Daniel Smith Color Showdown S2E7: Cerulean Blue vs Cerulean Blue Chromium

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/ otokano
In this series we compare two very similar Daniel Smith watercolors through swatches. Learn the differences between the two colors, which one you should pick for your palette, or find out that they are both worth having!
In this episode, we compare the very similarly named Cerulean Blue with Cerulean Blue Chromium. Will there be much difference between these colors?
For closer look at these swatch sheets: / otokano
** Supplies I used **
+ Cerulean Blue (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsar...
+ Cerulean Blue Chromium (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsar...
+ Cadmium Yellow Light (Holbein) www.jacksonsar...
+ Cadmium Yellow Orange (Holbein) www.jacksonsar...
+ Vermilion (Holbein) www.jacksonsar...
+ Permanent Red (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsar...
+ Quinacridone Rose (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsar...
+ Quinacridone Violet (Holbein) www.jacksonsar...
+ Ultramarine Violet (Schmincke) www.jacksonsar...
+ Ultramarine Blue (handmade by me)
+ Phthalo Blue Yellow Shade (Holbein) www.jacksonsar...
+ Phthalo Turquoise (Daniel Smith) www.jacksonsar...
+ Viridian Hue (Holbein) www.jacksonsar...
+ Permanent Green No. 1 (Holbein) www.jacksonsar...
Papers
+ Bockingford 140lb CP watercolor paper www.jacksonsar...
+ Bockingford 140lb HP watercolor paper www.jacksonsar...
+ Bockingford 140lb Rough watercolor paper www.jacksonsar...
+ Arches 140lb CP watercolor paper pad www.jacksonsar...
Other Tools
+ Gauze www.otokano.co...
+ Pro Arte Prolene Plus size 12 round brush www.jacksonsar...
** Shop **
Handmade watercolor paints & original artworks
+ otokano.com/
** Connect with Me **
+ Twitter: / otokano_art
Jackson's & Amazon links are affiliate links in which a small percentage of the sale supports this channel without costing you any extra at all. Thank you so much for supporting this channel grow!

[@policromatica]

Last week I bought online my first Daniel Smith watercolors, but the store sent me Cerulean Blue by mistake. First I said "wow, an extra color" but by the moment I used it my happiness fell out because many reasons: the consistency is sooo weird that actually I thought the tube had something wrong. Later I saw this color is a little hard to mix even with just water. Finally, I thought I was in love with granulating colors BUT THEN I saw cerulean blue and I hated it a little bit to be honest haha, it was too much for me. I was a little bit dissapointed with the color also because I didn't like very much combinated with other colors. I even thought in giving it as a gift to anyone who want it but then I found out that cerulean blue mixed with phtalo green has a really beautiful color! Now I think I'm in love with the result, and I don't want to give it as a gift anymore haha. Sorry for my long comment and my bad english, it's not my native language. Thank you for the video, I learned new things about the color. Btw, I saw some of your other videos to decide which colors I wanted to buy . I hope you can keep doing this useful videos. Thank you again :)

[@annepercival7814]

Personally I love Cerulean ....it is a lovely glazing colour.....but Cerulean Chromium mixes beautifully with Transparent Pyrrol Orange..making gorgeous darks...thanks to Paul Wang for introducing me to that combination

[@OtoKano]

Wooooo I am going to have to try that color mixing combination! Thank you for letting us know Anne :D

[@cherylj.harris4967]

I so enjoy your videos; helpful for me to decide why I want one color over something similar.❤

[@artistjoh]

PB35 is much better for skies, but PB36 is better for mixing greens, especially good for those eucalyptus leaf types of greens. I guess that means both are necessary. Daniel Smith will be vey pleased.

[@mikepolo2887]

I use PB35 by Schmincke, I paint neutral light by putting an yellow-orange beside it, and it’s amazing for skies: I have the PB36 from DS, too, but it’s too green for my uses. But it makes amazing mixes.

[@LeySketch]

I am definitely leaning towards the Chromium version of this one! I mean, I love the intensity, but better to have an intense colour you can water down to a lighter version of itself than something super pale. Not that they aren't both beautiful! That's just my personal preference. 💜 Thank you for always looking so in depth into these colours, Oto!

[@OtoKano]

You are right about better to have an intense color that you can water down. Such a good way to decide between the two.

