Top Pigment
Hansa Yellow 65
PY65
Alternate Names
Arylide Yellow RN
Hansa Yellow 3RN
Arylide Yellow 3RA
Pigment Description
One of several hansas, it's a bright orangey yellow or sometimes called Hansa Yellow Deep.
Williamsburg Permanent Yellow Deep, PY65
PY65 is frequently found as a single pigment but also popular in blends.
Williamsburg Permanent Yellow Deep
Hansa Yellow PY65 is a slow drier in oils. Paintmakers may add driers to speed it up, so the dry time of an individual tube from brand to brand may vary.
Williamsburg Permanent Yellow Deep
Depending on the supplier, this pigment can be decent or just moderate in terms of lightfastness. There were some interesting results from Golden's recent lightfastness testing in oils and it looks like PY65 may be quite reactive to pure Zinc White and certain formulations of Lead White. In watercolor, Schmincke gave it three out of five stars, meaning lightfast, but not the highest lightfastness. Bruce MacEvoy's tests showed it to be very lightfast (with test swatches from Utrecht, Daniel Smith and Winsor and Newton).
Williamsburg Permanent Yellow Deep
In terms of health, we were amazed to hear that this might metabolize to a carcinogenic chemical and also cause methemoglobinemia. See Monona Rossol's work for more.
Williamsburg dry pigment, Permanent Yellow Deep, PY65
Hansa yellows are one area where the overall quality of the paint brand may show. The Artist's Handbook mentions that hansas are often heavily extended in less expensive paint ranges, and that the extenders reduce the transparency along with causing other potential problems.
Resources
PY65 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com
Information about PY65 from Bruce MacEvoy, Handprint Guide to Watercolors, General information about this class of pigments from Handprint,
Rossol, Monona. The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide. New York, NY : Allworth Press, 2001. The book is rather dated, updated information is available from her website.
Stats
Lightfastness
Varies depending on Mixing White
This color varied more than expected in the Lightfastness Testing that Golden recently conducted on mixing whites in oils. For some reason it tanked in both forms of lead white (linseed and safflower) though this may be brand dependent, as well as in pure zinc white. In the other mixing whites tested it performed at ASTM I, excellent.
Transparency
Varies, Semi-Opaque, Semi-Transparent
Pigment is Semi-Transparent, in oil paints may vary from Semi-Opaque to Opaque
Toxicity
Previously thought to be in the category of Lower Concern, however may pose health risks (refer to note)
May metabolize to a carcinogen. May cause methemoglobinemia. Refer to Monona Rossol's work for more.
Dry Time
Slow
Some paintmakers list a dry time of 5-14 days, while others list a 2 day dry time, so may contain driers
Oil Content
Medium to Medium High
Medium by volume, but when made into a paint sometimes it is medium-high.
Chemical Name
Monoazo, acetoacetyl RN
C₁₈H₁₈N₄O₆
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