Elena Rossi
Opaque and transparent paints differ in how they interact with light. Transparent paints allow light to pass through them, while opaque paints reflect light, preventing it from reaching the paper. This gives transparent paints a more luminous, three-dimensional finish, while opaque paints have a flatter, more matte appearance. The difference between the two is comparable to that of a brick wall and a glass window. While the sun hits both the brick wall and the glass window with the same amount of light, the bricks absorb some of the light and reflect the rest, with no light passing through, whereas the glass window lets the light pass through with little hindrance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Opaque paints reflect light and block it from reaching the paper. Transparent paints allow light to pass through to the underlying paper. |
| Appearance | Opaque paints have a flatter, more matt appearance. Transparent paints have a more luminous, three-dimensional finish. |
| Mixture | Opaque paints mixed with transparent paints will always result in a translucent paint. |
| Underlayers | Opaque paints cover underlayers, while transparent paints allow them to be seen. |
| Risk of turning muddy | Opaque paints have a greater risk of turning muddy. |
| Media | Gouache, chalks and pastels are always opaque. Watercolours, oils and acrylics are transparent. |
| Determining opacity | Paint companies often indicate opacity on the tube or display charts. A common visual code is the use of circles: filled-in for opaque, open for transparent, and half-filled for semi-opaque/semi-transparent. |
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What You'll Learn
Opaque paints reflect light, blocking it from reaching the paper
Opaque and transparent paints differ in how they interact with light. Opaque paints reflect light, blocking it from reaching the paper and creating a flat, matt appearance. This means that the underlayers and paper remain hidden and lost to the eye.
Opaque paints are denser, and the light cannot pass through the top layer. This results in a more solid, opaque appearance. The effect of using opaque paints is a loss of depth, as the layers below are hidden and the light is reflected off the top layer.
The opacity of paints is determined by the behaviour of the pigments on the painting surface, rather than the pigments themselves. Opaque paints tend to cover most of the painted area, with little to none of the previous surface showing through. This is because the opaque pigments will usually override transparent ones, and the mixture will be opaque.
The level of opacity in a paint can be altered by adding opaque colours such as Titanium White or by applying additional coats of paint. This can be useful if an artist wants to create a sense of weight or texture, as the opaque paint will give a flatter, more solid appearance.
The interplay of light and colour is an important consideration for artists when choosing between opaque and transparent paints. Transparent paints allow light to pass through, creating a luminous, three-dimensional finish. Opaque paints, on the other hand, reflect light and block it from reaching the paper, resulting in a flatter, more opaque surface.
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Transparent paints allow light to pass through to the underlying paper
Transparent and opaque paints differ in how they interact with light. Transparent paints allow light to pass through to the underlying paper, creating a glowing, three-dimensional finish with depth. This occurs because the particles of pigment settle on the paper in a way that allows light to pass between them, hitting the white painting surface and reflecting back through the layers of colour. The viewer can see all the colours, and the paint appears luminous.
Opaque paints, on the other hand, reflect light, blocking it from reaching the paper. This results in a flatter, more matte appearance. With opaque paints, light cannot pass through the top layer, so the underlayers and paper remain hidden. As opaque colours are denser, they carry a greater risk of turning mixes muddy.
The terms 'transparent' and 'opaque' describe the behaviour of the pigments on the painting surface rather than the pigments themselves. The particles of pigment in transparent paint are not individually transparent, but the way they settle on the paper allows light to pass through.
The level of transparency or opacity in a paint can be altered. Transparent colours can be made more opaque by adding an opaque pigment such as titanium white or by applying additional coats of paint. Conversely, opaque colours can be made translucent by adding a clear medium such as a matte medium or varnish.
It is important to note that paints are rarely perfectly opaque or transparent, and most fall somewhere in between. The term 'semi-transparent' describes paints that show a balance of opacity and transparency. Paint makers often indicate the opacity of their paints on the container using symbols or swatches, helping artists understand the paint's characteristics before use.
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Translucent paints are between opaque and transparent
Opaque, transparent, and translucent are terms used to describe the opacity of paint, or the amount of light reflected from the pigment. Transparent paints allow light to pass through to the underlying paper, resulting in a glowing, three-dimensional finish. Opaque paints, on the other hand, reflect light and block it from reaching the paper, creating a flatter, more matte appearance.
Translucent paints fall between opaque and transparent paints in terms of opacity. They allow some light to pass through, but not as much as transparent paints. When using translucent paints, it is recommended to layer them from lightest to darkest as they are partially see-through and will layer well in this way.
The level of opacity in a paint depends on the pigments used. Some pigments are naturally more opaque or transparent. Transparent colours can be made more opaque by adding an opaque pigment such as Titanium White or by applying additional coats of paint. Conversely, opaque colours can be made translucent by adding a clear medium such as a matte medium or varnish.
