Enamel paint colors

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In order to make the explanation as simple as possible, it is considered advisable to discuss the subject under three separate groups, as follows:

• Group 1—Enamels in which only a small amount of blue is required to produce the shades (less than approximately 10 per cent). In matching a shade where only a very small amount of blue is required (less than 10 per cent of the total volume), the rule is to always use ultramarine blue for best light fastness. A small amount of Prussian blue, especially in light shades, fades easily in the sunlight, while ultramarine blue is quite fast.
• Group 2—Enamels which are entirely or very largely made up of blue (approximately 50 per cent of the total mix).
  In deciding on the proper blue to use when a straight dark blue shade is required, the rule is to always use Prussian blue, and never use ultramarine blue. There are three reasons why ultramarine should not be used as a straight or self color.
  First, ultramarine does not take a good polish and "clean up" easily. This is an inherent quality of the pigment. Prussian blue, on the other hand, polishes easily.
  Second, ultramarine is transparent and has poor covering, which requires extra coats to get the same opacity or covering as with fewer coats of Prussian blue.
  Third, ultramarine blue is not durable as compared to Prussian blue when used straight. The unalterable rule, then, for a straight color for body work, is to always use Prussian blue, which, of course, can be shaded over to any desirable dark blue tone.
  When ultramarine blue is blended with other enamels, it of course shows this property of poor polishing to a lesser degree and in proportion to the amount used. It, however, should not be used in large amounts, and it is necessary to place a limit on the amount which can be used with safety. A maximum of 50 per cent is considered a safe limit. Prussian blue then should always be used in blends where blue constitutes approximately 50 per cent of the blend.
• Group 3—Enamels which require considerable blue, but not as much as in Group 2 (approximately 10 per cent to 50 per cent).

In matching a shade where between 10 per cent and 50 per cent of blue is required to give the proper shade, the rule is that either ultramarine or Prussian may be used. The one which gives the shade with the simplest combination of pigments is of course the preferable one to use.

Ultramarine blue lets down with white to a reddish-toned blue, while Prussian blue lets down with white to a greenish-toned blue. In the presence of other pigments, such as bone black, umber, etc., these tones are not as pronounced but still must be regarded in mixing.

Experience in color mixing is, of course, of value here in knowing just which pigment to use.
From the above information it can be seen that a general statement covering the rules of using ultramarine and Prussian blues would be about as follows:

1. Use ultramarine where a very small amount of blue is required.
2. Use Prussian where a high percentage of blue is required.
3. Use either ultramarine, Prussian, or both where a medium quantity is required.

It must not be forgotten here that chrome green contains Prussian blue and this must be taken into consideration when chrome green is included in the formula. Dark chrome green contains approximately 50 per cent Prussian blue and light chrome green approximately 10 per cent Prussian blue.

YELLOW ENAMELS

There are three yellows in the Opex Mixing Enamel Line : lemon, chrome yellow and permanent toning yellow. It is very important that it be properly understood just where and when each of these should be used in an enamel for best results.
Lemon and chrome yellow are very similar in composition and properties, and the following statements apply to both of these colors:

1. Very good opacity and durability.
2. Very fast to light when used in large amounts (over approximately 40 per cent) and moderately fast when used in smaller amounts (down to 8 or 10 per cent). Readily affected by sunlight (turning dark) when used in very small amounts and tints (under approximately 8 per cent).
3. Clean and bright in color when let down with white.

Permanent Toning Yellow is of a different nature. In comparison to the above its outstanding characteristics are as follows:

1. Very good opacity and durability.
2. Fast to light when used in any amount.
3. Not as clean and bright as chrome yellow when let down with white but cleaner than raw sienna.

From the above statements it can be seen that all three of these yellows are durable and have very good covering, but on account of limited light fastness when let down with whites or other colors, certain restrictions must be placed on the use of lemon and chrome yellow. The following rules should be observed:

1. Where a large percentage of yellow is required in a formula, any of the three yellows may be used, depending upon the shade desired.
2. Where a smaller percentage or touch of yellow is required, permanent toning yellow should be used.
3. In certain cases, where very clean tints, such as clean ivories, are required, it is permissible to use a mixture of permanent toning yellow and lemon or chrome yellow. There are exceptional cases where the resulting shade is too clean to allow any permanent toning yellow and in these instances lemon or chrome yellow alone must be used. It must be understood, however, that the resulting shade is not as fast to light as if only permanent toning yellow were used.

Chrome yellow is also contained in chrome green and this must be taken into consideration when chrome green is included in the formula. Dark chrome green contains approximately 50 per cent chrome yellow and light chrome green approximately 90 per cent chrome yellow.

