Ivory Black
54 Ivory Black paints from 19 brands, measured in CIE L*a*b* and compared with Delta E 2000.
Why Ivory Black isn't one colour
Every brand makes its own Ivory Black, 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 54 of them from 19 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 Ivory Black 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 54 paints. Below 2 is imperceptible to most people; above 10 is obviously a different colour.
| Brand | Distance from the average | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| Schmincke | Delta E 0.66 | Near-identical |
| Daler-Rowney | Delta E 0.70 | Near-identical |
| Winsor & Newton | Delta E 0.77 | Near-identical |
| Williamsburg | Delta E 0.94 | Near-identical |
| Royal Talens | Delta E 0.98 | Near-identical |
| Holbein | Delta E 1.05 | Near-identical |
| M. Graham | Delta E 1.19 | Near-identical |
| Golden | Delta E 1.23 | Near-identical |
| Liquitex | Delta E 1.30 | Near-identical |
| Maimeri | Delta E 1.33 | Near-identical |
| Sennelier | Delta E 1.39 | Near-identical |
| Daniel Smith | Delta E 1.54 | Near-identical |
| Lukas | Delta E 1.54 | Near-identical |
| Matisse | Delta E 1.54 | Near-identical |
| Gamblin | Delta E 2.09 | Very close |
| Michael Harding | Delta E 2.09 | Very close |
| Vallejo | Delta E 2.09 | Very close |
| Amsterdam | Delta E 2.67 | Very close |
| Atelier | Delta E 9.78 | Noticeably different |
Which brands are interchangeable?
The closest pairs among 171 brand comparisons - swap one for another and most people would not see the difference.
- Daniel SmithvsLukasDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- Daniel SmithvsMatisseDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- GamblinvsMichael HardingDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- GamblinvsVallejoDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- LukasvsMatisseDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- Michael HardingvsVallejoDelta E 0.00Near-identical
Which brands are clearly different?
The furthest apart. Same name on the tube, visibly different paint.
- AteliervsVallejoDelta E 11.63Clearly different
- AteliervsMichael HardingDelta E 11.63Clearly different
- AteliervsGamblinDelta E 11.63Clearly different
- AteliervsMatisseDelta E 11.03Clearly different
- AteliervsLukasDelta E 11.03Clearly different
- AteliervsDaniel SmithDelta E 11.03Clearly different
Pigments used
Brands do not always use the same pigment for the same colour name.
Sennelier
Atelier
Daler-Rowney, Lukas
Amsterdam, Daler-Rowney, Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Liquitex, Lukas, M. Graham, Maimeri, Matisse, Michael Harding, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Vallejo, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
Maimeri, 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, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Vallejo, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
Opacity
How much the paint covers what is underneath.
Amsterdam, Atelier, Daler-Rowney, Golden, Holbein, Liquitex, Lukas, Maimeri, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Vallejo, Winsor & Newton
Daler-Rowney, Golden, Holbein, Liquitex, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Holbein, Lukas, M. Graham, Matisse, Michael Harding, Winsor & Newton
Brands that make it
Every brand in the database with a Ivory Black. Each links to that brand's full range.
- Amsterdam · 1 paint
- Atelier · 1 paint
- Daler-Rowney · 6 paints
- Daniel Smith · 1 paint
- Gamblin · 1 paint
- Golden · 3 paints
- Holbein · 4 paints
- Liquitex · 3 paints
- Lukas · 2 paints
- M. Graham · 2 paints
- Maimeri · 2 paints
- Matisse · 2 paints
- Michael Harding · 1 paint
- Royal Talens · 2 paints
- Schmincke · 6 paints
- Sennelier · 6 paints
- Vallejo · 2 paints
- Williamsburg · 1 paint
- Winsor & Newton · 8 paints
Available in
The kinds of paint this colour is made as.
