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What is the difference between ivory, mars and carbon black?

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What is the difference between ivory, mars and carbon black?

Last updated on 14 Apr, 2022

The differences in the various blacks relates to their "jetness," which is a term used to describe how black is a black. Sheen will affect our perception of this as well. Each paint supplier will have slight variations in their blacks, but generally speaking the differences in their blackness, or “jetness” is as follows:

Ivory or bone black is created using of charred animal bones. It is cool in temperature.

Carbon black is produced from soot from burning gas. This dark is the most dark and is neutral in temperature.

Mars black is made with black iron oxide. This black is warmer in temperature.

The best way to understand a black pigment is to mix in a little white and see what kind of neutral you get with it. You can sometimes see the hint of blue in ivory black and the red in mars black when you do this. 

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