Special Black NIR - perylene green

transparent in the infrared range

Special Black NIR is a versatile perylene pigment engineered for professional artists. Its rich, transparent green hue excels in watercolor applications, delivering vibrant results in glazes and washes. Mix with transparent yellows for nuanced greens, or combine with reds to achieve elusive blues, browns, and grays. Compatible with oil paint formulations, though it may flocculate in egg tempera and certain acrylic dispersions—pair with Dispersion K 498 or K 19 for optimal acrylic performance. Ideal for painters seeking color complexity and mixing versatility.

What does "Near-Infrared" mean here?

Most traditional black pigments (like Carbon Black or Lamp Black) are infrared-absorbing, meaning they soak up light across the spectrum and turn it into heat. However, a "Special Black NIR" pigment is designed to be infrared-transparent or infrared-reflective.

Why is this "Special"?

Unique Color Mixing: Because the pigment doesn't "kill" the light in the infrared spectrum like standard blacks, it behaves differently when mixed. As your text notes, it allows for vibrant greens and complex grays/blues that standard blacks would normally make look "muddy" or "flat.

Thermal Properties (Cool Black): In industrial uses, NIR pigments are called "cool blacks." If you painted a building or a car with it, it would stay cooler in the sun because it reflects the heat-generating near-infrared radiation rather than absorbing it.

The "Green" Secret: The reason it makes "impressive green hues" is that this pigment is likely a Paliotol or Perylene-based black. These are actually extremely concentrated organic greens that appear black to the human eye until they are thinned out (glazing) or mixed with yellow.