Emilie Meyer
Watercolour pans are a convenient way to store and use watercolours, especially when painting outdoors or travelling. The amount of paint that fits in a full pan varies depending on the brand and the formula of the paint. Some brands fill their pans to the brim, while others fill them just below the top. A standard full-size pan is typically 3ml, but some brands offer 2.5ml pans, and others go up to 3.5ml. When paint is poured into a pan, it will shrink as it dries, so some artists prefer to fill their pans multiple times to ensure a full pan of colour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2ml-10ml |
| Dimensions | 18mm x 28mm x 10mm |
| Advantages | Can use larger brushes, more paint can be picked up, brushes last longer |
| Disadvantages | Smaller number of colours in the same box |
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What You'll Learn
A full pan holds 6-7 ml of paint
Watercolour pans are available in various sizes, including full pans, half pans, quarter pans, and eighth pans. A full pan typically holds 6-7 ml of paint, although the exact volume may vary slightly depending on the brand and manufacturing process. Some artists and manufacturers have reported full pans holding volumes ranging from 2.5 ml to 3.5 ml, with some brands overflowing the pans to create a "pillow top" effect.
The volume of paint in a full pan is an important consideration for artists, as it impacts the cost-effectiveness and longevity of the paint. When purchasing tube paints to fill pans, it's essential to consider that the paint will shrink and the volume will decrease as it dries. This means that a single tube of paint may not be sufficient to fill a pan completely, and additional paint may be needed to achieve the desired volume.
The advantage of using full pans over half pans or other smaller sizes is the ability to use larger brushes. Larger brushes can fit entirely into the pan, allowing artists to pick up more paint and mix colours faster. Additionally, full pans enable artists to load their brushes from the side, protecting the tip of the brush and allowing for more paint to be loaded onto the bristles.
Another benefit of full pans is their portability. While they may not fit as easily into smaller travel palettes, they can be convenient for artists who want to carry a wider range of colours. Full pans are also ideal for colours with weak tinting strength, as a larger volume of paint can be used to create a more concentrated wash.
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Half pans are more common and portable
Watercolour pans come in various sizes, including full pans, half pans, quarter pans, and eighth pans. The most common size is the half pan, which is typically 1.5ml in volume, but can be overfilled to 1.75ml or even 2ml. Half pans are popular because they are small and portable, allowing artists to carry a wider range of colours in a compact box. This makes them ideal for travel and painting on a small scale.
Half pans are widely available in watercolour sets and are compatible with most travel watercolour tins, cases, and boxes. They are also more affordable than full pans, as a single half pan can be filled with paint from a 5ml tube, which can be purchased at a lower cost. Additionally, half pans are advantageous for colours with extremely high tinting strength, such as Phthalo and Quinacridone colours. Only a tiny amount of these colours is needed to create a strong wash, making half pans a practical choice.
In contrast, full pans offer the benefit of accommodating larger brushes, which can speed up the painting process, especially when covering large areas. Full pans also allow for loading brushes from the side, protecting the tip of the brush and enabling the loading of more paint. This can help brushes last longer. Standard 12 half pan boxes provide a good range of colours for mixing, including primary colours and earth tones, but full pans may be preferred by artists who want to carry fewer colours and focus on wider mixing potential.
Ultimately, the choice between half pans and full pans depends on the artist's preferences, the scale of their work, and their desired level of portability. While half pans offer convenience and versatility, full pans can be advantageous for specific techniques and brush sizes. Artists can also mix and match different pan sizes to create a customised palette that suits their unique needs.
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$36.98 $71.49
Full pans allow for larger brushes
The volume of a full pan of watercolour paint varies depending on the brand. One source estimates that a full pan holds 10ml of liquid paint from the tube, while another source estimates that a full pan holds 6-7ml of paint. A third source estimates that a full pan can be filled 2.5 times with a 5ml tube of paint, suggesting that a full pan holds around 12.5ml of paint.
Some artists prefer to use half pans, which typically hold around 2ml of paint, due to their portability. Half pans are smaller and can be carried in a smaller box, making them ideal for plein-air sketching. However, half pans can be awkward to use with larger brushes, and some artists find it necessary to use a smaller brush to transfer paint from the half pan to a mixing area before using a larger brush.