[@YourMajesty143]

I used to think that, but I've found a love for creating pastels. Rather than use Titanium White or Titanium Buff -- which can make paints opaque -- having mixing colors like Cerulean, Lapis Lazuli, Potter's Pink, Cobalt Green Pale, Sugilite, Fuchsite, etc. help to create far more interesting colors without adding dullness or removing transparency. They're also fun ways to add granulation to pastel colors, which are usually flat.

[@lisaseckold9296]

The Cerulean Blue mixes such lovely subtle colours - these days I'm more moved by subtle colours than by brights - they soften me just to look at them! the same way a beach at dawn or dusk does.

[@OtoKano]

aw that is so lovely Lisa. I hope you have a wonderful time painting with cerulean blue.

[@InLiquidColor]

Eeee thank you for for doing this one. Since I disliked granulation so much when I first started, neither of these two made it on my first palette but I've come to appreciate them and really think I should add the chromium version to my palette. That color is gorgeous and all of those blue mixes are amazing. Though I have to say that tropical blue green the cerulean makes with the phthalo green is gorgeous. I also just wanted to say thank you Oto! I love waking up Monday mornings to these and eating breakfast while watching them.

[@OtoKano]

It's such a pleasure to make these video for you guys, so it's lovely to hear that you are enjoying them :D Can't wait to see what you'll paint with whichever color you decide to go for!

[@AyaSmith]

This test seems incomplete. I could tell you had a difficult time rewetting dry paint.. I wonder what the results would have been like with fresh pigment from the tube?

[@EveBolt]

I love them both, but I prefer the color payoff of the chromium version, if I *have to* choose. Great color for skies ♥

[@OtoKano]

Yes, several other people have said they use it to paint sky too, and i can see why! Really good color choices.

[@sigrunella1]

I actually prefer the PB 35 to painting skies to the PB 36. I suppose the sky has a little different hue between different places and I found that the Cerulean Chromium does not successfully show my arctic Icelandic summer night sky, but the PB 35 captures the subtleness and texture perfectly.

[@u.sonomabeach6528]

Have you tried the Daniel Smith Primatek color 'Mayan Blue Genuine'? She actually has a video about MBG on this channel that you can search her videos and find. Its amazing!

[@beeintheclover]

I'm a beginner and I love your videos! The information is so helpful for me, in deciding my next colour choices as I build up my colour palette. Thank you!

[@OtoKano]

So glad to hear that the videos are useful to you! What do you have so far in your palette?

[@beeintheclover]

They are all Daniel Smith...Hansa Yellow light, Quinacridone Gold, Quinacridone Rose, Manganese Blue Hue, French Ultramarine were my first purchase. Recently I added some DS Primatek colours...Green Apatite Genuine, Amazonite Genuine, Black Tourmaline to mix with Goethite for some earthy colours. I still need to decide on a warm red and maybe an orange? Can you suggest any others?

[@OtoKano]

well, I am the worst person to ask about orange, but a warm red I can help you with :) I use the DS Permanent Red for this series and I've been very happy with it.

[@katpaints]

Thank you for this Oto! I have seen a lot of 'cerulean blue' in photos/videos that just looked wrong! Apparently I have not used Dan Smith's version. I have spent a lot of time painting en plein air and always loved cerulean blue for skies, along with a bit of cobalt blue towards the top for a bit more intensity. I do think it depends on where you live. Up here in the Pacific Northwest in the States, our summer skies are usually just that color, and the ability to lift clouds out is wonderful. I do know that the desert southwest here, the sky is much greener and cerulean blue would not work well at all... and the chromium version would be perfect. I don't remember my tubes either being gummy or not rewetting well. I guess I will stay away from DS for this one!

[@OtoKano]

That's so fascinating to know how to sky colors change in different locations across the states! Thank you Kathleen.

[@katpaints]

You are welcome! I didn't think about it much until my oldest came back from a trip to New Mexico. I was visiting and was trying to figure out just why she was using photoshop to change the sky colors on her photos. She said no one up here would believe it! I laughed but said it IS more turquoise! I lived on the Gulf of Mexico for a few years and was familiar with much different color - turquoise water and skies - not what you see up here at all! Friends traveling to Hawaii asked on Facebook what colors to bring - it makes a difference.

[@OtoKano]

Oh that's so true! I've been to hawaii a few times (love it there), and I'd buy some cool outfits or jewellery. Back in the UK, they don't look the same at all!

