PB29 Ultramarine Blue

Sodium aluminosilicate.

141 tubes from 24 of 24 paint lines contain PB29. 42 are made from PB29 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: Medium
Opacity: Single-pigment tubes are mostly transparent.

About PB29

History

Ultramarine was originally ground from the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli and was the most expensive pigment of the Renaissance. A synthetic version was invented in France in the 1820s and made it cheap and plentiful.

In mixes

A warm, reddish blue, fairly transparent. It makes clean violets with magentas and quinacridones, natural greys and near-blacks with burnt sienna or umber, and duller greens with yellows than a phthalo would.

Genuine or hue?

Ultramarine is cheap and safe, so a hue here changes how the color handles rather than what it costs.

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 PB29, by brand

The best single-pigment PB29 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.

Art Spectrum Ultramarine BlueSeries 1 · LF I · Semi-transparent
Blockx French Ultramarine Blue DeepSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent
Gamblin Ultramarine BlueLF I
Grumbacher French Ultramarine BlueSeries 2 · LF I
Langridge Ultramarine BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Semi-opaque
M. Graham Ultramarine BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent
Michael Harding Ultramarine BlueSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent
Old Holland Ultramarine BlueSeries A · LF I
Williamsburg Ultramarine BlueSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent
Cobra UltramarineLF I · Transparent
Rembrandt Ultramarine LightSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent
W&N Artisan French UltramarineSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent
W&N Artists' French UltramarineSeries 2 · LF I · Transparent
W&N Griffin French UltramarineSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent
Lukas 1862 UltramarineSeries 3 · LF I
Holbein Ultramarine BlueSeries A · LF I · Semi-transparent
Schmincke Mussini Ultramarine Blue LightLF II · Transparent
Da Vinci Ultramarine BlueLF not rated · Transparent
Maimeri Puro Ultramarine LightLF not rated
Vasari Ultramarine BlueLF not rated · Transparent
Art Creation Cobalt Blue (Ultramarine)LF I · Semi-opaque · student grade
Van Gogh Cobalt Blue (Ultramarine)Series 1 · LF I · Semi-transparent · student grade
W&N Winton French UltramarineSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent · student grade
Georgian French UltramarineLF not rated · student grade

Not sold here by: every line carries it.

Made from PB29 alone

French UltramarineArt SpectrumPB29Series 3LF I Ultramarine BlueArt SpectrumPB29Series 1LF I Ultramarine Blue (Green Shade)Art SpectrumPB29Series 2LF I French Ultramarine Blue DeepBlockx 212253PB29Series 2LF I French Ultramarine Blue LightBlockx 212251PB29Series 2LF I UltramarineCobra 504PB29LF I Ultramarine BlueDa VinciPB29–Radiant BlueGamblinPB29LF I Ultramarine BlueGamblinPB29LF I French UltramarineGeorgian D111014123PB29–French Ultramarine BlueGrumbacher P076PB29Series 2LF I Permanent BlueGrumbacher P160PB29Series 2LF I Ultramarine BlueHolbein H322PB29Series AVerifyLF I Ultramarine DeepHolbein H308PB29Series AVerifyLF I Ultramarine LightHolbein H307PB29Series AVerifyLF I Ultramarine BlueLangridgePB29Series 2LF I UltramarineLukas 1862 0137PB29Series 3LF I Ultramarine BlueM. Graham 190PB29Series 2LF I Lapis Lazuli (Afghan)Michael Harding 702PB29Series 7–Ultramarine BlueMichael Harding 113PB29Series 1LF I Ultramarine DeepMaimeri Puro 392PB29–Ultramarine LightMaimeri Puro 391PB29–Ultramarine Blue DeepSchmincke Mussini 10492PB29LF II Ultramarine Blue LightSchmincke Mussini 10491PB29LF II Ultramarine BlueOld Holland A36PB29Series ALF I Ultramarine Blue DeepOld Holland A244PB29Series ALF I Ultramarine DeepRembrandt 506PB29Series 2LF I Ultramarine LightRembrandt 505PB29Series 2LF I Cobalt Blue (Ultramarine)Art Creation 512PB29HueLF I UltramarineArt Creation 504PB29LF I Ultramarine BlueVasariPB29–Ultramarine Blue, Green ShadeVasariPB29–Ultramarine Blue, Red ShadeVasariPB29–Cobalt Blue (Ultramarine)Van Gogh 512PB29Series 1HueLF I UltramarineVan Gogh 504PB29Series 1LF I Ultramarine BlueWilliamsburg 6000942PB29Series 2LF I French UltramarineW&N Winton 263PB29Series 1LF I French UltramarineW&N Artists' 263PB29Series 2LF I Ultramarine (Green Shade)W&N Artists' 667PB29Series 1LF I French UltramarineW&N Artisan 263PB29Series 1LF I French UltramarineW&N Griffin 263PB29Series 1LF I Ultramarine (Green Shade)W&N Griffin 667PB29Series 1LF I

