Universal Paint Colorant
If you're just getting started with colorants and expect to need more than a few bottles, we strongly suggest you try the Cal-Tint Starter Set that comes with 12 colors and a carrying rack.
Cal-Tint ® 830 Colorants from Chromaflo are Universal Paint Colorants that are designed to be compatible with most water-based and solvent-based paints, plasters, putties, and other decorative coatings. Cal-Tint is the standard is the industry for reliability and repeat-ability when tinting Paints, Plasters, Putties and other decorative items.
Important: In April 2022, Prince International combined with Chromaflo Technologies and the acquired Ferro Corporation to form Vibrantz Technologies. Cal‑Tint is now part of Vibrantz’s color solutions portfolio; formulations remain consistent.
Universal Paint Tint
Cal-Tint Paint Tints work well with nearly every water-based and solvent-based paint on the market today. Cal Tint is often used to tint paint for film, TV, and live performance sets since it is so easy to work with and clean up. The easy-to-use squeeze bottles allow easy control of the amount of colorant you need, while keeping the process clean. No more worrying about drips going down the side of your paint can while tinting paint!
- Packaged in 16oz. squeeze bottles - perfect for quick, easy, and clean tinting on-the-job
- Lead-Free
- Strength controlled +/- 2 vs. standard
- Formulated to be light-fast
- Self-Cleaning Cap
- Universal Tinting Colors
Available colors & common names
- Lamp Black — also called lampblack or carbon black (PBk7).
- Bulletin Red — classic sign-painters’ “bulletin” red.
- Venetian Red — a red oxide earth often searched as red oxide (PR101).
- Raw Sienna / Yellow Oxide — also searched as yellow ochre (PY42 family).
- Burnt Sienna — earth orange/brown (typically PBr7/PR101 family).
- Raw Umber — natural brown iron-oxide earth (PBr7).
- Burnt Umber — calcined umber (PBr7).
- Phthalo Blue — also spelled Thalo Blue (PB15 family).
- Phthalo Green — also spelled Thalo Green (PG7/PG36 family).
- Violet — often called Dioxazine/Carbazole Violet (PV23).
- Permanent (Organic) Red — often a naphthol family red (e.g., PR188/PR254).
- Perma Cal Orange — also listed as Permanent Orange.
- Interior Yellow
- Exterior Light Yellow
- Exterior Medium Yellow
- Light Green
Notes: “Phthalo” is commonly written “Thalo” in industry literature; “Venetian Red” is a red oxide earth color; and Chromaflo’s official sheet lists “Raw Sienna / Yellow Oxide.”
| Color | Definition & origin | Pigment(s) / chemistry |
|---|---|---|
| Lamp Black | A traditional soot black made by the incomplete combustion of oils—historically collected from lamp flames (“lampblack”). Deep, neutral black with very high opacity. | PBk7 (carbon black); composition: nearly pure amorphous carbon. |
| Bulletin Red | Classic sign-painters’ billboard (“bulletin”) red used since early 20th-century enamel signage; bright, clean mid-red favored for high visibility. | Typically modern organic reds; often Naphthol AS (PR170/PR188) or high-performance DPP red (PR254). Exact CI varies by system. |
| Venetian Red (Red Oxide) | Historic red earth from Northern Italy; today usually synthetic red iron oxide. Opaque, warm brick-red with excellent durability. | PR101 (red iron oxide, α-Fe2O3). |
| Raw Sienna / Yellow Oxide | Natural yellow-brown earth from Siena; “yellow oxide” is the synthetic counterpart. Transparent to semi-opaque yellow-ochre family. | PY43 (natural yellow ochre, goethite FeO(OH)·nH2O) or PY42 (synthetic yellow iron oxide). |
| Burnt Sienna | Calcined (heated) raw sienna; heating converts goethite to hematite, shifting the hue to a rich reddish-brown. | PBr7 (calcined earth) and/or PR101 variants (iron-oxide based). |
| Raw Umber | Dark, cool brown earth named for Umbria; naturally contains iron and manganese oxides. Excellent for neutralizing mixes. | PBr7 (iron oxide with manganese oxide content). |
| Burnt Umber | Calcined raw umber; warmer, deeper brown. Traditionally prized for fast drying in oil due to manganese content. | PBr7 (calcined umber, iron/manganese oxides). |
| Phthalo Blue (also “Thalo Blue”) | Modern synthetic discovered in the 1930s; exceptionally high tinting strength and lightfastness. Can lean green or red depending on grade. | PB15 family (copper phthalocyanine). Chemistry: copper phthalocyanine complex (approx. C32H16N8Cu). |
| Phthalo Green (also “Thalo Green”) | Mid-20th-century green with intense chroma and outstanding durability; commonly used for exterior-grade mixes. | PG7 (chlorinated copper phthalocyanine) or PG36 (brominated/chlorinated copper phthalocyanine). |
| Violet (Dioxazine / Carbazole Violet) | Deep, transparent violet introduced in the mid-20th century; very strong tinting strength and clean undertone. | PV23 (carbazole dioxazine violet). |
| Permanent (Organic) Red | Modern “permanent” reds designed for brighter color and improved lightfastness versus older organics. | Commonly Naphthol AS reds (PR188/PR170) or high-performance DPP red (PR254). Exact CI varies by formulation. |
| Perma Cal Orange (Permanent Orange) | Bright, clean modern orange marketed for permanence compared to older, more fugitive oranges. | Often monoazo orange families such as PO73 or PO36, or related high-performance organics. Exact CI varies by system. |
| Interior Yellow | Vivid mixing yellow tuned for interior applications where brightness is prioritized over extreme UV resistance. | Typically organic yellow blends (e.g., monoazo/diarylide families). Exact CI varies by formulation. |
| Exterior Light Yellow | Paler exterior-stable yellow designed for UV/weather exposure with minimized fade. | Often includes inorganic bismuth vanadate (PY184) and/or high-performance organics for balance. Exact CI varies. |
| Exterior Medium Yellow | Slightly deeper exterior-stable yellow for outdoor use where durability and chroma are both required. | Frequently based on PY184 and/or durable organic yellows in blend. Exact CI varies. |
| Light Green | Mixing green created by combining a strong green with a yellow to moderate chroma for practical tinting. | Typically PG7/PG36 (phthalo green) plus a yellow such as PY74 or PY184 (blend; varies by system). |
| Note: Pigments listed are common families used industry-wide. Exact pigment indexes and loadings can vary by manufacturer, product line, and shade; always consult the current TDS/SDS for definitive composition. | ||
Cal-Tint & Colortrend FAQ
- Are Cal-Tint 830 colorants truly “universal”?