[@koskey06]

I been a fan of cerealen blue. Haven't tried or seen the chromium one.... now I think that's what I'll buy when I run out of the reg one and see if its better for me. As long as I can still get the pale tone by watering out down, then I'll be happy

[@mo-mo-p5t]

I’m four years late on commenting. I think each work for skies depending on the time of day and season. The chromium reminds of the crisp blue sky in early fall. Warm lazier days or afternoon, I see the cerulean blue in my mind’s eye. Such a treasure discovering your channel. I’ve been happily binging away.

[@bobburke8727]

I noticed the Cerulean Blue (PB35) left a green tint in my sky washes. I thought it might be from a stain on the palette, but switching to Chromium eliminated the green tint.

[@keepyourshoesathedoor]

Ugh, I want both.

[@EtherealOde]

I didn't like the gummy, almost goo-like quality to Cerulean Blue (I also have that same issue with Viridian) even though the color is lovely, But in your comparison here I think I will be purchasing the Chromium version. The intensity and clean look to the wash is wonderful. I also love the mixes that it gave vs. the Cerulean Blue. Thank you again for another wonderful video. ^_^

[@OtoKano]

You're right, I also find viridian hard to work with (although mine is holbein and I prefer their viridian hue so much more).

[@danielesainidesign]

What is it the "gauze"? I didn't understood. Thx in advance!

[@bastet469]

How about a showdown between Phthalo Blue Red Shade and Phthalo Blue Green Shade? Some companies use the red shade as an ultramarine alternative in palettes so I'm curious. I know Teoh did a comparison too but your testing method is a little more in depth. You could include cobalt blue, another alternative for ultramarine.

[@OtoKano]

Thank you that's a great idea.

[@debsalerno1915]

I have a really hard time determining which blues are cool and which ones are warm. Grrrrr

[@Lavastorm77]

“Cool blues are blues that play well with yellows to make greens, and warm blues are blues that play well with reds to make purples.” From Firefly Studios.

[@veystone2580]

I dont understand what the gauze shows.

[@kathryngutierrez5967]

Thank you, LOVE this series.

[@OtoKano]

So glad to hear you are enjoying this series! Thank you for watching Kathryn :)

[@ianjackson5834]

would be tempted to have both in a pallet and ditch cobalt blue in favor of the Cerulean blue chromium, thank you for all the work you put into the video OTO

[@OtoKano]

You are so welcome Ian! Thank you for watching the videos!

[@sarzorro]

Thank you for all your wonderful color showdowns. I can’t tell you how helpful they are. They’re so comprehensive! I hope there is a third series. Just love your page.

[@OtoKano]

So glad you are enjoying these series :D Thank you for watching!

[@fufufuaru]

once I use up all of my cerulean blue, I'll replace it with chromium. I like that it's more intense. Is the chromium a bit gummy like plain cerulean? I find that kind of consistency quite off-putting.. Also, does holbein's cerulean blue have the same consistency as DS'?

[@OtoKano]

The chromium is not as gummy as the cerulean blue and it's also a lot easier to rewet. I would say that the holbein cerulean is a little bit more intense than DS's, but not as intense as the chromium.

[@fufufuaru]

Thank you, Oto! If for some weird reason I decide to restock on cerulean apart from having the chromium one, I'll try Holbein instead. Thank you for making this video, it helped me finally decide which of the two to have

[@Dan.B.Artist]

Im currently on a mission to find a cerulean blue I like, so far the winner is rembrandt as I find most other too week. I have the Cerulean Blue Chromium but its so hard to rewet and I miss the greyness that I like from traditional cerulean.

[@OtoKano]

Between these two colors, I found the Cerulean blue harder to rewet than the chromium. It was really hard to try and get color out of the cerulean blue.

[@LillySchwartz]

I was really surprised how weak the cerulean was in this comparison, because I only have the Rembrandt Cerulean. It also rewets really nicely to the extent that I always wonder whether it's actually completely dry. I do love the look of that Cerulean Blue Chromium, I think I might need to get a tube of it!

[@effiecross2008]

Super helpful video! I have been trying to make up my mind between the two, and it is definitely the Chromium for me. I just discovered your videos a couple of days ago, and they are awesomely full of info! Thank you!

[@OtoKano]

Thank you so much for coming to this channel Effie! I hope you enjoy playing with the Chromium :D

[@CyaneInkArt]

Cerulean blue chromium is really pretty shade, but I don't use granulating colors that often. In miniatures they tend to bee way too strong and look like apocalypse has landed :D (on side note in 1:45 it says PV36 instead PB36)

[@OtoKano]

lmao I can imagine! big crevasses of granulation 😂

That chromium look very nice! Missing to see the paints in action but as always so much information!! thank you!

