White and Black Paint Explained: Titanium, Zinc, Lamp and Mars

Posted by

Haanz Team

2026-10-18

On 2026-10-18

Haanz Art GuideFree, practical advice from the team at Haanz Art & Craft Materials

White is the paint you will use most, and black is the one many teachers tell you to use least. But not all whites and blacks are the same. This guide explains white and black paint: the differences between titanium and zinc white, and between lamp, ivory and Mars black, so you can choose the right one for mixing, glazing and shadows in acrylic and oil.

Titanium white

Bright, clean and very opaque, so it covers well.
Strong in mixtures: a little goes a long way when lightening colours.
The everyday white for most painters, for highlights, tints and covering mistakes.

Zinc white

Cooler and more transparent than titanium white.
Lightens colours more gently, so mixes stay cleaner and less chalky.
Useful for glazes, subtle tints and soft highlights.

Some paints, such as zinc titanium white, combine both: the coverage of titanium with some of the clean mixing of zinc.

Types of black

Lamp black: a carbon black. When mixed with white it gives cool, slightly bluish greys.
Ivory black: a slightly warmer, softer black, traditionally used for portraits and gentle greys.
Mars black: an iron oxide black, dense and opaque with a warm undertone.

White and black paint we stock

Acrylic: Mont Marte Titanium White 75ml, Mont Marte Lamp Black 75ml and Fevicryl Acrylic 200ml Mars Black.
Oil: Marie’s Oil Colour 50ml in Zinc White and Zinc Titanium White, the large Zinc Titanium White 170ml, Marie’s Ivory Black 170ml and Camel Artist Oil Colour Ivory Black 40ml.

Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price. Browse all acrylic colours and oil colours.

Using white well

Add colour to white, not white to colour; you need far less paint that way.
Too much white makes colours chalky. For lighter, brighter colours, try a lighter version of the same colour, such as lemon yellow instead of yellow plus white.
Buy white in a bigger size; it runs out first. See our starter acrylic palette guide.

Using black well

Black can deaden colours. For shadows, try darker colours instead, such as a red’s shadow with a touch of its complementary green.
Mix a rich dark from ultramarine blue and burnt umber; see our earth colours guide.
Black is excellent for strong graphic work, silhouettes and lettering.
Black and yellow make an olive green, which is useful in landscapes.

Many painters keep black off their palette for a while as an exercise. Mixing darks from colours teaches a lot about colour, and when black returns, it is used with more purpose.

Mixing greys

Black plus white gives a flat, neutral grey, which is useful for graphic work and some modern styles. For more natural greys, mix complementary colours and add white: ultramarine blue with burnt sienna gives warm or cool greys depending on the balance, and a touch of yellow ochre warms them further. Painting a grey scale from white to black, in five or seven even steps, is a great exercise for learning tone, just as in pencil drawing.

See our pencil shading guide for the same tonal scale exercise in graphite.

Frequently asked questions

Which white should a beginner buy?

Titanium white. It is opaque and versatile. Add zinc white later if you want softer tints.

Is it wrong to use black paint?

No. It is a useful colour; just use it thoughtfully, as it can make mixes look dull.

Why does my white look grey after drying?

Usually it was mixed with a little dirty paint on the brush, or applied too thinly over a dark layer. Use a clean brush and a second coat.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you choose the right whites and blacks.

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