Product information
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Lightfastness | How long will it resist fading?
- Each pigment is rated on scale by the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM). Liquitex paints are all rated ASTM I (excellent) or II (very good) and considered permanent and lightfast for 50-100+ years in gallery conditions. Our metallic and fluorescent colors are naturally less lightfast.
Opacity/Transparency | We communicate opacity/transparency clearly on our packaging based on three categories:
- Opaque: these colors do not allow light to pass through the color layer and offer the best coverage or hiding power.
- Semi-opaque: these allow for some light to pass through the color layer and sit between opaque and transparent colors
- Transparent: these colors offer the least coverage and allow light to pass through the color layer to the surface below.
- Series:
Pigments come from a variety of sources and have different prices according to their rarity, processing and milling costs. We group our colors into a 'series' pricing structure according to how much each one takes to make. Series 1 colors contain the most inexpensive pigments, while Series 4 and 5 color contain the most expensive pigments.
MEET LIQUITEX BIO-BASED HEAVY ACRYLIC
GROUND BREAKING COLOR. NO COMPROMISES.
As you unleash your creativity, do it knowing that every vibrantly pigmented brush stroke is part of a revolution. With Bio-Based Heavy Body you’re making a positive move towards a healthier planet, while getting the same Liquitex pro standard you expect. As the first ever fine art pro bio-based acrylic, there’s no limits to what you can achieve.
An average of 50% is currently the highest achievable composition for acrylics that are lightfast, archival and pro quality. As new renewables become available, we’ll push further.
HIGH VISCOSITY
Satisfyingly thick and rich. Along with Heavy Body Acrylic, this is our highest viscosity paint. Good surface drag gives excellent handling and blending characteristics, with increased open-working time. Never too slippery, or too sticky. Bio-Based Heavy Acrylic delivers intense color in the ideal consistency, for a range of techniques.
THE POT
Have you ever tried opening and washing out a tube? The Bio-Based pot gives you easy access so you can get to all the paint and then clean it fully: ready to reuse or recycle. As well as being fully recyclable, it’s also made from 100% recycled waste. The pot is made of RPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate)
ARCHIVAL
On a client’s wall. In a gallery. Your work needs to stay as you intended. As with all Liquitex products, the pigments in Bio-Based Heavy Acrylic have passed extensive tests for lightfastness. Each pigment is rated according to the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM), and we only use pigments rated ASTM I or II. This means your work will have the greatest archival permanence possible – at least 50 years+ in gallery conditions – with no color shifting or fading, to stay vibrant and true
THE RANGE
Two pot sizes and two sets:
• The 75ml pot in 40 colors
• The 5000ml pot in 40 colors
• Mixing Set with four 75ml colors
• Explore Set with four 75ml colors
SURFACES
If it sticks to it, you can use it. Use Bio-Based Heavy Acrylic on:
- stretched canvas
- photo paper
- plaster & brick
- clay & pottery
- paper & board
- wood, fabric & glass
THE FORMULA
At the forefront of acrylic innovation, Bio-Based Heavy Acrylic is a world first. An average of 50% bio based ingredients in every pot, with the same professional high pigment load and performance. Using bio-based ingredient positively impacts climate change in all sorts of ways – from giving an alternative to petroleum-based products to reducing carbon footprint and supporting biodiversity.
Every color is individually formulated to allow the unique character of each pigment to express itself – whether it’s naturally opaque, semi-opaque or transparent. This also dictates its sheen level, with some colors slightly more matte when dry - namely Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber and Chromium Oxide Green.
OTHER SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
![LQX BIO-BASED HEAVY ACRYLIC 4X75ML EXPORE SET [ANGLE 2] 887452060543](http://uk.liquitex.com/cdn/shop/files/137632_20x20_crop_center.jpg?v=1718155242)
![LQX BIO-BASED HEAVY ACRYLIC 4X75ML EXPORE SET [ANGLE 1] 887452060543](http://uk.liquitex.com/cdn/shop/files/137631_20x20_crop_center.jpg?v=1718155241)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Other creatives have asked us...
THE WORD BIO-BASED MAY BE CONFUSED WITH BEING BIO-DEGRADABLE. IS THE PAINT BIO-DEGRADABLE?
No, bio-degradable is something different. Once the paint is dried on the canvas, the paint will not bio-degrade.
