Arylide Yellow 5GX
PY74
Alternate Names
Hansa Brilliant Yellow
Arylide Yellow GY
Pigment Description
This is a very popular sunny hansa yellow with high chroma, but may have lightfastness issues (see note on the entry for Pigment PY74LF). Lightfastness ranges from decent to moderate in tints, and depending on the supplier, lightfastness may be insufficient. The transparent types tend to be a greener yellow and are not as weatherfast as the opaque versions of this pigment.
This is a pigment wherein their are stabilized types and transparent un-stabilized types, which also seem to vary in opacity as well as hue. This article briefly describes both types.
PY74 is a slower drier, so if the oil paint dries quickly it may have driers added. Artiscreation also mentions that the pigment has different forms, and that lightfastness may be better in the opaque versions.
Like several other hansas, this color may metabolize to a potential carcinogen and could cause methemoglobinemia, see Monona Rossol's writing for more.
Resources
PY74 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com
Spurgeon, Tad. Living Craft: A Painter's Process. Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, PA: Zoetrope, 2018. Newer version available here: https://www.thomaskitts.com/page/36804/tad-spurgeons-living-craft
Information about PY74 from Bruce MacEvoy, Handprint Guide to Watercolors, General information about this class of pigments from Handprint,
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
Varies considerably
The 1980s versions of this pigment which were tested and reported in the NPIRI show appreciable change in tints in both indoor and outdoor testing. We’ve read that perhaps some versions of the pigment could be more lightfast than others (hence the addition of LF after the pigment code— refer to PY74LF). However it is probably safe to say this pigment may vary from acceptably lightfast to poor lightfastness. It’s probably advisable to do your own lightfastness testing.
Transparency
Varies, Semi-Opaque
May range from Opaque to Transparent depending on how the paint is formulated. Higher end brands tend toward transparency.
Toxicity
Previously thought to be in the category of Low Concern, new research suggests this may metabolize to be a potential carcinogen and also cause a serious health condition.
According to Monona Rossol's research available upon request here PY74LF (also refer to that entry) may metabolize to a carcinogen and also cause methemoglobinemia.
Dry Time
Medium
At least one paintmaker listed 2-4 Days, may contain driers
Oil Content
Medium to Medium High
Medium by volume, but when made into a paint sometimes it is medium-high.
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