Rublev Colours Dry Pigments - Series 3 Ultramarine Violet is a clean, bright violet pigment with a distinctive clarity that artists love for subtle temperature shifts and luminous tints. Ultramarine Violet (PV 15) is a synthetic inorganic sodium aluminium sulfosilicate, engineered to deliver a unique violet hue that can make whites appear “whiter” and cleaner in mixtures. It is semi-transparent in visible light and transparent to near infrared (NIR), which contributes to its cool, light-reflective character (with performance influenced by the binder and substrate).

This pigment disperses well in both oil- and water-based systems and is easy to hand-mull into a smooth paste, making it ideal for artists who make their own paints for oil painting, watercolour, gouache, and other studio binders. Ultramarine Violet is rated ASTM Lightfastness I, the highest category, offering excellent permanence for indoor fine art use. It resists alkalis but has poor acid resistance, so it is not recommended for acidic environments or exterior exposure.

With moderate oil absorption (34 to 37 g oil per 100 g pigment), Ultramarine Violet can slow oil paint drying slightly, which can be useful for wet-in-wet blending and soft transitions. It is also used in select cosmetic applications, and the pigment meets FDA purity requirements for certain regulated uses (as referenced under 21 CFR 73.2725).

Key specs

• Colour Index: PV 15 (77007)

• Pigment type: Synthetic inorganic

• Chemical name: Sodium Aluminium Sulfosilicate

• ASTM lightfastness: I (Acrylic, Oil, Watercolour)

• Oil absorption: 34 to 37 g oil / 100 g pigment

• Specific gravity: 2.35

• Particle size: D90 ≤ 4 micron

• Series: 3

• Size: 100g

Handling and safety
Not considered toxic in typical use, but as with all dry pigments avoid inhaling dust and avoid ingestion or prolonged skin contact.