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Cadmium Lithopone Yellow

PY35:1

Alternate Name

Sometimes called Cadmium Barium Yellow

Pigment Description

Cadmium Lithopone Yellow. A slightly cheaper form of cadmium yellow pigment with diminished tinting strength. There are two forms of the pigment, and the higher quality Cadmium Yellow is PY35, while that which has 15% or more barium sulfate is supposed to be labeled PY35:1. We were interested to learn that sometimes more means quite a bit more than 15%.

Unfortunately, sometimes paintmakers will sell PY35:1 under the pigment code PY35.

Though the chroma is sometimes oddly diminished in PY35:1 and it doesn't have the same tinting strength, much of the general information on PY35 applies to this color. For example, both are affected by moisture when tested in direct sunlight but otherwise have high lightfastness.

Copied from the entry for PY35 on health: Debate has raged around the cadmiums, and they are listed as pigments with toxicity, so be extremely cautious with them. Lately we have seen a lot of resources suggesting the modern cadmium pigments are engineered to be far less toxic source, another source and another source, compared with regular cadmium. However, we always err on the side of caution with pigments (there is no downside to being super careful) and so we always handle these with respect. Also beware with older cadmiums for many reasons as they may also contain toxic adulterants like lead. We have read not to breathe them (this means not using them for airbrush). However, we are not experts in health and safety so please consult the relevant authorities on their proper handling and disposal. According to the work of Monona Rossol, cadmium is a carcinogen and causes kidney damage. The Artist's Guide to Health and Safety has more information about the hazards of pigments containing Cadmium as well as Barium, as well as information on Sulfides. They should not be sprayed and the dust should be stringently avoided (remember in regard to avoiding sanding). It should go without saying, but absolutely do not ingest any pigment.

These are fairly lean oil paints as far as the oil required.

Cadmium Yellow actually has two pigment codes, PY35 and PY37. PY35 tends to be for cooler yellows though has quite a range, while PY37 makes warmer yellows. PY35:1 and PY37:1 are cheaper ways of making cadmium yellow which have less strength.

Resources

PY35:1 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com,

Elliott, Virgil. Traditional Oil Painting. Echo Point Books & Media, LLC, 2019. https://amzn.to/4nwIdzq,

Information about PY35 from Bruce MacEvoy, Handprint Guide to Watercolors, General information about this class of pigments from Handprint,

International Cadmium Association (n.d. Accessed June 2025). Cadmium Pigments https://cadmium.ionainteractive.com/applications/pigments/. International Cadmium Association,

Rossol, Monona. The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide. New York, NY : Allworth Press, 2001. The book is rather dated, updated information is available from her website.

Stats

Lightfastness

Excellent

Thought to be excellent with solid highest marks (BWS 8's) though it is sensitive to moisture. It is not identical to PY35, but some of Goldens lightfastness tests in mixing white may be of interest for comparison.

Transparency

Opaque

Toxicity

Handle as Toxic. Hazard, use more caution. Seriously avoid the dust/spraying.

Out of caution, treat as though hazardous. Some cadmiums in the past contained toxic contaminants as an adulterant. Though thought to have less bioavailability as a pigment, cadmium is a carcinogen which also causes kidney damage, and it poses serious hazards when breathed. In the Artist's Guide to Health and Safety Monona Rossol writes about the hazards of pigments containing Cadmium (as well as Barium and Sulfides in the case of PY35:1). See also her most recent work available by request here. We are not health and safety experts, nor are we toxicologists, so please consult the MSDS and the relevant experts. For alternative perspectives on the seriousness, consult further third party discussion of cadmiums, however we err on the side of caution in terms of handling. As with all pigments, do your own research and handle all paints with proper studio safety protocols.

Dry Time

Very Slow

Oil Content

Medium

Mayer assigns this to the medium category with a score of 76 (same as PY35), while other sources list it as fairly lean

Chemical Name

concentrated cadmium zinc sulfide (CC) or cadmium zinc sulfide precipitated with less than 15% barium sulfate

Dry Pigments listing PY35:1

DISCLAIMER: Please note that we are not experts in health and safety and we are not toxicologists, please consult the proper experts. We are not liable for any issues that may arise from the use of our website or its contents. The information contained in this site is provided without warranty or guarantee of any kind. We do not necessarily endorse any other website that are linked from our site. For any important pigment specs, please reference the manufacturer details. If you discover errors or omissions, please reach out through our contact form. Thank you.

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