Zinc white
A cool, low-toxicity white pigment made from zinc oxide
Zinc white is a pigment made from zinc oxide, known for its cool, clear white colour and low toxicity compared to lead white. First developed in the late eighteenth century, it became popular in watercolours and later oil painting, especially after improvements in production and drying time.
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- Made from zinc oxide and introduced in the 1780s
- Much less toxic than lead white pigment
- Has a cool, clear white tone
- First popular in watercolour as 'Chinese white'
- Can cause brittle, cracked paint surfaces in oil
What colour is Zinc white?
Zinc white is a white pigment made from zinc oxide. It stands out for its cool, almost bluish white tone, which is clearer and less yellow than lead white. The pigment is valued for being much less toxic than lead-based whites. Its surface can be brittle in oil paint, which sometimes leads to cracking, but it is stable and resistant to yellowing.
Where does Zinc white come from?
The pigment was first developed in the 1780s, with early work in Dijon, France. Some sources credit Jean-Baptiste Courtois, while others name Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau, who brought it to wider attention in 1782. Zinc oxide itself was known as a byproduct of brass making since ancient times, but its use as a pigment began only in the eighteenth century, mainly due to concerns about the dangers of lead white.
How is Zinc white made?
Zinc white is made by producing zinc oxide, a white powder, from zinc metal. The process was improved over the nineteenth century, making the pigment more affordable and practical for artists. The pigment is mixed with oil or water to make paint. In oil paint, more oil is needed to achieve a workable texture compared to lead white.
Where Zinc white is used
Zinc white was first widely used by watercolour painters, as it dries well in water-based media. It was marketed as 'Chinese white' by Winsor & Newton in the 1830s. Later, improvements made it more suitable for oil painting. Pre-Raphaelite artists often used it in their ground layers, and it appears in some works by John Singer Sargent and Edvard Munch. Impressionist painters rarely used it directly.
White around the world
What the white family means from country to country.
The Taliban flag is white with the Muslim declaration of faith in black. It replaced the black, red and green tricolour of the republic in 2021.
Politics and protestSacred and holySource: Flag of AfghanistanThe Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo wore white headscarves as they marched to demand news of children who disappeared under the dictatorship of 1976 to 1983.
Politics and protestMourning and deathCourageSource: Mothers of Plaza de MayoThe wiphala, a square flag of 49 small squares in seven colours with a white diagonal, stands for the Andean peoples. It has been a second national flag since 2009.
Politics and protestPrideSource: WiphalaOn New Year's Eve crowds on the beaches dress in white for peace in the year ahead. The custom comes from the Afro-Brazilian religions, whose followers wear white.
Luck and prosperityFestival and celebrationSacred and holyHopeSource: New Year's EveAn ordinary citizen's kabney is white with fringes. It must be worn to enter a dzong, the fortress that houses both monks and government offices.
Purity and peaceSource: KabneyA red cross on white, the Swiss flag reversed, marks medical staff and aid workers in war and must not be attacked under the Geneva Conventions.
Protection and healingTrustSource: Emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent MovementShades and relatives of Zinc white
Zinc white is sometimes confused with other white pigments like lead white and titanium white. It is cooler and clearer than lead white, which can appear yellowish. The name 'Chinese white' refers to its use in watercolour and may have been inspired by the association of Chinese porcelain with pure white.
Colours that go with Zinc white
Harmonies are worked out from the value #FDF8FF. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Zinc white
What colour is zinc white?
Zinc white is a cool, clear white pigment, less yellow than lead white and often described as having a bluish or neutral tone.
Where does the name zinc white come from?
The name comes from its main ingredient, zinc oxide, which is a white powder made from zinc metal.
Why do artists use zinc white instead of lead white?
Artists use zinc white because it is much less toxic than lead white and resists yellowing, though it can make paint more brittle.
What is 'Chinese white'?
'Chinese white' is a name used for zinc white in watercolour paints, possibly inspired by the association of Chinese porcelain with pure white.
When was zinc white first used as a pigment?
Zinc white was first developed and discussed as a pigment in the 1780s, with commercial use beginning in the 1790s.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Zinc white", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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