Pentel Poster Colours: Single Bottles and Tube Sets

Pentel poster colour is a school art favourite. The paint is bold, bright and opaque, flows easily and dries quickly to a smooth matt finish. This Haanz Art Guide explains the single 30ml bottles and the tube sets we stock, which colours students run out of first, and how to get smooth, even poster work.

Single 30ml bottles

Pentel poster colours come in 30ml glass bottles, so you can top up just the colours you need. We stock:

• Reds and pinks: Red, Scarlet Lake and Opera (a bright pink).
• Yellows and oranges: Lemon Yellow, Yellow, Permanent Yellow Deep, Jaune Brilliant (a soft skin-tone yellow), Yellow Ochre and Orange.
• Greens: Yellow Green and Viridian.
• Blues and violets: Sky Blue, Cobalt Blue and Cobalt Violet.
• Browns and neutrals: Brown, White and Black.

See all in Poster Paints, Individual Colours.

Tube sets

• Pentel Poster Colour Tubes, 6 x 12ml: six colours in easy-squeeze tubes that keep paint fresh.
• Pentel Poster Colour Tubes, 12 x 12ml: a full set of twelve colours.

Tubes let you squeeze out exactly what you need, which reduces waste. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.

Which colours to top up first

Most students use these much faster than the rest:

1. White: used for lightening almost every colour and for highlights.
2. Black: for outlines and darkening.
3. Sky Blue or Cobalt Blue: for skies and water, which cover large areas.
4. Yellow Green and Viridian: for grass, trees and landscapes.
5. Jaune Brilliant: for skin tones in figure drawing.

Buying an extra bottle of these saves running out in the middle of a project.

How to get smooth, even poster colour

• Stir the bottle before use. Pigment can settle at the bottom.
• Aim for a creamy consistency, like thick yoghurt. Add water a drop at a time if it’s too thick.
• Paint large areas first with a big brush, then add details when dry.
• Use flat strokes in one direction for smooth backgrounds.
• Paint light colours first, then darker ones. Poster colour is opaque, so you can also paint light over dark, but it may need two coats.
• Let each area dry before painting next to it, so colours don’t bleed.

For brush choices, see Large Round and Pony Hair Brushes.

Useful mixes

• Skin tones: Jaune Brilliant with a little Red and White.
• Sunset sky: Orange blending into Opera and Cobalt Violet.
• Shadows on green: Viridian with a little Brown.
• Grey: White with a little Black and a touch of Cobalt Blue.

Planning a poster colour painting

1. Sketch lightly in pencil. Poster colour covers pencil well, but heavy lines can show through light colours.
2. Decide your colour scheme before you open the bottles. A limited palette of four or five colours often looks neater.
3. Mix enough of each colour for the whole area, so the shade doesn’t change halfway.
4. Work from back to front: sky and background first, then middle ground, then foreground details and outlines.

Keeping bottles fresh

• Close lids tightly after use.
• Wipe paint off the bottle neck so lids don’t stick.
• If paint thickens, stir in a few drops of water.
• Store bottles upright and away from heat.

For a comparison with tempera and gouache, read Poster Paint, Tempera and Gouache for School Art, and for exam lists see Art Supplies for O/L and A/L Art.

Frequently asked questions

Bottles or tubes?

Bottles are good for colours you use a lot. Tubes keep paint fresh longer and are easy to carry to class.

Why does my poster colour crack?

It was applied too thickly. Use thinner, even layers.

Can I use poster colour on canvas?

It is made for paper and card. For canvas, acrylic paint is more flexible and durable.

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 poster colours.

More Haanz Art Guides

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