Term: Tinting Strength

Tinting strength (also called tinctorial power and, in Britain, coloring or staining power) is a measure of a colors ability to alter the hue of another color when mixed with it. Some pigments (for instance phthalo blue) have a very strong tinting ability, meaning a little will have a great effect on another color or pigment when mixed with it. Others (for instance burnt sienna) have a weak tinting ability, meaning a little will have minimal impact on another color when mixed with it. In general, pigments of smaller particle size have a higher tinting strength than coarse pigments, and synthetic organic pigments have a higher tinting strength than mineral pigments.