Question 1

HOW ARE DELLA MAGNA WATERCOLORS COMPOSED?

Accepted Answer

Della Magna watercolors are single-pigment watercolors. We only use authentic and pure pigments of the best quality, selected in the world by certified artisans and producers.
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We mix these selections of pigments with our artisanal binder composed of natural ingredients of the highest quality.
 
We use the maximum amount of pigment possible for each color. Each recipe is the result of research and experience, it is unique and confidential.

Question 2

HOW ARE THEY PROCESSED?

Accepted Answer

The entire processing of each colour, whether it is a block or a tube, is done entirely by hand.
From the kneading performed with a mill on a glass plate, the pouring, the drying of the loaf in three or four phases, up to the packaging.

Question 3

WHAT DO THE LETTERS AND NUMBER CODES IN THE DESCRIPTION OF EACH COLOR MEAN?

Accepted Answer

They are the identification codes of each pigment. The first letter identifies the nature of the colour:
N/A = not classified. Genuinel minerals are usually included here
P = Pigment
N = Natural, it means natural dyes or natural lacquers
 
The second identifies the nuance:
Y = Yellow  O = Orange  R = Red  B = Blue  G = green  BR = Brown BK = Black  W = white
 
The number indicates the specific pigment type of that color.
 
Let's take for example the pigment identified as PB 29
PB = pigment blue
29 = historic pigment called ultramarine blue, chemically sodium, solfur, aluminosilicate that could be natural version made of genuine Lapislazuli powder or synthetic version, the modern ultramarine blue.
Not all colors identified with PB29 are necessarily identical in hue. The pigment code identifies a specific chemical composition, but the same color can change characteristics from manufacturer to manufacturer depending on the pigment's method of processing or the natural differences of a type of mineral

Question 4

WHAT DOES LIIGHFASTNESS MEAN?

Accepted Answer

Lightfastness is the ability of each pigment to resist to light exposure: this in fact over time affects the molecular structure of the pigment which therefore finds itself refracting and reflecting a different light specrtum frequencies than the peculiar ones. This causes our eye to perceive a change in color, usually brownish, or grayed or weakened and faded in intensity.

Inorganic pigments such as earths, minerals, cadmiums, cobalts, various iron and other mineral oxides and similars usually have a great resistance to light.

Most modern synthetic organic colors such as pyrroles, phthalocyanins, quinacridons, benzimidazolones, perylenes, isoindolones, dioxazines, anthraquinones and similars generally have good or very good light resistance.

Most vegetal and animal pigments are rather weak to the action of light and it is advisable to protect these colors from light exposure. Exceptions are indigo and guarantee lacquer which have good resistance despite their organic nature.
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