GREEN AND UMBER ENAMELS

The finisher has at his disposal two green mixing enamels, light chrome green and dark chrome green. He is also able to produce greens with the aid of blues and yellows. It is very necessary that the master painter thoroughly understand when he should use a mixture of yellow and blue to produce a green and when he should use a green to obtain certain shades.
The light and dark chrome greens, like the chrome yellows, are very similar in composition and properties and have the following characteristics:

1. Very good opacity and durability.
2. Fast to light when used in large amounts only.
3. Clean and bright color when let down with white.

Light and dark chrome green are only fast to light when used in relatively large amounts, and therefore it is advisable to use a mixture of ultramarine blue and toning yellow when a small amount of green is required to obtain the shade that is being mixed.

Umber contains a very permanent pigment and may be used wherever possible. However, unlike the chrome green, it does not give a clean shade, and generally is only used in mixing shades of olive green. The following characteristics apply:

1. Very good opacity and durability.
2. Fast to light when used in any amount.
3. When let down with white gives a dirty greenish shade.

In matching a shade where green is required, the craftsman should always adhere to the following rules:

1. Where a large percentage of green is required use either light or dark chrome green for a clean, bright shade.
2. Where a small percentage of green is required, a mixture of ultramarine blue and yellow should be used (wherever possible using permanent toning yellow).
3. In matching olive greens and other shades not clean in tone, where a small amount of green is required, a very permanent shade is produced by using umber.

Note: It is not recommended to use umber in amounts over 50 per cent on account of the poor polishing characteristics of this pigment.

RED ENAMELS

The two reds in the Opex Mixing Enamel Line are: crimson red, oxide red. In the same classification we can, for convenience in the discussion, include: chrome orange, sienna.

The finisher will save himself much trouble and labor by knowing the characteristics of these particular pigments.

Opex crimson red contains a non-bleeding pigment which is very permanent to light where used straight or as a self color, and even when used as a tinting color gives quite a permanent shade. It is also very clean and bright in tone. Like crimson red, Opex chrome orange has very similar characteristics and properties. They may be summed up as follows:

1. Non-bleeding.
2. Bright in color.
3. Very fast to light when used in large amounts and moderately fast to light when used in small amounts.
4. Very good opacity.

Oxide red and sienna are very similar to each other in properties. However, they distinctly differ from the crimson red and orange in that the pigments used in these enamels are "earth colors" and are very fast to light when used in any amount for blending, which means that oxide red and sienna mixing enamels should be used for tinting when a small amount of red is required.

Oxide red and sienna have the following general characteristics:

1. Brownish red in tone (not bright like crimson red).
2. Non-bleeding.
3. Very fast to light when used in any amount.
4. Very good opacity.

While comparing the qualities of the earth colors, i.e., oxide red and sienna, with the characteristics of the bright synthetic colors, crimson red and orange, it can be appreciated that the following rules must be observed to obtain shades that will not quickly fade when exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun:

1. Where a large percentage of red is required, use any of the reds or orange in the Opex Mixing Enamel line, as they are all fast to light when used in large amounts.
2. Where a small percentage of red or orange is required, use either oxide red or sienna because both these base colors are very fast to light when used in any amounts. In special cases where the shade does not permit oxide red or sienna, there is no alternative but to use orange or crimson red.

MAROON ENAMELS

Opex toning maroon is very rich in tone, and contains a pigment that, due to this quality, does not have quite as good opacity as some other pigments when used as a straight color. Nevertheless, it can be employed as a self color, preferably over a suitable ground coat, or body color, where desired, and will be found to chalk less on exposure than is generally common with other maroon lacquer enamels.

Opex toning maroon also enjoys the distinction of being non-bleeding. The following characteristics apply:

1. Rich in tone.
2. Non-bleeding.
3. Moderately fast to light when used in large amounts and quite readily affected by sunlight when used in very small amounts.
4. Good opacity.

BLACK ENAMELS

Bone black contains a pigment that is essential for a shading color, as it does not float like lamp black or carbon black. It is not a jet black, but rather a grayish brown black, therefore it should not be used as a straight color. Like oxide red and sienna, Opex bone black is an earth pigment and is very permanent to light when used for shading in any amount. A jet black is not necessary for a mixing enamel, as it is only used for shading and should not be used as an all-over body finishing coating. Bone black is also non-bleeding, and does not contain any dyes which not only cause bleeding but are very fugitive upon direct exposure to the ultra-violet sun rays.