Architectural paint pigments must deliver clean color, strong opacity at low loadings, freeze-thaw stability through paint shelf life, and 5+ years of exterior color retention. They must work in waterborne acrylic emulsions (the dominant chemistry for residential paint) and solvent-borne alkyd systems (for premium finishes and trim).
Recommended architectural paint pigments from our range, by color: yellows PY74 (everyday), PY83 (high heat resistance), PY154 and PY151 (premium benzimidazolone for outdoor), PY174 (greenish yellow); reds PR112 (everyday warm red), PR170 (premium red), PR48:2 and PR57:1 (lake reds); oranges PO5, PO13, PO34 (azo oranges) and PO36, PO64 (benzimidazolone for outdoor). For blue, green, violet and black shades, formulators typically pair our yellow, red and orange grades with those colorants from a complementary supplier.
Surface treatment matters: untreated pigments work in solvent-borne alkyd paints but flocculate or settle in waterborne emulsions. Surface-treated grades (with hydrophilic surface chemistry) disperse cleanly in both, simplifying inventory for paint shops handling both chemistries.
For exterior masonry paints exposed to alkaline cement substrates, choose alkali-resistant grades: PY83, PY154, PR48:2, PR48:4, PO36. Standard architectural pigments may shift shade or fade rapidly when applied directly over fresh cement.
