PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Mars Yellow)

Synthetic hydrated iron oxide.

140 tubes from 24 of 24 paint lines contain PY42. 42 are made from PY42 alone, which is the closest match when you're switching brands.

Toxicity: No toxic metal Not one of the toxic-metal pigments. As with any paint, keep it out of your mouth and don't sand or spray it.
Drying: Medium
Opacity: Single-pigment tubes are mostly opaque.

About PY42

History

Synthetic yellow iron oxide (Mars yellow) has been made since the 19th century as a cleaner, more uniform alternative to natural ochre.

In mixes

Opaque grades give dependable ochre-like tints; transparent yellow oxide is a warm glazing yellow. Very permanent and safe, and it mixes soft, natural greens with blues and blacks.

Drying speed is typical for linseed oil; tubes ground in safflower or poppy oil, or with driers added, will differ. These are general notes on the pigment, not on any one brand.

Purest PY42, by brand

The best single-pigment PY42 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.

Grumbacher Transparent Yellow Iron OxideSeries 1 · LF I
M. Graham Transparent Yellow Iron OxideSeries 3 · LF I · Transparent
Williamsburg Transparent Yellow Iron OxideSeries 4 · LF I · Transparent
Art Spectrum Yellow OchreSeries 1 · LF I · Opaque
Blockx Mars Yellow-OrangeSeries 2 · LF I · Opaque
Cobra Gold OchreLF I · Opaque
Gamblin Transparent Earth YellowLF I
Langridge Yellow OxideSeries 1 · LF I · Opaque
Michael Harding Yellow OchreSeries 1 · LF I · Semi-transparent
Old Holland Mars YellowSeries A · LF I
Rembrandt Yellow OchreSeries 1 · LF I · Opaque
Schmincke Mussini Transparent Yellow OxideLF I · Transparent
W&N Artisan Yellow OchreSeries 1 · LF I · Opaque
W&N Artists' Gold OchreSeries 1 · LF I · Opaque
Lukas 1862 Yellow OchreSeries 1 · LF I
Da Vinci SoulshineLF not rated · Transparent
Maimeri Puro Mars OrangeLF not rated
Vasari Mars YellowLF not rated · Opaque
Art Creation Yellow OchreLF I · Opaque · student grade
Van Gogh Yellow OchreSeries 1 · LF I · Opaque · student grade
W&N Winton Yellow OchreSeries 1 · LF I · Opaque · student grade
Georgian Yellow OchreLF not rated · student grade

Not sold here by: every line carries it.

Made from PY42 alone

Yellow OchreArt SpectrumPY42Series 1LF I Mars YellowBlockx 212311PY42Series 2LF I Mars Yellow-OrangeBlockx 212313PY42Series 2LF I Transparent Mars YellowBlockx 212217PY42Series 2LF I Yellow OchreBlockx 212111PY42Series 1LF I Gold OchreCobra 231PY42LF I Transparent Oxide YellowCobra 265PY42LF I Yellow OchreCobra 227PY42LF I SoulshineDa VinciPY42–Transparent Earth YellowGamblinPY42LF I Yellow OchreGeorgian D111014663PY42–Transparent Yellow Iron OxideGrumbacher P216PY42Series 1LF I Gold OxideLangridgePY42Series 1LF I Mars OrangeLangridgePY42Series 1LF I Transparent Yellow OxideLangridgePY42Series 3LF I Yellow OxideLangridgePY42Series 1LF I Yellow OchreLukas 1862 0031PY42Series 1LF I Transparent Yellow Iron OxideM. Graham 188PY42Series 3LF I Italian Brown OchreMichael Harding 223PY42Series 2LF I Transparent Oxide YellowMichael Harding 219PY42Series 2LF I Yellow OchreMichael Harding 119PY42Series 1LF I Mars OrangeMaimeri Puro 060PY42–Transparent Mars YellowMaimeri Puro 103PY42–Transparent Yellow OxideSchmincke Mussini 10236PY42LF I Mars YellowOld Holland A319PY42Series ALF I Transparent Oxide Yellow LakeOld Holland B328PY42Series BLF I Gold OchreRembrandt 231PY42Series 1LF I Orange OchreRembrandt 232PY42Series 1LF I Transparent Yellow OchreRembrandt 265PY42Series 3LF I Yellow OchreRembrandt 227PY42Series 1LF I Yellow OchreArt Creation 227PY42LF I Mars YellowVasariPY42–Transparent Yellow OxideVasariPY42–Transparent Oxide YellowVan Gogh 265PY42Series 2LF I Yellow OchreVan Gogh 227PY42Series 1LF I Mars Yellow LightWilliamsburg 6001342PY42Series 2LF I Stil De GrainWilliamsburg 6001464PY42Series 4LF I Transparent Yellow Iron OxideWilliamsburg 6001920PY42Series 4LF I Yellow OchreW&N Winton 744PY42Series 1LF I Gold OchreW&N Artists' 285PY42Series 1LF I Yellow Ochre PaleW&N Artists' 746PY42Series 1LF I Yellow OchreW&N Artisan 744PY42Series 1LF I

