Enamel Colors » Discussions

Optics and Raspberry - by Lillian Jones

• Trish White

  

  Leader
   

  July 23, 2012

  
  

  I just discovered something pretty obvious: that with transparent enamel over silver, you are dealing with the colors of light rather than pigment. This means that the primary colors are not Red, Yellow and Blue, but rather Magenta, Yellow and Cyan.

  I could never find a red that fired nicely over silver (except the Japanese 106B from Coral at Enamelwork Supply) but they don't make it anymore. But I was cruising the net looking for a colorwheel to help with some other color problems, when I saw a 'light' color wheel, and a good true red exists midway yellow and magenta.
  Thompson's old Raspberry fires screaming hot pink over silver (not my favorite color) I wondered if I fired it over yellow enamel or gold foil, would it turn red.

  And it worked! As a bonus, it is a red that holds firing after firing, no yellowing, no clouding or problems. Plus, you can vary the tint from yellowish to purplish, just by adjusting the layers. It is like having lots of different colors with two enamels. So now I want to see if this also works with Cyan.

  This would simplify my workspace, but where to get a good magenta that fires over silver when I run out of Raspberry...All the ones I've tried from the Ninomya line fire Orange. Nice orange, but still...so if anyone out there has a bottle of Raspberry they don't want, or some suggestions of reds that fire over silver, let me know.
  Lillian

  
  

  I just discovered something pretty obvious: that with transparent enamel over silver, you are dealing with the colors of light rather than pigment. This means that the primary colors are not Red, Yellow and Blue, but rather Magenta, Yellow and Cyan.

  I could never find a red that fired nicely over silver (except the Japanese 106B from Coral at Enamelwork Supply) but they don't make it anymore. But I was cruising the net looking for a colorwheel to help with some other color problems, when I saw a 'light' color wheel, and a good true red exists midway yellow and magenta.
  Thompson's old Raspberry fires screaming hot pink over silver (not my favorite color) I wondered if I fired it over yellow enamel or gold foil, would it turn red.

  And it worked! As a bonus, it is a red that holds firing after firing, no yellowing, no clouding or problems. Plus, you can vary the tint from yellowish to purplish, just by adjusting the layers. It is like having lots of different colors with two enamels. So now I want to see if this also works with Cyan.

  This would simplify my workspace, but where to get a good magenta that fires over silver when I run out of Raspberry...All the ones I've tried from the Ninomya line fire Orange. Nice orange, but still...so if anyone out there has a bottle of Raspberry they don't want, or some suggestions of reds that fire over silver, let me know.
  Lillian

• charlene cross

  

  Member
   

  July 23, 2012

  Great info Lillian - thanks. I was lucky enough about a year ago to buy an enamelists old enamels and raspberry was one of the colors I got - sorry I love the color. Does Thompson offer a replacement for it I wonder.

  Great info Lillian - thanks. I was lucky enough about a year ago to buy an enamelists old enamels and raspberry was one of the colors I got - sorry I love the color. Does Thompson offer a replacement for it I wonder.

• Harry Nicholson

  

  Member
   

  July 23, 2012

  Thank you. That is interesting, Lillian. I've been thinking along the same lines - but you are ahead of me. I've just downloaded a 'light' colour wheel - and, following your suggestions, I'll give it a try.

  Thank you. That is interesting, Lillian. I've been thinking along the same lines - but you are ahead of me. I've just downloaded a 'light' colour wheel - and, following your suggestions, I'll give it a try.

• Rudolf Molnar

  

  Member
   

  July 23, 2012

  Hi Lillian

  I have one red from W.G.Ball,UK,Deep ruby(leaded):

  http://www.cooksongold.com/Enamelling/Latham-Transparent-Enamel-Deep-Ruby-T239-15gm-Un-Not-Classified-prcode-860-418

  I have used this for the kolovrat earrings,is it on fine silver+leaded flux,torch fired 4x and then applied counter enamel and fired in kiln on high temperature,grinded with alundum stone and last flash firing.I think the result is good:)

  Hi Lillian

  I have one red from W.G.Ball,UK,Deep ruby(leaded):

  http://www.cooksongold.com/Enamelling/Latham-Transparent-Enamel-Deep-Ruby-T239-15gm-Un-Not-Classified-prcode-860-418

  I have used this for the kolovrat earrings,is it on fine silver+leaded flux,torch fired 4x and then applied counter enamel and fired in kiln on high temperature,grinded with alundum stone and last flash firing.I think the result is good:)

• Tonya Powell

  

  Member
   

  August 9, 2012

  Great insight! Thanks, Lillian. I will be researching and downloading a 'lightly color wheel today. Although, I won't be able to start testing until next month as I am waiting for a rotator cuff repair to heal.

  Great insight! Thanks, Lillian. I will be researching and downloading a 'lightly color wheel today. Although, I won't be able to start testing until next month as I am waiting for a rotator cuff repair to heal.