ARE THERE ANIMAL INGREDIENTS USED IN THE RANGE?
No, we intentionally developed the range to not have any components or pigments derived from animals. Because of this, Ivory Black is not part of the range while Lamp Black is being introduced.
IS THE SHELF LIFE AFFECTED BECAUSE IT’S ECO-FRIENDLY?
No, there is no effect on shelf life. The shelf life is the same as other Liquitex products on the market today: 5 – 7 years provided the materials are stored properly at room temperature, kept tightly capped and kept free of contaminants.
WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY COLORS?
Phthalocyanine Blue (Green Shade), Quinacridone Crimson, Yellow Medium Azo. The three primary colors are transparent colors to have the cleanest and brightest color mixes.
IS THE TINTING STRENGTH OF BIO-BASED HEAVY ACRYLICS THE SAME AS HEAVY BODY ACRYLICS?
Yes, a high pigment load was prioritized in development to ensure professional quality. Therefore, the tinting strength is comparable to Heavy Body Acrylics.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THE COLORS ARE LIGHTFAST & ARCHIVAL?
We tested the colors in a Q-sun machine for 300 hours which is the equivalent of 100 years in gallery conditions. The machine puts the paint through very extreme conditions to understand how each item behaves. The lightfastness ratings were given for each color as a result of this testing. Note that Iridescent colors are not rated for lightfastness by ASTM and therefore do not have a lightfastness rating. However, we did measure the iridescent pigments and they are in fact lightfast, they are just not rated by ASTM.
CAN THIS RANGE BE USED WITH OTHER ACRYLIC & MEDIUMS WHETHER FROM LIQUITEX OR OTHER BRANDS?
Yes, from a chemical perspective, the product is an acrylic and therefore is compatible with other acrylics & mediums.
WILL THE PAINT YELLOW OVER TIME?
The products were tested vs. current professional acrylics on the market and behaved the same way. Clear paints like mediums can yellow after long exposure to extreme high temperatures (120 degrees Fahrenheit/50 degrees Celsius for 2-3 months) whether the dried paint film or in the pot. As with any acrylic, artwork should be stored under gallery conditions.
HOW DID YOU MEASURE THE BIO-BASED PERCENTAGE?
Every color and medium was measured through a C14 analysis from the ASTM D6866-16 American standard, which is a scientific way to verify the formulation composition. The percentage of bio-based content is calculated based on the ratio of C14 to the total carbon in the sample. This tells us what proportion of the material comes from recent biological sources (like plants) versus ancient biological sources (like petroleum). The tests for each sku will be available to consumers on the Liquitex website.
WHAT IS THE BIO-BASED CONTENT OF LIQUITEX HEAVY BODY ACRYLICS?
Select colors were tested via a C14 analysis which showed the percentage of bio-based content for Liquitex Heavy Body was between 1 – 3 %, further highlighting the considerable impact of the new Liquitex Bio-Based Heavy Acrylics.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO INCREASE THE BIO-BASED CONTENT FURTHER?
We are continuously monitoring supplier developments while working to increase the bio-based content further without sacrificing high quality attributes.
What are the differences between Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylics and Bio-Based?
Bio-Based Heavy Acrylics are not meant to be a like for like substitute for Heavy Body Acrylics. There are differences in sheen with some colors of Bio-Based Heavy Acrylics which are more matte, namely Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber and Chromium Oxide Green.
![LQX ACRYLIC INK 130 TRANSPARENT BURNT UMBER [WEBSITE SWATCH]](http://uk.liquitex.com/cdn/shop/files/71585_99d4eb5f-8fb8-478a-b267-7b2b999439ad_20x20_crop_center.jpg?v=1709304636)
![LQX PRO MEDIUMS MATTE SUPER HEAVY GEL [WEBSITE SWATCH]](http://uk.liquitex.com/cdn/shop/files/72036_2fd2ed76-a56d-4f89-9ca7-1fa69ec8eda3_20x20_crop_center.jpg?v=1709304538)
![LQX ACRYLIC MARKER SET 6X 2-4MM CLASSICS [CONTENTS] 887452001225](http://uk.liquitex.com/cdn/shop/files/68762_4855e6eb-82d5-4a11-a736-1f41ab15882e_20x20_crop_center.jpg?v=1709305272)