PY42 with white added

Naples Yellow ExtraOld Holland A313PY42PW6PW4Series AHueLF I

Mixtures that contain PY42

Brown PinkArt SpectrumPR101PY42PBr7PBk7Series 3LF I Dusty PinkArt SpectrumPW6PY42PR101Series 1LF I Indian YellowArt SpectrumPY83PY42Series 2LF I Naples YellowArt SpectrumPW6PY35PY42Series 1HueLF I Spectrum EmeraldArt SpectrumPW6PG7PY3PY42Series 1LF II Transparent Gold OxideArt SpectrumPY42PBr7Series 2LF I Brownish GreyBlockx 212273PW4PBk11PY42Series 2LF I Cinnabar GreenBlockx 212163PY42PG7Series 1LF I Mars BrownBlockx 212341PR101PY42PBk11Series 2LF I Naples YellowBlockx 212411PW4PY35PY42Series 3HueLF I Naples Yellow ReddishBlockx 212412PW4PY35PY42PO20Series 3HueLF I Raw SiennaCobra 234PY42PBk11LF I Raw UmberCobra 408PY42PBk11LF I Titanium BuffCobra 291PW7PY42PBk9LF I Alizarin Crimson GoldDa VinciPV19PY42Hue–Raw Sienna WarmDa VinciPBr7PY42–Sap GreenDa VinciPG7PY42–Payne's GreyGamblinPB29PBk9PY42LF I Transparent Earth OrangeGamblinPY42PR101LF I Buff TitaniumGeorgian D111014024PW6PY42PBk11–Peach PinkGeorgian D111014577PR101PY42PW6–Permanent Green LightGeorgian D111014347PY3PG7PY42–Raw SiennaGeorgian D111014667PY42PR101PBk9–Terre Verte HueGeorgian D111014379PG7PY42PBr7Hue–Gold OchreGrumbacher P080PBr43PY42PR101PY43Series 1LF I Green Earth HueGrumbacher P085PY42PBr7PBk11PG18Series 1HueLF I Green GoldGrumbacher P086PY65PY3PY42PG36Series 2LF II Pale PinkGrumbacher P071PW4PY42PR101Series 2LF I Yellow OchreGrumbacher P244PY42PY43Series 1LF I Ivory WhiteHolbein H261PY42PY53PW6Series AVerifyLF I Jaune Brillant No.4Holbein H236PO20PY42PW6Series AVerifyLF I Naples YellowHolbein H230PY42PY37PW6Series AHueLF I Neutral GreyHolbein H369PY42PBk9PW6Series AVerifyLF II Yellow GreyHolbein H371PR101PY42PW6Series AVerifyLF I Yellow OchreHolbein H240PY42PY43Series AVerifyLF I Bohemian Green EarthLukas 1862 0157PY42PG7PBk11Series 1HueLF I Burnt UmberLukas 1862 0111PY42PR101PBk7Series 1LF I Naples YellowLukas 1862 0034PW5PY3PY42PR101Series 1HueLF I Naples Yellow ReddishLukas 1862 0036PW5PY3PY42PO34Series 1HueLF II Sap GreenLukas 1862 0165PY42PY83PG7Series 1LF II Warm GreyLukas 1862 0190PW5PY42PBk7Series 1LF I Transparent Orange Iron OxideM. Graham 186PY42PR101Series 3LF I Payne's GreyMichael Harding 127PBk9PB29PY42Series 1LF I Burnt Ochre LightSchmincke Mussini 10206PW4PY42PR101LF I Chrome Green LightSchmincke Mussini 10510PY42PY155PG17LF I Transparent Orange OxideSchmincke Mussini 10237PY42PR101LF I Yellow SiennaSchmincke Mussini 10644PY42PR101LF I Yellowish GreenSchmincke Mussini 10530PY42PG7PY74LF II Hooker's Green Lake Deep ExtraOld Holland C301PY42PG7PBk7Series CLF I Hooker's Green Lake Light ExtraOld Holland C304PY42PR101PG7Series CLF I Italian Brown Pink LakeOld Holland B331PY42PR101Series BLF I Mars BrownOld Holland A346PY42PR101PBk11Series