← Colour Lab
Titanium White
#FFFFFF · click to copy
Neutral
HEX
#FFFFFF
RGB
255, 255, 255
CMYK
0%, 0%, 0%, 0%
Pigment
PW6
Lightfastness
Excellent (I) — chemically inert and permanent
Moods & Keywords
white
pure
bright
clean
modern
light
neutral
modern
opaque
neutral
white
modern
opaque
neutral
white
Pigment & Material
PW6
Synthetic
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂). Extraordinarily opaque — it has the highest refractive index of any white pigment. Non-toxic and permanent.
Origin & History
Titanium dioxide was first used as a pigment in 1916 and commercially introduced to artists in 1921. It rapidly displaced lead white and zinc white as the dominant white because of its superior opacity, non-toxicity, and lower cost. Today it is the most produced pigment in the world — used in paints, plastics, paper, cosmetics, sunscreen, and food.
Also Known As
Titanium Dioxide White
Titane
Blanc de Titane
Psychology
Pure, complete, and absolute. White is simultaneously the presence of all light and the absence of colour — depending on the context. In Western tradition, associated with purity, innocence, and new beginnings. In many East Asian traditions, white is the colour of mourning and death — a reminder that colour psychology is not universal. Titanium white, specifically, represents the modern democratic white — available to everyone, permanent, safe.
In Culture
Titanium dioxide is one of the most ubiquitous industrial materials in modern life — it whitens paper, brightens paints, colours plastics, and blocks UV in sunscreen. Recent concerns about nano-particle titanium dioxide in food products (E171) have led to its ban in some countries as a food additive. Robert Ryman dedicated his entire painting career to exploring white — over 50 years of white paintings investigating how context, texture, and support transform a single colour.
Natural Sources
No natural source as a pigment — titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is derived from the minerals ilmenite (FeTiO₃) and rutile (TiO₂) through industrial processing. First introduced as an artist pigment in 1921.
Making It Yourself
Titanium white is manufactured industrially — not available for home production.
As the dominant white: it is the most opaque, most lightfast, and safest white available.
Note: it has a very slight blue cast when wet, which disappears on drying.
Do not use zinc white for tinting skin tones in oil — use titanium or mix the two.
Note: titanium white can cause long-term paint film brittleness if used in thick impasto in oil — consider mixing with zinc white for large white areas.
As the dominant white: it is the most opaque, most lightfast, and safest white available.
Note: it has a very slight blue cast when wet, which disappears on drying.
Do not use zinc white for tinting skin tones in oil — use titanium or mix the two.
Note: titanium white can cause long-term paint film brittleness if used in thick impasto in oil — consider mixing with zinc white for large white areas.
Art Movements
Modern Art (post-1921)
Contemporary Painting
All modern traditions
Famous Works
Every significant painting made after 1921 likely contains titanium white
Jasper Johns
White Flag, 1955
Robert Ryman
white paintings series
Available As
Winsor & Newton — Titanium White (PW6)
Daniel Smith — Titanium White (PW6)
Golden — Titanium White (PW6)
Every major paint manufacturer produces titanium white as their primary white
✦
Colour data compiled with AI. Spot an error or have more to add? Leave a Note — ekphra reviews and updates.
HEX copied!