The oil color Citron Yellow based on the pigment PY1 is a synthetic, organic artist's color introduced in the early 20th century. The color is known for its incredibly intense, luminous character and serves as a historically important, non-toxic alternative to the classic (but highly toxic) barium chromate citron yellow.
- Clear, cool yellow : PY1 delivers a very clean and brilliant lemon yellow hue with a distinct greenish undertone. It completely lacks the reddish or orange warmth found in golden ochre or cadmium yellow.
- High Brightness : The color appears extremely clear and "bright" on the canvas, making it ideal for capturing the effect of direct sunlight or electric light.
- Semi-transparent to transparent : The color has a natural transparency. It is therefore excellent for glazing, where it can be applied in thin layers to give underlying colors an intense, luminous glow.
- High tinting strength : The pigment has a strong tinting strength. Although transparent, only a small amount is needed to change the character of a color mixture.
- Vibrant Green Shades : When you mix PY1 with blue pigments (such as phthalo blue or ultramarine), you get extremely pure, fresh, and almost electric green shades that are perfect for spring landscapes and bright foliage.
- Fast drying time : Like most organic Hansa pigments in oil remedies, the color has an average to relatively fast drying time compared to heavy mineral colors such as cadmium.
