What's the Difference Between Gamboge and New Gamboge in Watercolor?

When a watercolor pigment name starts with "new," it typically means a modern synthetic formula that is more lightfast. Original historical pigments like gamboge and alizarin are fugitive, which means they fade over time, and the "new" version is made so it doesn't fade on you.

Why This Matters

There are so many different paint names out there that it's confusing when a color has "new" at the front and you wonder what the difference is. It's not just a fancy name. "New" typically means a modern synthetic formula that is more lightfast.

Historical original pigments like gamboge and alizarin are called fugitive pigments, which means they fade over time. The new version is made so it doesn't fade on you, which is why it matters for your watercolor pigments.

Try This

Look at the names on your own paint tubes. When you see a pigment that starts with "new," read it as a clue that it typically has a modern, more lightfast formula, like new gamboge compared with gamboge.

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