PrimaTone Lithopone White – Cool, Semi-Transparent Oil-Alkyd Paint (PW5)

PrimaTone Lithopone

Fast-Drying Oil-Modified Alkyd Paint with Natural Extenders for Superior Control

PrimaTone Lithopone is a synthetic white made with Pigment White 5 (PW5), a complex compound of zinc sulfide and barium sulfate. Known for its soft, cool tone and semi-transparent nature, this white pigment is an excellent alternative to zinc white in terms of hue, subtlety, and mixing behavior—without the brittleness issues traditionally associated with pure zinc oxide paints. Ground in a durable, oil-modified alkyd binder, this color dries uniformly to a matte to semi-gloss finish within 18 to 24 hours, providing professionals with a dependable solution for layering, glazing, and mixing.

PrimaTone Lithopone White is particularly well suited for artists working in indirect painting methods or seeking a cooler white for modulating highlights and light values without overpowering tints. It is also an excellent mixing white when cooler undertones are desired.

PrimaTone—Fast-Drying Oil-Alkyd Paints

PrimaTone paints deliver the trusted characteristics of traditional oils with the added benefit of accelerated drying. Colors are touch-dry in 18–24 hours and ready for varnishing in approximately 30 days. With a working time of 4 to 8 hours, artists can refine and blend the paint with ease before it sets.

All PrimaTone colors dry uniformly to a matte to semi-gloss surface, making them ideal for both foundational layers and final applications. The combination of lightfast pigments and a resilient alkyd binder ensures a long-lasting paint film. Compatible with traditional oil mediums and easily cleaned with mineral spirits, PrimaTone offers a practical solution for artists seeking speed without compromise.

Key Features

• Pigment: Lithopone (PW5)

• Chemical Composition: Mixture of zinc sulfide (ZnS) and barium sulfate (BaSO₄)

• Color Index Name: Pigment White 5 (77115)

• Opacity: Semi-transparent

• Tinting Strength: Moderate to high

• Undertone: Cool

• Drying Time: Touch-dry to hard-dry within 24 hours (ASTM D5895 Stage III)

• Working Time: Approximately 8 hours

• Finish: Matte to semi-gloss

• Lightfastness: ASTM I (Excellent)

• Binder: Oil-modified alkyd

• Compatibility: Traditional oil paints, mediums, and solvents

Handling & Applications

PrimaTone Lithopone White is finely milled for smooth handling and soft brushwork. Its semi-transparent quality and subtle coolness make it ideal for:

• Highlighting in cool light passages

• Mixing pale tints without overpowering color character

• Underpainting and scumbling

• Delicate atmospheric effects

• Classical and academic techniques

Lithopone is particularly useful where a neutral white is needed without the harsh reflectivity of titanium or the brittleness of zinc oxide. It offers nuanced transitions when used alongside titanium white or cool blacks, such as Mars Black.

Ingredient Transparency

PrimaTone adheres to full ingredient disclosure. This color contains:

• Lithopone (PW5)

• Calcium carbonate (calcite) (PW18)

• Calcium metasilicate (wollastonite) (PW28)

• Oil-modified alkyd binder

• High-flash hydrotreated petroleum distillate

• Dispersing agent

• Driers

No synthetic extenders or undisclosed additives are included.

Safety and Toxicology

PrimaTone Lithopone White contains Pigment White 5, a chemically stable, low-toxicity synthetic compound. It is not associated with acute or chronic toxicity under typical studio conditions and does not require hazard labeling under ASTM D4236.

The oil-modified alkyd binder contains a small amount of hydrotreated petroleum distillate, a high-flash, low-odor aliphatic hydrocarbon added to enhance application and consistency. This solvent is present at levels that do not trigger chronic hazard labeling for art materials intended for adult use.

Standard precautions should be followed when using oil-based paints: avoid ingestion, do not sand dried paint films, use adequate ventilation, and wear gloves if skin sensitivity is a concern.

All components—pigments, binders, and additives—are listed on the product label in keeping with Natural Pigments’ commitment to transparency. Store in a cool, dry place and keep out of reach of children.

Composition and Permanence

For a detailed explanation of the terms in the table above, please visit the Composition and Permanence page.

Notes

All color swatches on this website are approximations of the actual color of the oil paint. We have carefully matched the color in these pictures on calibrated color monitors to the actual color. However, your results may vary due to the wide variance among color monitors.

Drawdown Note: The image of the "drawdown” shows a premixed paint film 6 mils (0.006 inches) thick, applied to a standard test card to examine color consistency, opacity, and other qualities. The drawdowns show the color’s full strength (mass tone) on the left and, on the right, mixed with titanium white at a 1:2 ratio.