PB27 Prussian Blue
Ferric ferrocyanide. Also listed as PB27:1.
34 tubes from 24 of 24 paint lines contain PB27. 23 are made from PB27 alone, which is the closest match when you're switching brands.
- Toxicity
- No toxic metal Not one of the toxic-metal pigments. As with any paint, keep it out of your mouth and don't sand or spray it.
- Drying
- Fast
- Opacity
- Single-pigment tubes are mostly transparent.
About PB27
History
Prussian blue, discovered in Berlin in the early 1700s, is often called the first modern synthetic pigment.
In mixes
Very strong, transparent and slightly green. Dark in the tube, it opens out in tints and mixes deep greens and cool darks. Phthalo blue does much the same job and is a common substitute.
Genuine or hue?
Prussian blue is inexpensive and safe. Hues usually use phthalo blue, which is just as strong but a little cleaner and cooler.
Drying speed is typical for linseed oil; tubes ground in safflower or poppy oil, or with driers added, will differ. These are general notes on the pigment, not on any one brand.
Purest PB27, by brand
The best single-pigment PB27 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.
- Art Spectrum Prussian BlueSeries 1 · LF I · Semi-transparent
- Blockx Prussian BlueSeries 3 · LF I · Semi-transparent
- Cobra Prussian BlueLF I · Transparent
- Grumbacher Prussian BlueSeries 2 · LF I
- Langridge Prussian BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Semi-opaque
- M. Graham Prussian BlueSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent
- Rembrandt Prussian BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent
- W&N Artisan Prussian BlueSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent
- W&N Artists' Prussian BlueSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent
- W&N Griffin Prussian BlueSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent
- Williamsburg Prussian BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Semi-transparent
- Gamblin Prussian BlueLF I
- Lukas 1862 Prussian BlueSeries 1 · LF I
- Michael Harding Prussian BlueSeries 1 · LF II · Transparent
- Schmincke Mussini Prussian BlueLF II · Transparent
- Holbein Prussian BlueSeries A · LF II · Semi-opaque
- Da Vinci Prussian BlueLF not rated · Transparent
- Maimeri Puro Prussian BlueLF not rated
- Vasari Prussian BlueLF not rated · Transparent
- W&N Winton Prussian BlueSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent · student grade
- Art Creation Prussian BlueLF II · Semi-transparent · student grade
- Van Gogh Prussian BlueSeries 1 · LF II · Transparent · student grade
- Georgian Prussian BlueLF not rated · student grade
Not sold here by: every line carries it.
Made from PB27 alone
PB27 with white added
Mixtures that contain PB27
Brands: Art Spectrum, Blockx, Cobra, Da Vinci, Gamblin, Georgian, Grumbacher, Holbein, Langridge, Lukas 1862, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Maimeri Puro, Schmincke Mussini, Old Holland, Rembrandt, Art Creation, Vasari, Van Gogh, Williamsburg, W&N Winton, W&N Artists', W&N Artisan, W&N Griffin.