{"id":1431282,"date":"2021-10-07T12:13:47","date_gmt":"2021-10-07T11:13:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/?p=1431282"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:53:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:53:04","slug":"pigment-colour-index-violet-pigments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/07\/pigment-colour-index-violet-pigments\/","title":{"rendered":"Pigment Colour Index: Violet Pigments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here is a guide to the violet pigments used in artist paints today according to the Pigment Colour Index, identified by the prefix PV. Find out more about the Colour Index and why it is useful to artists in this post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Violet lies between red and blue on the colour wheel, and while it can be mixed with a combination of those two colours, a single-pigment violet can be a great addition to an artist palette. Violet and purple dyes have been used for centuries – the most famous being Tyrian purple, an expensive dye made from mucus of sea snails. It wasn’t until the 19th Century that the first true violet pigment, Cobalt Violet, was made. Cobalt Violet was closely followed by Manganese Violet, and in the 20th Century the Quinacridone pigments opened up a whole new spectrum of violet. <\/p>\n

\n

Violet Pigments<\/h2>\n

Each swatch is an example of an artist paint that uses that particular pigment, and the actual colour may vary. You can click on each swatch to go to the paint that is pictured. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 14 – Cobalt Violet<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> Can be a reddish violet or a cool pink.
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Semi-transparent to opaque <\/p>\n

Cobalt is a metallic element that is mined from the earth\u2019s crust. The word cobalt comes from the German kobald<\/em>, meaning \u2018goblin\u2019, after the mine-dwelling creatures who were believed to be responsible for the dangerous conditions that the miners worked under. Cobalt Violet has a very low tinting strength, making it easily overpowered by highly tinting pigments. However, with the right colours it can make some very subtle, delicate mixtures. With a low tinting green like Viridian (PG 18) it makes some soft greys, and with Cobalt Blue (PB 28) it makes some intense violets. One of its appeals for watercolourists is its granulation, which can be used to create textural effects. Find out more about Cobalt pigments here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 15 – Ultramarine Violet<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> A cool blue-violet or red-pink
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Semi-transparent <\/p>\n

Ultramarine Violet is made by heating Ultramarine Blue pigment with ammonium chloride, and the different shades of Ultramarine Violet are determined by how much sulphur this process removes. PV 15 has a low tinting strength and is a very slow drying pigment in oil paint. Try mixing it with a Lemon Yellow (such as PY 3<\/a> or PY 175<\/a>) to make soft greys. In watercolour, Ultramarine Violet usually granulates. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 16 – Manganese Violet<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> Purple with either red or blue undertones, but red-shade is more common
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Semi-transparent to semi-opaque <\/p>\n

Manganese Violet was first produced for artist paints in 1868. It is a slightly dull pigment, which makes it useful for bringing down the chroma in mixtures, although its tinting strength is low. With Viridian (PG 18) it makes a shadowy blue-grey. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 19 – Quinacridone Violet<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> Ranges between a smoky violet and a bright rose
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Transparent <\/p>\n

Quinacridone Violet is less purple than Quinacridone Magenta (PR 122), but still leans slightly towards blue. Like other Quinacridone pigments, it is very staining and has a high tinting strength. It makes very deep and vibrant violets when mixed with Ultramarine Blue. Find out more about Quinacridone pigments here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 23 – Dioxazine Violet<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> Cool, blue-violet
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Semi-transparent to semi-opaque <\/p>\n

A cool purple pigment with a high tinting strength that is popular among botanical artists. Try mixing it with Transparent Red Iron Oxide (PR 101) to make deep browns. Dioxazine Violet PV 37<\/a> is considered to be more lightfast than PV 23. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 29 – Perylene Violet<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> Dull reddish-purple
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Semi-transparent to transparent<\/p>\n

Perylene Violet’s strength lies in its low chroma. It can be a great addition to a portrait palette to mix natural flesh tones, and it can also be mixed with Green Gold (PY 129<\/a>) to make subdued, earthy greens. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 37 – Dioxazine Violet<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> Cool, blue-violet
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Semi-transparent to semi-opaque <\/p>\n

An alternative to more fugitive Dioxazine Violet pigment (PV 23<\/a>), PV 37 is a cool purple pigment with a high tinting strength that is popular among botanical artists. Try mixing it with Transparent Red Iron Oxide (PR 101) to make deep browns.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 42 – Quinacridone Violet<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> Ranges from bright, floral pink to dark, red-violet
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Transparent<\/p>\n

Very similar to the more common Quinacridone Violet PV 19<\/a>, it makes very deep and vibrant violets when mixed with Ultramarine Blue (PB 29). Find out more about Quinacridone pigments here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 49 – Cobalt Violet<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> Pale, cool violet
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Semi-transparent<\/p>\n

Considered to be the \u2018lighter\u2019 version of Cobalt Violet (PV 14<\/a>). Low staining and adds textural granulation in watercolour mixtures. Find out more about Cobalt pigments here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

PV 55 – Quinacridone Purple<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Colour Description:<\/strong> Dark red-purple
\nTransparency\/Opacity:<\/strong> Transparent<\/p>\n

Not as red as Manganese Violet, nor as blue as Dioxazine Violet, Quinacridone Purple. Mix with any transparent Orange pigment to make rich browns. You can find out more about Quinacridone pigments here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This post is part of an ongoing series about the Pigment Colour Index<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n