Every Ivory Black we have measured
All 54 paints, with the measurements the comparisons above are built from.
| Brand | Line | Medium | Hex | L*a*b* | Pigment | Opacity | Lightfastness | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Expert Series | acrylic | #232328 | 13.9, 1.3, -3.3 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Atelier | A2 Lightfast | acrylic | #454040 | 27.6, 2.1, 0.8 | PBk11, PV23RS | Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Aquafine | watercolor | #28282a | 16.2, 0.5, -1.3 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Aquafine Gouache | gouache | #262628 | 15.2, 0.5, -1.3 | PBk7 | Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Artists' Watercolour | watercolor | #262628 | 15.2, 0.5, -1.3 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Cryla Artists' Acrylic | acrylic | #242423 | 14.2, -0.2, 0.7 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Georgian Oil Colors | oil | #262626 | 15.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Georgian Water Mixable Oil | oil | #262626 | 15.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Daniel Smith | Extra Fine Watercolors | watercolor | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Gamblin | Artist's Oil Colors | oil | #1e1e1e | 11.3, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Golden | Fluid | acrylic | #1e1e1e | 11.3, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Golden | Heavy Body | acrylic | #1e1e1e | 11.3, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Golden | QoR Modern Watercolors | watercolor | #282828 | 16.1, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Holbein | Acryla Gouache | gouache | #232323 | 13.7, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Holbein | Artists' Oil Color | oil | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Holbein | Artists' Watercolor | watercolor | #232323 | 13.7, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Holbein | Heavy Body Acrylic | acrylic | #232323 | 13.7, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Liquitex | Basics | acrylic | #232323 | 13.7, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Liquitex | Professional Heavy Body | acrylic | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Liquitex | Soft Body | acrylic | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Lukas | 1862 Artists' Oil | oil | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk7 | Opaque | I | |
| Lukas | Berlin Water-Mixable Oil | oil | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| M. Graham | Artists' Oil Colors | oil | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| M. Graham | Artists' Watercolor | watercolor | #232323 | 13.7, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Maimeri | Classico | oil | #232326 | 13.8, 0.8, -2.0 | PBk9, PBk7 | Opaque | I | |
| Maimeri | Puro | oil | #232326 | 13.8, 0.8, -2.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Matisse | Flow Formula | acrylic | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Matisse | Structure Formula | acrylic | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Michael Harding | Artists Oil Colours | oil | #1e1e1e | 11.3, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Royal Talens | Rembrandt Oil Colors | oil | #262626 | 15.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Royal Talens | Van Gogh | watercolor | #28282a | 16.2, 0.5, -1.3 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Schmincke | AKADEMIE Acrylic | acrylic | #28282d | 16.3, 1.3, -3.3 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Schmincke | Designers' Gouache | gouache | #232326 | 13.8, 0.8, -2.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Schmincke | Horadam Aquarell | watercolor | #28282a | 16.2, 0.5, -1.3 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Schmincke | Mussini Oil Colors | oil | #262626 | 15.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Schmincke | Norma Professional | oil | #262628 | 15.2, 0.5, -1.3 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Schmincke | PRIMAcryl | acrylic | #1e1e1e | 11.3, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | Abstract Acrylic | acrylic | #28282d | 16.3, 1.3, -3.3 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | Artists' Oil Colors | oil | #232323 | 13.7, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | Extra-Fine Acrylique | acrylic | #28282d | 16.3, 1.3, -3.3 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | Gouache | gouache | #232326 | 13.8, 0.8, -2.0 | PBk11 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | Rive Gauche | oil | #232326 | 13.8, 0.8, -2.0 | PBk9, PBk7 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | l'Aquarelle | watercolor | #28282a | 16.2, 0.5, -1.3 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Vallejo | Acrylic Artist Color | acrylic | #1e1e1e | 11.3, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Vallejo | Fluid Acrylic | acrylic | #1e1e1e | 11.3, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Williamsburg | Handmade Oil Colors | oil | #232323 | 13.7, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Artisan Water Mixable Oil | oil | #28282d | 16.3, 1.3, -3.3 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Artists' Oil Colour | oil | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Cotman Watercolour | watercolor | #262626 | 15.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Designers Gouache | gouache | #2a2a2a | 17.1, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Galeria | acrylic | #202020 | 12.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Professional Acrylic | acrylic | #28282d | 16.3, 1.3, -3.3 | PBk9 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Professional Watercolour | watercolor | #262626 | 15.2, -0.0, -0.0 | PBk9 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Winton Oil Colour | oil | #28282d | 16.3, 1.3, -3.3 | PBk9 | Opaque | I |