One technique for using large brushes with half pans is to pre-wet the pans with a spray bottle and allow the pigment to soften. This way, the paint can be picked up by the brush through capillarity without needing to scoop, rub, or drag the brush against the pan, reducing abrasion and protecting the brush tips.
Overall, while half pans offer the advantage of portability, full pans provide more flexibility in brush size and can facilitate faster and easier painting on larger areas.
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Quarter and eighth pans are also available
Watercolour pans come in a variety of sizes, including full, half, quarter, and eighth pans. The capacity of a full pan is around 5-10 ml, while a half pan can hold approximately 2-3 ml. As the names suggest, quarter and eighth pans hold a quarter and an eighth of the amount of paint of a full pan, respectively. These smaller pans are typically made of metal or durable plastic and are designed for use with watercolour paints.
Quarter and eighth pans are ideal for artists who require a portable and lightweight painting setup. Their small size makes them perfect for travel and field sketch painting. They can be easily removed, replaced, and rearranged within a palette, offering customisation and flexibility. Additionally, their compatibility with small palettes, such as the Art Toolkit Pocket Palette and Demi Palette, makes them a favourite among ultralight travellers and miniaturists.
The volume of quarter pans is typically around 1 ml, which is almost half the quantity of paint in a half pan. They are well-suited for shallow tins and thin palettes, providing a more compact alternative to normal-sized half pans. Quarter pans are also versatile, accommodating various types of paints such as gouache, oil, and watercolour.
Eighth pans, being even smaller, are one-eighth the size of full pans and one-quarter the size of half pans. They are commonly used in calligraphy palettes, providing a range of hues suitable for dip pens. These tiny pans offer a high level of portability and are perfect for artists who work on a small scale.
In summary, quarter and eighth pans offer a convenient and customisable option for artists, especially those who require portability and compactness. Their small size makes them ideal for travel and allows for easy colour mixing and experimentation. Whether for field painting or calligraphy, these pans provide a flexible approach to watercolour painting and are a valuable addition to any artist's toolkit.
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Some companies overfill their pans
The number of milliliters in a full pan of watercolor paint varies. One source states that a full pan holds roughly 6-7 ml of paint, while another source states that a full pan holds 10 ml of paint. This discrepancy may be due to the different brands of paint and the varying sizes of pans. Some artists also note that certain brands, like DS, Schmincke, and Winsor, shrink a lot when dried, while others, like White Nights, are filled to the maximum.
While there may be no standardized amount of paint in a full pan, artists have found that a 15 ml tube of paint fills approximately 2 1/3 to 2 1/5 whole pans, indicating that a full pan holds around 6-7 ml of paint. This estimation is further supported by the observation that a 5 ml tube of paint can fill a 2 ml half pan about 2.5 times, implying that a full pan would hold about 5/2.5 times the amount, or 10 ml.
The variation in the volume of paint in different brands' full pans highlights the importance of artists being mindful of the potential discrepancies in paint quantities. This awareness can help artists make informed decisions when purchasing paint and ensure they are getting the best value for their money. It also underscores the need for standardized measurements in the art industry to ensure consistency and transparency in product offerings.
In conclusion, while the exact number of milliliters in a full pan of watercolor paint may vary, it is generally accepted that a full pan holds around 6-10 ml of paint. Some companies may overfill their pans to compensate for paint shrinkage during drying or to enhance the product's perceived value. Artists should be mindful of these variations and choose brands that offer consistent and full pans to ensure they get the most out of their purchases.
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Frequently asked questions
A full pan of watercolor typically holds 2.5ml to 3.5ml of paint. Some sources suggest that a full pan is equivalent to two half pans, which would mean a full pan holds 3ml to 5ml of paint.
Full pans of watercolor offer several advantages over half pans. Firstly, they allow you to use larger brushes, making it easier and quicker to paint on larger areas. Secondly, full pans enable you to load your brushes from the side, protecting the tip of the brush and allowing you to load more paint. Additionally, full pans can help your brushes last longer.
A 15ml tube of paint will typically fill two whole pans, or 2 1/3 pans to be precise.
