Unless you are referring to an exact recipe, there is no exact measurement we can give you for how much pigment to add to mediums, only general guidelines. There are several factors that must be taken into consideration. Begin by answering these questions:

What medium or paint will the pigment be mixed into?

Determine if it is opaque, translucent or transparent. If you are mixing pigment into a can of white paint that is opaque, you will achieve a color of the pigment mixed with white. For example, white mixed with red will become various shades of pink. But if you are using a glaze or medium that is transparent or semi-transparent, it allows the light to reflect from the pigments without interference.

What intensity of shade is desired?

Only you can answer this question. You are the artist working with the pigment and know the color you wish to achieve. Pigments can be used alone, mixed, or mixed with Whiting Chalk or Titanium White in transparent or translucent paints or mediums to make them lighter. However, there is a limit to how much pigment can be added before it affects the binding power of the paint or medium, so we provide general guidelines.

Which pigment is being used?

Each pigment is different in its tinting strength and composition. A pigment base of clay will not have the same tinting strength as an iron oxide. Heavier pigments will have a more concentrated mineral content thus more tinting strength. Remember that paints will appear darker when wet than when dry, so test all samples and keep accurate records of measurements for each sample.

What are your expectations of natural pigments?

Natural pigments are not the same as high tinting synthetic pigments created for the paint and concrete industry. A few teaspoons of these artificial colorants will tint large volumes. They were created in the laboratory for cheap mixing into bases such as huge amounts of concrete, a base that is in itself an anti-colorant.

Customers choose our natural pigments because they want the permanence of Ochers or Natural Earths or the beautiful light refraction offered from them, or because they have low or no impact on our environment in their manufacture or use. If a simple, cheap colorant of gallons of paint or pounds of concrete is the only consideration then synthetic pigments purchased at the local home improvement store are more economical.

BUYING GUIDELINES FOR PIGMENT QUANTITIES

Recipes such as those found in The Natural Paint Book will provide exact measurements for each recipe, in both weight and volume. Here we provide a guideline for the size of product you should purchase to be sure you have sufficient quantity for mixing into the volume of paint. How much is used depends upon the questions answered above.

GUIDELINES FOR PIGMENT QUANTITIES IN OUR OLD FASHIONED MILK PAINT BASE

Our Old Fashioned Milk Paint comes in powder form, ready for you to add water and the pigment(s) of your choice. All our pigments offered are compatible with this base, and its lime/casein formula is one of the best mediums to use.

Ratios are best determined by weight to ensure consistency from batch to batch. A small kitchen or postal gram scale is helpful for this. Be sure to mark each sample with the ratios used. Begin weight ratios at 25% pigment by weight to the weight of your dry milk paint powder.

Because each pigment is different, the final weight of pigment you use may vary. Here is a starting guideline to assist you in determining how much pigment to purchase:

• 1 pint Old Fashioned Milk Paint Base: 40 grams pigment
• 1 quart of Old Fashioned Milk Paint Base: 82 grams pigment
• 1 gallon of Old Fashioned Milk Paint Base: 325 grams pigment

In our online store the item detail for each pigment shows how much it weighs if the amount purchased is by volume. For example, 75 ml of Red Ocher will weigh 65 grams. Therefore you will purchase one 75 ml jar for a pint of paint. Begin your testing at 40 grams and add more if necessary.

When mixing by hand, start ratios with 1 part pigment to 9 parts milk paint powder and 9 or 10 parts water. However be aware that it is more difficult to achieve consistent color results because each volume measurement may have a different weight.

We include our own pigment mixing instructions with your Old Fashioned Milk Paint including instructions for mixing it both wet and dry. It is important that you also follow directions that accompany the product for best results.

GUIDELINES FOR PLASTERS

Mix pigments into your dry plaster powder at a ratio of 10% to 15% of weight depending upon shade desired. The water ratio may need to be increased and or the substrate dampened to compensate for the addition of this pigment aggregate. It may be preferable to make a slurry of pigment with an equal amount of water making certain all the particles are dispersed, then adding this to the wet plaster..

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MIXING PIGMENTS WITH MEDIUMS

Water-based Mediums
Prepare pigments by slaking (soaking) in an equal amount of water and mixing into a smooth paste to ensure pigment particles have complete dispersed. Vodka can also be used for this purpose, as can Everclear™ grain alcohol or methyl alcohol 50/50 with water. For larger quantities, this paste can then be mixed with a small quantity of the medium and mixed into the final batch.

Non Water-based Mediums
Prepare pigments by soaking in an equal amount of solvent suitable for the medium, or into a small amount of the medium itself, mixing to be sure the dry pigment is completely dispersed. Mix this paste completely into the final batch.

Dry Powdered Mediums
For dry powders such as plaster or milk paint powder, pigments can be added using the water-based method in the final batch, or for smaller quantities, can be mixed directly with the dry powder. Place the proper ratios of pigment and powder into a covered container (jar, coffee can, etc) close lid tightly and shake vigorously until pigment is dispersed and has colored the powder. Proceed with your usual recipe.

Mixing Small Quantities
For artist's colors such as egg tempera, oil, glues etc, pigments can be mixed directly with the medium for immediate use from the palette.

Cement Mixing
Pour powder pigment directly into concrete mixer.

General Guidelines

• Avoid breathing pigment dust.
• If a recipe calls for more than one cup of pigment, refer to our Safety Instructions.
• Large quantities of medium mix easier with beaters or electric paint mixers.
• Pigments have different mixing ratios. Refer to our Recipes and your own tests for proper amounts.