PrimaTone Raw Umber – Transparent Earth Oil-Alkyd Paint with Genuine Umber (PBr7)

PrimaTone Raw Umber

Fast-Drying Oil-Alkyd Paint for Professional Results

PrimaTone Raw Umber is a deep, natural brown earth pigment made from genuine iron and manganese oxide (PBr7) sourced from historic mineral deposits in the United States. Valued for its semi-transparency, subtle cool undertones, and exceptional drying speed, Raw Umber has been a staple in artists' palettes since the Renaissance for underpainting, neutral modulation, and compositional structure. Milled in a durable oil-modified alkyd binder, PrimaTone Raw Umber dries uniformly to a matte or semi-gloss finish within 18 to 24 hours—ideal for artists working across layered or direct painting methods.

With moderate tinting strength and a cool, neutral brown hue, this earth pigment excels in tonal blocking, figure drawing, atmospheric backgrounds, and chiaroscuro techniques. Its fast drying, excellent adhesion, and smooth handling make it equally suited for plein air work, grisaille, or mixed earth tone palettes.

PrimaTone—Fast-Drying Oil-Alkyd Paints

PrimaTone paints offer the enduring qualities of traditional oils with the convenience of modern performance. Formulated with oil-modified alkyd resin, all PrimaTone colors are touch-dry within 18–24 hours and ready for varnishing in approximately 30 days. With a working time of 4 to 8 hours, artists have ample time to blend, refine, and manipulate the paint before it sets.

Colors dry to a consistent matte to semi-gloss surface across the range, making them ideal for underpainting, glazing, and impasto techniques. Lightfast, permanent pigments, paired with a resilient, fast-drying binder, ensure long-lasting paint films that are compatible with all traditional oil mediums and can be easily cleaned with mineral spirits.

Key Features

• Pigment: Raw Umber (PBr7)

• Chemical Composition: Natural iron oxide with manganese (Fe₂O₃ + MnO₂)

• Color Index Name: Pigment Brown 7 (77491)

• Opacity: Semi-transparent to semi-opaque

• Tinting Strength: Moderate

• 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 Raw Umber is finely milled for optimal flow and clean application. Its cool brown hue and semi-transparency offer versatility in monochrome studies, underpainting, and glazing. It works beautifully for:

• Grisaille and tonal groundwork

• Classical underpainting (ebauche)

• Plein air painting and quick sketches

• Earth-tone color harmonies

• Mixing shadows and neutral tones

This pigment’s natural manganese content promotes faster drying and stronger film formation, making it ideal for early structural layers or stand-alone tonal work.

Ingredient Transparency

PrimaTone paints fully disclose all ingredients. This color contains:

• Raw Umber (PBr7)

• Oil-modified alkyd binder

• High-flash hydrotreated petroleum distillate

• Dispersing agent

No fillers, extenders, or undisclosed additives are included.

Safety and Toxicology

PrimaTone Raw Umber uses Pigment Brown 7, a natural mineral earth pigment recognized for its excellent safety record and inert composition. It does not pose significant health hazards under regular use and does not require special labeling under ASTM D4236. Minimal risk is associated with incidental skin contact or airborne particles during dry handling.

The oil-modified alkyd binder contains a small amount of hydrotreated petroleum distillate, a low-odor, high-flash aliphatic solvent used to aid application. It is present at levels below the thresholds that require chronic hazard labeling per ASTM D4236 for art materials intended for adult use. Avoid excessive inhalation or use in confined spaces without proper ventilation.

Standard studio precautions apply: do not ingest, avoid sanding dry paint films, work in well-ventilated areas, and wear gloves if you have skin sensitivities.

Natural Pigments ensures ingredient transparency with clear labeling of all pigment, binder, and additive components. 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 taken every care to match the color in these pictures on calibrated color monitors to the actual color. However, due to the wide variance in color monitors, your results may vary.

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 at full strength (mass tone) on the left and mixed with titanium white at a 1:2 ratio on the right.