Color separation in paints

Color separation happens when a watercolor paint contains multiple pigments or a granulating pigment, and these components behave differently on paper. The more water you use, the more pigments can float, separate, or granulate.

Some paints are made from more than one pigment (e.g., PB29 + PV19 = “Moonglow”). Each pigment moves and settles differently.

Staining pigments soak into the paper fast, while non-staining ones stay on the surface and can float or spread differently.

All color separating watercolor swatches