- Yes—Cal-Tint 830 colorants are formulated for broad compatibility in architectural “trade sales” coatings, including latex systems (PVA, acrylic, styrene-butadiene, alkyd-modified emulsions, and other water-based systems) and conventional solvent-type finishes (flat through gloss alkyd enamels, oil-type house paints, sash & trim paints, and wood stains). Always recheck compatibility if the base paint formula changes.
- What’s the relationship between Cal-Tint 830 and Colortrend 888?
- They correspond to the same universal colorant technology used by Vibrantz: 830 is packaged in 16-oz squeeze bottles for on-the-job tinting, while 888 is the machine-dispensable version used in volumetric tinting systems. You can use the 888 technical sheet as a reference for pigment indices and performance of the equivalent 830 colors.
- Can I use these colorants in exterior paints?
- Yes—many colors are exterior-durable. However, organic reds and yellows are more sensitive to high-UV environments (deserts, tropical/coastal). In such conditions, evaluate the specific colorant/base combination or favor iron-oxide/earth tones for best long-term performance.
- Will these work in solvent-based paints and wood stains?
- Yes. The 830 series is compatible with many solvent-type architectural coatings, including alkyd enamels, oil-type house paints, and wood stains. Always do a small test batch before committing to production or job use.
- Do I need special equipment to dispense them?
- No for the 830 bottles—dispense manually from the squeeze bottle. If you run them through a dispensing machine, use stainless-steel or plastic wet-parts; avoid aluminum or bimetallic machines due to corrosion and potential flocculation.
- How consistent is the tint strength from bottle to bottle?
- Vibrantz controls machine colorants to a tint-strength tolerance of ±1% by volume (ΔE < 0.5 vs. standard), which underpins consistent formulas. The same colorant technology is used for the 830 bottle line.
- Do the colorants settle or form a skin?
- They are designed to remain in suspension with minimal agitation and not to skin. A brief stir or shake before use is good practice.
- What’s the VOC of the colorant—are they “zero-VOC”?
- VOC varies by colorant. Typical values (per color) are in the several-hundred g/L range. The effect on your final paint depends on how much colorant you add: added VOC ≈ (colorant VOC × colorant volume) ÷ total paint volume. Check the TDS for the specific color and confirm local VOC compliance for your use case.
- Do these colorants work in specialty 2K systems (epoxies, polyurethanes)?
- They’re intended for architectural/trade-sales bases. Some specialty systems can be sensitive; always lab-test the exact colorant and resin system, or consult Vibrantz technical service, before use in catalyzed/industrial coatings.
- What bottle size do you sell, and how should I store it?
- Cal-Tint 830 comes in 16-oz squeeze bottles. Store tightly closed and follow the product SDS for handling and safety guidance.
- Any rule of thumb for choosing durable exterior colors?
- For maximum UV stability and chalk/fade resistance outdoors, start with iron-oxide/earth pigments (Lamp Black PBk7, Red Oxide PR101, Yellow Oxide PY42, Raw/ Burnt Umbers). Use organic reds/yellows selectively and validate in high-sun climates.
- Can I mix different Cal-Tint colors together?
- Yes—these colorants are designed to be used in color systems and blended to reach target shades. Record additions by volume for repeatability and stay within the base paint maker’s max tinting guidelines.
BUYER BEWARE
Other sellers may sell older stock of Cal Tint. US Paint Supply sells a high volume of Cal Tint ensuring we are always rotating our stock so that you have a fresh product. Plus, we've got the best price!
Product Spec Sheets
- Bulletin Red Pint (830-0802) MSDS
- Burnt Sienna Pint (830-1109) MSDS
- Burnt Umber Pint (830-1313) MSDS
- Exterior Light Yellow Pint (830-2501) MSDS
- Exterior Medium Yellow Pint (830-2024) MSDS
- Interior Yellow Pint (830-2506) MSDS
- Lamp Black Pint (830-9907) MSDS
- Light Green Pint (830-4333) MSDS
- Perma Cal Orange Pint (830-0979) MSDS
- Permanent Red Pint (830-0494) MSDS
- Phthalo Blue Pint (830-7216) MSDS
- Phthalo Green Pint (830-5515) MSDS
- Raw Sienna Pint (830-1824) MSDS
- Raw Umber Pint (830-2009) MSDS
- Venetian Red Pint (830-1047) MSDS
- Violet Pint (830-8895) MSDS
If you're wondering where to buy paint tint, look no further! Cal-Tint Universal Paint Tints are the most popular product on the market for a reason, and US Paint Supply is the number 1 retailer online. Read the reviews below to hear more from our customers!
