Discovering Perylene Pigments: Deep, Rich, and Exceptionally Lightfast

Discovering Perylene Pigments: Deep, Rich, and Exceptionally Lightfast

At Jackman’s Art Materials, we’re passionate about the unique characteristics each pigment brings to the watercolour palette. Today, we're diving into the world of Perylene pigments—a family of high-performance modern organics known for their deep, rich hues, exceptional lightfastness, and smooth handling qualities.

Whether you're painting dramatic shadows, moody landscapes, or richly saturated florals, Perylene pigments offer an intensity and versatility that few others can match.

What Are Perylene Pigments?

Perylene pigments are synthetic organic compounds originally developed for the automotive and plastics industries, where high stability and durability are crucial. Their chemical structure is based on perylene tetracarboxylic diimide, which gives them a robust molecular backbone, making them exceptionally lightfast, chemically stable, and resistant to UV degradation.

Today, artists value them for their vivid colours, smooth washes, and incredible permanence in fine art applications—especially in watercolour, acrylic, and oil painting.

The Perylene Pigment Family

There are several Perylene pigments used in watercolour, each with its own unique undertones and applications. The most common include:

🎨 Perylene Violet (PV 29)

  • A sophisticated, dusky violet with immense depth—appearing almost black in mass tone.
  • Offers unique, earthy undertones that provide a more naturalistic alternative to the brighter, more synthetic-looking violets.
  • A semi-transparent, non-granulating pigment that is perfect for rendering deep shadows, botanical crevices, or stormy skies.
  • Renowned for its incredible lightfastness and dramatic glazing capabilities.

🎨 Perylene Maroon (PR 179)

  • A deep, warm maroon or brick-red pigment with high tinting strength.
  • Offers complex undertones—ideal for capturing organic subjects like dried leaves, bark, or aged brick.
  • Slight granulation adds texture to washes.
  • Extremely lightfast and transparent.

🎨 Perylene Red (PR 178)

  • A deep, slightly cool red with velvety transparency.
  • Excellent for florals, skin tones, and rich glazing layers.
  • Less common than PR 179 but equally prized for its sophistication.

🎨 Perylene Black (PBk 30)

  • A neutral, intense black that leans toward a velvety, "true" charcoal tone compared to its cooler cousin, PBk 31.
  • Unique among blacks for its exceptional transparency, allowing you to create shadows that hold light rather than absorbing it.
  • A powerhouse for mixing; when thinned into a pale wash, it reveals a clean, neutral grey without the blue or brown shifts often found in other blacks.
  • Non-granulating and highly permanent, making it a reliable staple for professional botanical and architectural illustrators.

🎨 Perylene Green (PBk 31)

  • A moody, almost black-green with cool, bluish undertones.
  • Ideal for shadowed foliage, seascapes, or mixing rich neutrals.
  • A non-granulating, semi-transparent pigment that layers beautifully.

Why Artists Love Perylene Pigments

Here’s why Perylene pigments have become staples in many professional palettes:

✅ High Lightfastness

These pigments consistently rate as ASTM Lightfastness I (Excellent), meaning they resist fading even with prolonged exposure to sunlight—perfect for artists who sell original work.

✅ Smooth Application

Perylene pigments are known for their creamy consistency and smooth flow in washes. They are especially effective for wet-on-wet techniques and building deep tonal layers.

✅ Versatility

Whether you're mixing skin tones, creating atmospheric shadows, or building subtle glazes, Perylenes are incredibly responsive and blendable.

✅ Bold, Moody Colour

Few pigments provide the depth and richness of a good Perylene. They excel at conveying emotion, drama, and mystery—ideal for expressive work.

Jackman’s Finest: Perylene Pigments in Our Handmade Watercolours

At Jackman’s Art Materials, we handcraft our watercolours using the finest pigments and a minimal, pure recipe. Our Perylene-based colours—like Perylene Black (Green) and Perylene Maroon—are formulated to highlight the unique properties of each pigment with no fillers or brighteners, allowing you to experience the colour in its truest form.

We also recommend using distilled water to preserve each pigment’s purity and performance.

Tips for Using Perylene Watercolours

  • Try glazing: Perylenes layer beautifully. Build deep, glowing shadows by glazing with transparent layers.
  • Mix with intention: These pigments have strong personalities. Use them in small amounts to subtly shift tone or deepen colour.
  • Explore texture: While some Perylenes are smooth, others like Perylene Maroon may show light granulation—great for organic textures.

Final Thoughts

Perylene pigments are an exciting option for artists seeking bold, reliable, and expressive colours with outstanding permanence. Their versatility makes them a must-have for painters working in expressive realism, abstract landscapes, portraiture, and beyond.

Ready to try them out? Browse our Professional Handmade Watercolours and discover the richness of Perylene in your own work.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.