PB29 with white added

King's BlueCobra 517PW7PB29LF I Arctic BlueGrumbacher P313PW4PW6PB29Series 2LF I Blue GreyHolbein H370PB29PW6Series ALF II Misty BlueHolbein H318PB29PW6Series AVerifyLF II Kings BlueLangridgePW6PB29Series 2LF I Royal BlueLukas 1862 0150PW5PB29Series 1LF I Kings Blue DeepMichael Harding 212PB29PW6PW4Series 2LF I Kings Blue LightMichael Harding 211PB29PW6PW4Series 2LF I King's Blue DeepOld Holland B253PB29PW4PW6Series BLF I King's Blue LightOld Holland B256PB29PW4PW6Series BLF I King's BlueVasariPB29PW6–King's Blue Extra PaleVasariPW6PB29–

Mixtures that contain PB29

Indigo BlueArt SpectrumPB29PB27PBk7PV19Series 2HueLF I Payne's GreyArt SpectrumPB29PW6PBk7Series 1LF I Spectrum BlueArt SpectrumPB29PW6PB15:3Series 1LF I Terre Verte TraditionalArt SpectrumPBr7PB29PY83PG7Series 1HueLF I IndigoBlockx 212255PB29PB15PBk9Series 2HueLF I Payne's GrayBlockx 212271PBk11PB29Series 2LF I Blue VioletCobra 548PW7PB29PV23LF I Burnt CarmineCobra 323PR264PB29LF I Cobalt Blue (Ultramarine)Cobra 512PB29PB15HueLF I Cold GreyCobra 717PBk11PB29PW6LF I Greyish BlueCobra 562PW7PB29PBk9LF I IndigoCobra 533PB29PB15PBk11HueLF I Lamp BlackCobra 702PBk9PB29LF I Ultramarine GreenCobra 683PB29PY129LF I Ultramarine VioletCobra 507PV15PB29LF I Alizarin Crimson DeepDa VinciPV19PR149PB29Hue–Blue BlackDa VinciPBk6PB29–LilacDa VinciPV19PB29PW6–Payne's GrayDa VinciPBk6PB29–Olive GreenGamblinPBr7PY75PB29LF I Payne's GreyGamblinPB29PBk9PY42LF I Portland Cool GreyGamblinPW6PB29PBk11LF I Blue GreyGeorgian D111014133PB29PW6PBk9–Cobalt BlueGeorgian D111014110PB28PB29–Cobalt Blue HueGeorgian D111014111PB29PG7Hue–CoeruleumGeorgian D111014112PB29PB15:3PW6PG7–Light BlueGeorgian D111014128PB29PB15:3PW6–Payne's GreyGeorgian D111014065PBk6PB29–Permanent BlueGeorgian D111014137PB29PG7–Violet GreyGeorgian D111014442PB29PW6PV23–Olive GreenGrumbacher P150PY150PB29Series 3LF III Payne's GrayGrumbacher P156PB29PG24PBk7Series 2LF I Ultramarine Blue DeepGrumbacher P307PB29PR259PV19Series 2LF I Blue BlackHolbein H357PB29PBk9Series ALF I Cobalt Blue HueHolbein H304PB15PB29PW6Series AHueVerifyLF I IndigoHolbein H314PB27PB29Series BHueVerifyLF I MauveHolbein H335PB29PV5Series BVerifyLF I Payne's GreyHolbein H380PB29PBk6Series AVerifyLF I Cadmium GreenLangridgePY35PB29Series 5LF I Payne's GreyLangridgePB29PBk6Series 1LF I Cobalt Blue (Hue)Lukas 1862 0126PW6PB29PG7Series 1HueLF I IndigoLukas 1862 0122PR176PB15:1PB29PBk7Series 1HueLF II Chroma