In addition to the best possible pigments in maximum concentration, Schmincke oil colours consist of a special mixture of painter's oils that have been carefully purified to suit the respective formulation.
While NORMA Professional is a pure, finest artist oil colour with the best technical characteristics, MUSSINI finest resin oil colours also contain natural resin, which has an impact on drying, colour brilliance and the depth effect of the colours. NORMA Blue, the finest watermixble and vegan oil colour from Schmincke, is also formulated exclusively with high-quality vegetable oils.
Which oils do we use?
Different oils are used in individual combinations to produce the finest oil colours, e.g. linseed oil, safflower oil - which is obtained from thistles - walnut oil and sunflower oil. All oils are purified before processing, i.e. they are bleached, degummed and dewaxed.
What are the differences between the various oils?
Painting oils differ essentially in two respects: their drying characteristics and their degree of yellowing. The following overview shows this correlation:
Precisely balanced formulas
Each colour has an individual formula in which the ratio of the individual oils is precisely defined. There are various reasons for this:
In addition to the general drying properties of the oils and the degree of yellowing, a further important aspect is the individuality of each pigment in terms of drying speed. The pigments influence the drying properties of the colour. The combination of the oils used is selected in such a way that drying of the individual colour is stress-reduced.
For MUSSINI with 110 colours, we have also determined three drying categories and documented them with the drying scale (available online and in the colour chart). This indicates whether a colour shade requires shorter or longer drying times. When selecting the colour tones in a painting, the painting process can also be harmonised in this way.
Minimise yellowing
The following applies to AKADEMIE Öl color, NORMA Professional, NORMA Blue and MUSSINI: linseed oil is used as the main ingredient for the coloured shades, whereas sunflower oil and safflower oil are used for the white shades in order to minimise the degree of yellowing.
Expert advice:
Oil paintings should not be stored to dry in the dark, e.g. in the cellar, as oil colours do not dry properly without sufficient sunlight. Therefore, make sure there is sufficient natural light during the (month-long) drying process.
The described product attributes and application examples have been tested in the Schmincke laboratory. The information is based on our current state of technical findings and experience. Due to the diversity of applications in terms of painting techniques, materials and working conditions, as well as numerous possible influences, this information is based on a general application range. A legally binding guarantee of specific attributes or the suitability for a specific usage purpose cannot be derived from our information; therefore the use of the products must be adapted to the users' individual conditions and tested in trials. For this reason, we cannot provide a warranty for product attributes and/or assume liability for damages that occur in connection with the use of our products.
By the way: Specifics for handling and product safety you will find on our website www.schmincke.de (e.g. download/safety data sheets).
For special questions please don´t hesitate to ask our team in the lab!
The best way to get in contact with them is via mail at: laborteam@schmincke.de.
