Holbein watercolors with lower lightfastness
22 colors in Holbein Artists' Watercolor are rated below ★★★ by Holbein: 19 moderately durable (★★) and 3 fugitive (★). They can fade or shift in strong light over time.
Use them with care
These colors are fine for sketchbooks, studies and illustration that will be scanned or printed. For a painting that will hang in daylight, many painters swap them for a ★★★ or ★★★★ color, or frame the work away from direct sunlight.
A more lightfast color that looks close
Each color on the left is paired with the nearest color in the same color group rated ★★★ or better, judged by the approximate on-screen color. This is not a test on paper: check the pigments and a painted swatch before you swap.
- W013 Opera (Quinacridone Opera) ★☆☆☆ · BV10 + PR122W005 Quinacridone Red ★★★☆ · PV19
- W170 Bright Rose (Luminous) ★☆☆☆ · BV11 + AB83W119 Quinacridone Magenta ★★★☆ · PR122
- W175 Bright Violet (Luminous) ★☆☆☆ · BV7 + BV15W112 Mineral Violet ★★★☆ · PB29 + PR122 + PBr25
- W011 Carmine ★★☆☆ · PR83W006 Pyrrole Rubin ★★★☆ · PR264
- W012 Rose Madder ★★☆☆ · PR83W006 Pyrrole Rubin ★★★☆ · PR264
- W025 Brilliant Pink ★★☆☆ · PR209 + PW6No close match among the ★★★ and ★★★★ colors in this range.
- W026 Shell Pink ★★☆☆ · PO73 + PW6No close match among the ★★★ and ★★★★ colors in this range.
- W033 Lemon Yellow ★★☆☆ · PY3 + PY184W040 Cadmium Yellow Lemon ★★★☆ · PY35
- W035 Permanent Yellow Lemon ★★☆☆ · PY3 + PY74W041 Cadmium Yellow Pale ★★★☆ · PY35
- W036 Permanent Yellow Light ★★☆☆ · PY74 + PY83W050 Imidazolone Yellow ★★★☆ · PY154
- W037 Permanent Yellow Deep ★★☆☆ · PY74 + PY83W048 Gamboge Nova ★★★☆ · PY154 + PY150 + PY110
- W038 Permanent Yellow Orange ★★☆☆ · PY74 + PY83 + PO73W049 Isoindolinone Yellow Deep ★★★☆ · PY110
- W064 Emerald Green Nova ★★☆☆ · PY3 + PG7 + PW6W069 Cadmium Green Pale ★★★☆ · PY35 + PG18
- W066 Permanent Green No.1 ★★☆☆ · PY3 + PY53 + PG7W069 Cadmium Green Pale ★★★☆ · PY35 + PG18
- W067 Permanent Green No.2 ★★☆☆ · PY74 + PY53 + PG7W069 Cadmium Green Pale ★★★☆ · PY35 + PG18
- W071 Compose Green ★★☆☆ · PY3 + PG7 + PW6W069 Cadmium Green Pale ★★★☆ · PY35 + PG18
- W096 Compose Blue ★★☆☆ · PB15 + PW6W106 Cobalt Turquoise Light ★★★★ · PB28
- W097 Prussian Blue ★★☆☆ · PB27W103 Royal Blue ★★★☆ · PB60
- W099 Turquoise Blue ★★☆☆ · PG7 + PB15 + PW6W106 Cobalt Turquoise Light ★★★★ · PB28
- W104 Horizon Blue ★★☆☆ · PB15 + PG7 + PW6W106 Cobalt Turquoise Light ★★★★ · PB28
- W116 Lavender ★★☆☆ · PV15 + PB29 + PW6No close match among the ★★★ and ★★★★ colors in this range.
- W117 Lilac ★★☆☆ · PR122 + PV23 + PW6W110 Cobalt Violet Light ★★★★ · PV47
More lists
Single pigment · Granulating · Most lightfast ★★★★ · Non-staining · Transparent · Cadmium and cobalt
Ratings and pigments are from Holbein's catalog. Prices are Japan list prices excluding tax; USD figures are rough conversions. On-screen colors are approximate.