BlackM. Graham 075PB29PBr7Series 2LF I Payne's GrayM. Graham 128PBk9PB29Series 1LF I AmethystMichael Harding 309PB29PR122PV23Series 3LF I Payne's GreyMichael Harding 127PBk9PB29PY42Series 1LF I Royal Blue DeepSchmincke Mussini 10486PW4PW6PB15:3PB29LF II Sapphire BlueSchmincke Mussini 10479PW4PB29PB15:6LF II Cinnabar Green Light ExtraOld Holland D43PY35PG18PB29Series DLF I French Ultramarine Light ExtraOld Holland B37PB29PB28Series BLF I Old Holland Blue DeepOld Holland B217PB29PG7PV23Series BLF I Old Holland Blue GreyOld Holland B259PB29PW4PW6PV23Series BLF I Old Holland Cold GreyOld Holland A364PW4PW6PB29PBk7Series ALF I Old Holland Cyan BlueOld Holland C247PB29PB15PW4PW6Series CLF I Old Holland Violet-GreyOld Holland B208PW4PW6PV23PB29PG18Series BLF I Payne's GreyOld Holland B214PB29PBk9Series BLF I Permanent Green DeepOld Holland B271PG7PY3PB29PW4Series BLF I Burnt CarmineRembrandt 323PR264PB29Series 3LF I Caput Mortuum VioletRembrandt 344PR101PB29PR264Series 1LF I Cobalt Blue (Ultramarine)Rembrandt 512PB29PB15Series 2HueLF I IndigoRembrandt 533PB15PB29PBk9Series 2HueLF I Ivory BlackRembrandt 701PBk9PB29Series 1LF I Payne's GreyRembrandt 708PBk11PB29PV19Series 1LF I Ultramarine GreenRembrandt 683PB29PY129Series 3LF I Lamp BlackArt Creation 702PBk9PB29LF I Payne's GreyArt Creation 708PBk11PB29PV19LF I Basic BlueVasariPB29PB15–Night BlackVasariPBk6PB29–Payne's GrayVasariPBk6PB29–Lamp BlackVan Gogh 702PBk9PB29Series 1LF I Cinnabar Green LightWilliamsburg 6001153PY3PW6PB29PB15:3Series 3LF II Cold BlackWilliamsburg 6001732PB29PBk9Series 2LF I King's BlueWilliamsburg 6000813PW6PB29PB15:3Series 3LF I Payne's GrayWilliamsburg 6001703PB29PBk9Series 2LF I Payne's Gray (Violet)Williamsburg 6001063PBr7PV23PB29Series 2LF I Ultramarine Blue FrenchWilliamsburg 6000962PV15PB29Series 2LF I Cobalt Blue HueW&N Winton 179PB15PW4PB29Series 1HueLF I Cobalt Violet HueW&N Winton 194PB29PV16Series 1HueLF I Payne's GrayW&N Winton 465PBk6PBk19PB29Series 1LF I Permanent Crimson LakeW&N Winton 478PB29PR177Series 1LF I Blue BlackW&N Artists' 034PB29PBk9Series 1LF I IndigoW&N Artists' 322PB15PB29PBk7Series 2HueLF I Payne's GrayW&N Artists' 465PBk19PB29PR101PBk6Series 1LF I Cobalt Blue HueW&N Artisan 179PB60PB29Series 1HueLF I Payne's GrayW&N Artisan 465PB29PBk6Series 1LF I Payne's GrayW&N Griffin 465PB29PBk6Series 1LF I Purple LakeW&N Griffin 544PR177PB29Series 1LF I

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.