Phthalo Green
Joules & Joules Phthalo Green Matte Acrylic Paint is a dark, cool green with bluish undertones, distinguished by its exceptional intensity and depth. It offers high tinting strength, excellent lightfastness, and a luminous matte finish even when dry. Semi-opaque in behavior, it provides moderate coverage, allowing for rich layering and subtle gradations without sacrificing chromatic vitality. With fast drying time and remarkable stability, it is suitable for both glazing techniques and dense applications, as well as controlled color mixing. Phthalo Green stands out for its chromatic purity and its ability to generate extraordinarily luminous secondary greens when combined with cool yellows.
The Phthalocyanine Green pigment (PG7) was discovered in 1927 and was quickly adopted by the paint and plastics industries due to its outstanding resistance to light and heat. From the 1930s onward, it became widely available, replacing many traditional greens such as Chrome Green and Emerald Green, which were either highly toxic or chemically unstable. Derived from polychlorinated copper compounds, phthalocyanine pigments represented a major breakthrough in pigment chemistry, offering greater stability, intensity, and accessibility. Since then, Phthalo Green has become one of the most widely used greens in artists’ paint formulations, valued for its versatility and spectral depth.
In terms of performance, Joules & Joules Phthalo Green is rated I (Excellent) for lightfastness, ensuring long-term durability and chromatic integrity over decades. The pigment remains stable when exposed to alkalis, acids, and environmental variations, although it may develop a slight iridescent sheen over very long periods of oxidation. Its highly concentrated nature allows for economical use and precise mixing, making it ideal for artists seeking intensity and control in the construction of planes, atmospheres, and color relationships. It is an essential, modern, and professional green that unites science, stability, and beauty.
Pigment Classification
Synthetic Organic Pigment
Chemical Composition
Polychlorinated Copper Phthalocyanine – C₃₂H₁₆CuN₈Cl₁₅
Color Index
PG 7
Binder
Acrylic Resin
Transparency/Opacity
Semi-Opaque
Lightfastness
I (Excellent)
Tinting Strength
High
Drying Time
Fast
Notes
May develop a slight iridescent sheen or darken over time. These effects may take decades or even centuries to become perceptible.
Toxicity
Not considered toxic; however, ingestion, contact with eyes, and prolonged skin contact should be avoided.
MSDS (Safety Data Sheet)
Available on the website here.
Series
2
Availability
37 ml and 100 ml tubes, and 250 ml jars.