ALF I Mars Orange-RedOld Holland A337PY42PR101Series ALF I Red EarthOld Holland A343PY42PR112PR102Series ALF I Van Dyck Brown (Cassel) ExtraOld Holland A72PY42PR101PBk9Series ALF I Cinnabar Green DeepRembrandt 627PG7PY42PR101Series 2LF I Cinnabar Green LightRembrandt 626PG7PY154PY42Series 2LF I Cinnabar Green MediumRembrandt 625PG7PY154PY42Series 2LF I Green EarthRembrandt 629PY42PB15Series 1HueLF I Greenish UmberRembrandt 410PY42PBk11Series 1LF I Naples Yellow GreenRembrandt 282PW6PY42PG17Series 2HueLF I Raw SiennaRembrandt 234PY42PR101Series 1LF I Raw UmberRembrandt 408PY42PR101PBk11Series 1LF I SepiaRembrandt 416PY42PR101PBk11Series 1LF I Transparent Orange OxideRembrandt 273PY42PR101Series 3LF I Raw SiennaArt Creation 234PY42PR101LF I Raw UmberArt Creation 408PY42PR101PBk11LF I Mars BrownVasariPR101PY42PBk11–Mars OliveVasariPBk11PY42–Alizarin YellowWilliamsburg 6000514PY83PY42Series 4HueLF III Bohemian Green EarthWilliamsburg 6001021PY42PBk11PR101Series 2HueLF I Brown OchreWilliamsburg 6001561PY42PR101Series 1–Canton RoseWilliamsburg 6000744PW6PY42PR254PR101Series 4LF I Cyprus OrangeWilliamsburg 6001512PY43PY42PO73Series 3LF I Italian PinkWilliamsburg 6001474PY42PR101Series 4LF I Jaune BrilliantWilliamsburg 6000463PW6PY42PY74PO73Series 2LF I Mars OrangeWilliamsburg 6001382PR101PY42Series 2LF I Mars Yellow DeepWilliamsburg 6001362PY42PR101Series 2LF I Naples YellowWilliamsburg 6000442PW6PY42PV15PY65PY175Series 2HueLF I Naples Yellow ReddishWilliamsburg 6000422PW6PY42PO73PY74Series 2HueLF I Olive GreenWilliamsburg 6000322PY129PG36PY42Series 6LF I Sap GreenWilliamsburg 6001303PY42PY129PG7Series 5LF I Titan BuffWilliamsburg 6000160PW6PY42PR101Series 1LF I Chrome Green HueW&N Winton 145PY74PY3PG7PY42Series 1HueLF I Flesh TintW&N Winton 257PY42PW6PW4PV19Series 1LF I Naples Yellow HueW&N Winton 422PR101PW6PY42Series 1HueLF I Raw SiennaW&N Winton 552PY42PY43Series 1LF I Chrome Green Deep HueW&N Artists' 147PB15PG7PY42Series 1HueLF I Davy's GrayW&N Artists' 217PY42PBk7PBk19Series 2LF I Flesh TintW&N Artists' 257PW4PV19PY42Series 2LF I Jaune BrillantW&N Artists' 333PY138PY42PR188PW6Series 1LF I Raw SiennaW&N Artists' 552PY43PY42Series 1LF I Transparent Gold OchreW&N Artists' 646PBr7PY42Series 2LF I Naples Yellow HueW&N Artisan 422PY42PR101PW4Series 1HueLF I Davy's GrayW&N Griffin 217PBk19PY42PBk7Series 1LF I Flesh TintW&N Griffin 257PV19PW6PY42Series 1LF I Naples Yellow HueW&N Griffin 422PR101PY42PW6Series 1HueLF I

Brands: Art Spectrum, Blockx, Cobra, Da Vinci, Gamblin, Georgian, Grumbacher, Holbein, Langridge, Lukas 1862, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Maimeri Puro, Schmincke Mussini, Old Holland, Rembrandt, Art Creation, Vasari, Van Gogh, Williamsburg, W&N Winton, W&N Artists', W&N Artisan, W&N Griffin.