What
are the differences between the various whites?
Titanium white
is the brightest of the various whites. It reflects 97+% of all light. It's made
from titanium dioxide and is therefore non-toxic. This is the most opaque and
permanent white. Titanium white leaves a brittle and slow drying film.
Zinc white (Chinese white, permanent
white, ZnO), also nontoxic, is very transparent and is a very cool white giving
it a blue cast. Zinc white dries slowly too. Its oil film is hard and brittle
and therefore should not be used for underpainting. When zinc white reacts with
sulfur fumes, an atmospheric pollutant, its color is not changed because zinc
sulfide is also white.
Lead
white, also called flake or Kremnitz
(or Cremnitz) White, is very toxic. Its
paint film is very fast drying and hard,
yet flexible. Artists enjoy flake white's
buttery texture and hiding power. This
white turns yellow or brown when exposed
to sulfur fumes. Tips Index
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