When mixing colours, it is important to consider the relative opacity of the pigments. For example, if you want to mix an even green colour between a translucent blue and an opaque yellow, you will need more of the translucent blue than the opaque yellow. Additionally, mixing a translucent or transparent paint with an opaque paint will always result in a translucent paint.
Paint manufacturers often indicate the opacity of their paints on the packaging or through hand-painted swatches. This can be done through visual codes, such as using filled-in circles for opaque, open circles for transparent, and half-filled circles for semi-opaque or semi-transparent paints.
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Opaque colours can be made by adding Titanium White
When mixed with transparent watercolours, Titanium White can be used to add highlights or opaque accents, or to lighten the paint without altering its transparency or texture. It is a key ingredient in gouache, a type of opaque watercolour, and is often used in pastel paintings to create bright highlights on reflective surfaces. Artists should be careful not to contaminate their brushes or other colours with Titanium White, as it can be difficult to rinse out and may turn other colours milky.
In oil painting, Titanium White is useful for creating soft gradients and transitions, especially when blending shades. It can also be used to add opaque coverage, allowing artists to layer colours without worrying about the underlying hues bleeding through. However, Titanium White can be chalky when used in portraits, and artists may want to mix it with a painting gel or another type of white paint to reduce its opacity.
When mixing colours, it is important to consider the relative opacity of the pigments. Transparent colours can be made more opaque by adding Titanium White or other opaque colours, while opaque colours can be made translucent by adding a clear medium. The final opacity of a mixed paint will depend on the proportions of opaque and transparent pigments used.
In conclusion, Titanium White is a valuable tool for artists, providing a way to create opaque colours and effects in a variety of media. By understanding its properties and how it interacts with other pigments, artists can use Titanium White to enhance their paintings and create a range of visual effects.
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Transparent paints have a glowing, three-dimensional finish
Transparent and opaque are terms that describe the opacity of a paint, or the amount of light that can be reflected or pass through the pigment. Transparent paints allow light to pass through to the underlying paper, while opaque paints reflect light, blocking it from reaching the paper. This means that transparent paints have a more glowing, three-dimensional finish due to the resulting layering, while opaque paints have a flatter, more matte appearance.
The difference between transparent and opaque paints can be observed in a simple watercolour exercise. Paint a long horizontal black stroke on a piece of paper and let it dry. Then, paint your watercolour colours in short vertical strokes on top of the black stroke. If the paint appears to sit on top of the black stroke, it is opaque. If the paint appears to sit under the black paint, then it is transparent.
The opacity of a paint depends on the pigment used. For example, some brands of Lemon Yellow and Sap Green are transparent, while others are opaque. Media such as gouache, chalks, and pastels will always be opaque because the medium itself is opaque. On the other hand, watercolours, oils, and acrylics are transparent, so the transparency or opacity of the paint will depend on the pigment used in each colour.
The terms semi-transparent or semi-opaque are used to describe paints that show a balance of opacity and transparency. Translucent paints fall between opaque and transparent paints in terms of opacity. Transparent colours can be made more opaque by adding an opaque colour, such as Titanium White, or by applying additional coats of paint. Conversely, opaque colours can be made translucent by adding a clear medium such as a matte medium or varnish.
The interplay between transparent and opaque paints can be used to create depth and texture in a painting. For example, in a watercolour illustration of Ginkgo leaves and ammonites, the artist used exclusively transparent pigments for the leaves to give them a light, luminous finish. To make the ammonites look heavier in comparison, they introduced a touch of opaque Titanium White and opaque Cerulean Blue in the striations and the fossilised texture. This contrast between transparent and opaque finishes effectively conveys the difference in weight and texture of these subjects.
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Frequently asked questions
Opaque paints are denser, and light cannot pass through the top layer, resulting in a flatter, more matte colour. Transparent paints allow light to pass through them, hitting the surface underneath and bouncing back through the paint, resulting in a luminous finish.
Paint manufacturers will often indicate the opacity of a paint on the packaging. This could be through the use of symbols, such as filled-in circles for opaque paints and open circles for transparent paints. Alternatively, a blank box on the tube might indicate transparency, while a filled-in box indicates opacity. If you are unsure, you can paint a horizontal black line and then paint the paint in question in vertical strokes on top—if the paint appears to sit on top of the black line, it is opaque, if it appears underneath, it is transparent.
Yes, transparent colours can be made more opaque by adding an opaque colour, such as Titanium White, or by applying additional coats of paint. Opaque colours can be made translucent by adding a clear medium such as a matte medium or varnish.
When mixing opaque and transparent paints, the opaque colour will always be more prominent. To get an even mix between an opaque and a transparent paint, you will need to use more of the transparent colour.
