, 10.8, 18.8 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Atelier | Free Flow | acrylic | #b98452 | 59.4, 14.7, 34.8 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Atelier | Interactive | acrylic | #945935 | 43.8, 20.8, 30.8 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Aquafine | watercolor | #64412d | 31.1, 12.7, 18.4 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Aquafine Gouache | gouache | #583a2a | 27.5, 11.2, 15.3 | PY155,PR176,PBk7 | Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Artists' Watercolour | watercolor | #583a2a | 27.5, 11.2, 15.3 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Cryla Artists' Acrylic | acrylic | #704117 | 32.5, 16.7, 33.0 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Georgian Oil Colors | oil | #583a2a | 27.5, 11.2, 15.3 | PR101,PR101,PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Georgian Water Mixable Oil | oil | #583a2a | 27.5, 11.2, 15.3 | PR101,PR101,PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Graduate | acrylic | #5f3723 | 27.5, 15.6, 20.0 | PR101,PBk7 | Transparent | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | System3 | acrylic | #5f3c23 | 28.9, 12.5, 21.6 | PR101,PBk7 | Opaque | I | |
| Daniel Smith | Extra Fine Watercolors | watercolor | #5c3e2d | 29.2, 10.8, 15.7 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Gamblin | Artist's Oil Colors | oil | #563627 | 26.1, 12.4, 15.3 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Golden | Fluid | acrylic | #563627 | 26.1, 12.4, 15.3 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Golden | Heavy Body | acrylic | #563627 | 26.1, 12.4, 15.3 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Golden | Heavy Body | acrylic | #4a3d39 | 27.0, 4.9, 4.6 | PBr7 | Opaque | I | |
| Golden | Heavy Body | acrylic | #4b3f3a | 27.7, 4.2, 5.0 | PBr7 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Golden | Heavy Body | acrylic | #493e3a | 27.3, 4.1, 4.2 | PBr7 | Opaque | I | |
| Golden | OPEN | acrylic | #4b3f3a | 27.6, 4.4, 4.6 | PBr7 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Golden | QoR Modern Watercolors | watercolor | #64412d | 31.1, 12.7, 18.4 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Golden | SoFlat | acrylic | #4a3d39 | 27.0, 5.0, 4.6 | PBr7 | Opaque | I | |
| Holbein | Acryla Gouache | gouache | #705241 | 37.6, 10.1, 14.9 | PBr7 | Opaque | I | |
| Holbein | Artists' Oil Color | oil | #583a2a | 27.5, 11.2, 15.3 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Holbein | Artists' Watercolor | watercolor | #5f4130 | 30.5, 10.7, 15.6 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Holbein | Heavy Body Acrylic | acrylic | #553728 | 26.2, 11.4, 14.8 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Holbein | Mat Acrylic | acrylic | #553728 | 26.2, 11.4, 14.8 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Liquitex | Basics | acrylic | #4b3223 | 23.3, 9.2, 14.1 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Liquitex | Professional Heavy Body | acrylic | #55372a | 26.2, 11.7, 13.6 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Liquitex | Soft Body | acrylic | #553728 | 26.2, 11.4, 14.8 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Lukas | 1862 Artists' Oil | oil | #553726 | 26.2, 11.2, 16.1 | PY42, PR101, PBk7 | Opaque | I | |
| Lukas | Berlin Water-Mixable Oil | oil | #553726 | 26.2, 11.2, 16.1 | PR101, PR101, PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| M. Graham | Artists' Oil Colors | oil | #583728 | 26.6, 12.8, 15.4 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| M. Graham | Artists' Watercolor | watercolor | #624434 | 31.8, 10.7, 14.8 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Maimeri | Classico | oil | #523726 | 25.8, 9.8, 15.5 | PBr7 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Maimeri | Puro | oil | #553a28 | 27.1, 9.5, 15.9 | PBr7 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Matisse | Flow Formula | acrylic | #553728 | 26.2, 11.4, 14.8 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Matisse | Fluid | acrylic | #553728 | 26.2, 11.4, 14.8 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Matisse | Structure Formula | acrylic | #553728 | 26.2, 11.4, 14.8 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Michael Harding | Artists Oil Colours | oil | #553728 | 26.2, 11.4, 14.8 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Ladoga | oil | #523726 | 25.8, 9.8, 15.5 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Master Class | oil | #523726 | 25.8, 9.8, 15.5 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Sonnet | oil | #523726 | 25.8, 9.8, 15.5 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Old Holland | Classic Oil Colors | oil | #583a2a | 27.5, 11.2, 15.3 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Royal Talens | Rembrandt Oil Colors | oil | #583a2a | 27.5, 11.2, 15.3 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Royal Talens | Van Gogh | watercolor | #64412d | 31.1, 12.7, 18.4 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Schmincke | AKADEMIE Acrylic | acrylic | #5f3c23 | 28.9, 12.5, 21.6 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Schmincke | Designers' Gouache | gouache | #5f412d | 30.4, 10.4, 17.4 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Schmincke | Horadam Aquarell | watercolor | #64412d | 31.1, 12.7, 18.4 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Schmincke | Norma Professional | oil | #5a3c28 | 28.3, 10.6, 17.6 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Sennelier | Abstract Acrylic | acrylic | #5f3c23 | 28.9, 12.5, 21.6 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Sennelier | Artists' Oil Colors | oil | #5a3728 | 26.9, 13.8, 15.9 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Sennelier | Extra-Fine Acrylique | acrylic | #644128 | 31.0, 12.2, 21.3 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Sennelier | Gouache | gouache | #64412d | 31.1, 12.7, 18.4 | PR101, PY42 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | Rive Gauche | oil | #5a3728 | 26.9, 13.8, 15.9 | PY42, PR101, PY74, PBk11 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | l'Aquarelle | watercolor | #64412d | 31.1, 12.7, 18.4 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Vallejo | Acrylic Artist Color | acrylic | #4e3629 | 25.0, 8.8, 12.4 | PBr7 | Opaque | I | |
| Williamsburg | Handmade Oil Colors | oil | #583a2a | 27.5, 11.2, 15.3 | PBr7 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Artisan Water Mixable Oil | oil | #694128 | 31.7, 14.6, 22.3 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Artists' Oil Colour | oil | #553728 | 26.2, 11.4, 14.8 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Cotman Watercolour | watercolor | #694b3a | 34.7, 10.3, 15.1 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Designers Gouache | gouache | #805c48 | 42.3, 12.0, 17.3 | PBr7 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Galeria | acrylic | #553728 | 26.2, 11.4, 14.8 | PBr7 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Professional Acrylic | acrylic | #694128 | 31.7, 14.6, 22.3 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Professional Watercolour | watercolor | #694b3a | 34.7, 10.3, 15.1 | PBr7 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Winton Oil Colour | oil | #694128 | 31.7, 14.6, 22.3 | PBr7 | Transparent | I |
