Daniel Smith PrimaTek and Luminescent Watercolours

Daniel Smith introduced the PrimaTek line of mineral-based paints in 1998, beginning with Lapis Lazuli. They collaborate with a mineralogist to carefully source minerals, which are then processed into pigment and ground into watercolour. PrimaTeks are renowned for their remarkable granulation, imparting a sense of movement and depth that many artists find captivating. Engineered to exceed industry standards, each batch undergoes comprehensive testing for attributes such as lightfastness, colour richness, tinting strength, clarity, vibrancy, undertones, particle size, density, and viscosity. These paints produce vibrant, consistent colours that can be readily mixed to enable a wide range of creative expressions.

Primatek Watercolour is composed of mineral-based pigments, frequently semi-precious, that are finely ground into powders. These are mixed with gum arabic, serving as the binder, and subsequently processed into PrimaTek Watercolours.

Luminescent Watercolours are distinguished by their unique optical effects inspired by nature, which are unattainable by standard colours. These shades possess an iridescent sheen, shimmer, sparkle, or colour shift, reminiscent of phenomena observed in birds’ feathers, insects, fish, flowers, metals, and water. The luminous quality of these watercolours provides artists with an expanded palette of options. Manufactured to exceed the highest industry standards, each batch undergoes rigorous testing for attributes including lightfastness, colour intensity, tinting power, clarity, vibrancy, undertone, particle size, density, and viscosity. Artists are thus enabled to create artworks with vivid, dependable colours that blend easily to produce an array of additional hues.

Differences between Luminescent and Iridescent watercolour: Iridescent paints reflect and refract light, changing how they look from different angles, while pearlescent paints mainly reflect white light. Although luminescent artist paints may seem to glow, reflecting light and sparkle.

Pearlescent and Duochrome interference colours exhibit distinct interactions with light: the former refracts and scatters light to produce an opalescent sheen, while the latter shifts between two colours depending on the angle of illumination and the viewer's perspective.