Coloring Oxides Basic Percentages: - Ceramic Arts Daily

Coloring Oxides Basic Percentages:
Colors created by coloring oxides vary depending on the oxides that predominate in the base (e.g.
oxides of sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, strontium, barium, zinc, or boron, or
combinations thereof). Also, the colors vary depending on the firing atmospheres (e.g. electric oxidation,
gas oxidation, reduction, wood and soda/salt firings), speed and length of firing, as well as, cooling
cycles.
The following are basic generalized colors that can be obtained from some of the most common coloring
oxides.
Cobalt Carbonate:
Can give blue, green, pink, black and metallic lusters.
Light Blue: 0.125% – 0.5%
Blue to Dark Blue: 0.75% – 2.0%
Dark Blue to Black: 2.25% – 5%
Matt black: 5% – 10%
Cobalt Oxide is 1.3 – 1.5 times as strong as cobalt carbonate so adjust accordingly. Cobalt sulfate is
weaker and soluble.
Copper Carbonate:
Can give red, pink, green, blue, yellow, black and metallic lusters.
Light Green: 0.125% – 2.0 %
Green to Dark Green: 2.25 % – 3.0%
Dark Green to Green-­‐Black: 3.25% – 6.0%
Matt black: 6.25% – 10%
Copper oxide is 1.3 – 1.4 times as strong as copper carbonate. Red copper oxide is 1.4 – 1.6 times as
strong, so adjust accordingly. Copper sulfate is weaker and soluble. Colors change in reduction and
oxidation.
Iron Oxide:|
Can give browns, yellows, tans, greens, ambers, olives, blues, oil spots, kaki and metallic lusters.
Light Blue: 0.25% – 0.75 %
Light Blue-­‐Green to Amber: 1.00 % – 2.0%
Amber to Green-­‐Black: 2.25% – 8.0%
Temmoku to Metallic Black: 8.25% – 15%
Iron Saturate: 15.25% – 30.0%
Red iron oxide varies in purity but synthetic red iron oxide is 99% pure. Black iron oxide is stronger while
Yellow iron oxide is weaker. Yellow ochre is the weakest as it is an ochrous clay. Adjust amounts
accordingly. Colors change in reduction and oxidation.

Manganese Dioxide:
Can give browns, purples, blacks, and metallic lusters.
Light Purple: 0.125% – 2.0 %
Medium Purple to Dark Purple: 2.25 % – 4.0%
Dark Purple to Brown-­‐Black: 4.25% – 6.0%
Brown-­‐Black to Matt black: 6.25% – 10%
Nickel Oxide:
Can give browns, greys, blues, yellows and pinks.
Light Yellow to Green: 0.125% – 2.0 %
Yellow-­‐Green to Brown-­‐Green: 2.25 % – 3.0%
Brown: 3.25% – 6.0%
Colors change in reduction and oxidation.
Chrome Oxide:
Can give greens, pink, brown, black and yellow/greens/chartreuse.
Light Green: -­‐0.125% – 0.50 %
Green to Dark Green: 0.50% – 2.0%
Dark Green to Green-­‐Black: 2.25% – 6.0%
Black: 6.25% – 10%
Rutile:
Can give, yellow, tan, and milky streaky blues and pinks.
Light Yellow to Tan: 0.125% – 1.0 %
Tan: 1.25 % – 3.0%
Tan – streaky Rutile blue: 3.25% – 5.0%
Rutile blue: 5.25% – 8.0%
Colors change in reduction and oxidation.
Stains:
Can give most colors.
1.0 – 8.0% in most glazes but can go as high as 25%.
Colors change in reduction and oxidation.