[@OtoKano]

Yes I adore the chromium. The next video will have the painting footage!

[@katf3836]

Here where i live, the CB is only $1 more a tube. I haven't gotten it yet, but I think that I'm going to go with the Chromium myself. Thank you for this series. I have gotten lucky and my local art store has had a coupon this month. I have been picking up some colors that you have compared in this series. Thanks so much again for this!!

[@leticiacampos1044]

Chromium looks far more exciting

[@Banniesartistry]

Thank you

[@irismaguire]

Thank you for this. I just picked up a tube of the Cerulean Blue Chromium based on the color on the tube and I was wondering if I made the right decision. After watching this, I’m glad that I bought it. Cheers!

[@markdonovan1540]

Firstly, I have to say that your comparisons are excellent. I've almost finished my Cerulean Blue Chromium, so I've been considering replacing it with the Cerulean Blue. I never quite got comfortable using the Cerulean Blue Chromium, which I mainly used in skyscapes. I found it to be too intense, even with light washing. I ended up using more of the Cerulean Blue that I had in Van Gogh paints that I had. Having watched this video, I can see there could be opportunity to make use of both paints, as the Cerulean Blue Chromium produces some wonderful mixes. So, I'll make use of my remaining paint to do mixed and buy the Cerulean Blue to help me more with softer skyscapes.

[@threesixfiveart563]

I have had the cerulean blue chromium for a while. I have to be honest, I had forgotten how beautiful it is. As someone else stated below (Donna G), from the dried pan it is a gentle color... I think I may try to remember to use it straight from the tube next time. I've noticed a similar thing with green apatite genuine... gorgeous intense (crazy!) granulation out of the tube, but reigned in a bit out of the dried pan (though still a deep rich green) I keep both of these colors in pans but I think now I'll sometimes use the fresh as well. This makes me wonder if I'm missing out on any of my other colors that I've dried in pans!

[@OtoKano]

So interesting that both you and Donna felt that the chromium is weaker in color from a dried pan. I painted both of these from dried. I'm going to try painting the chromium straight from the tube to see if it is brighter. Thank you for letting me know Holly.

[@threesixfiveart563]

I just played with the dried pan I have and the tube... I could get it thicker and deeper with the tube, but really the difference wasn't as great as I remembered it!! I'm going to experiment a little, too. Now my interest in this color is piqued again... I haven't used it for a while and it really is very pretty. Thank you! Without this video I'm sure it would have sat in my box for some time!

[@OtoKano]

Thank you for letting me know your result. So glad your interest in the colors has been stoked again :D

[@maryanharrell5642]

I use Daniel Smith exclusively, and I have both Cerulean Blue and Cerulean Blue Chromium on my palate. I use the chromium more than the other because it has more intensity, but the Cerulean is lovely for pale blue skies and water. They are beautiful.

[@OtoKano]

So great to hear from someone that uses both, thank you Maryan!

[@Rina_69]

Thank you for making this video, it was really helpful! I normally don't like granulation but I love how it looks on skies. I'm thinking of buying phthalo blue GS, french ultramarine, prussian blue and CB chromium. I couldn't decide between regular and chromium version but I think I made up my mind lol. 4 blues might be a bit overkill but it's my favorite color so... I can't resist, haha.

[@YourMajesty143]

Prussian Blue could be made with a Pthalo Blue or French Ultramarine, plus a warm red. If you had to have a single pigment in that color, I think Mayan Dark Blue would've been worth the extra spot on a palette. It's so much more luscious to look at, whereas Prussian Blue tends to always look flat.

[@MelanCholy2001]

Oooh, glad I looked this up! So basically, PB35 across the board (not only Schminke) is low-tinting, but I think the Schminke PB35 ("Cobalt Azure") has a little more strength to it than the DS PB35. I hadn't realized how much 'darker' the DS Cerulean Chromium was. Thank you! Strangely it helped me decide to re-order the Cobalt Azure! (Low-tint is low-tint; that granulation and cooler blue tone is worth trying to get a good masstone. Hashtag Ceruleans stay in the tube! 🤗

[@artycraftyalchemy]

I like them both lol. Those pale mixes are so pretty.

[@OtoKano]

I agree, they make a nice palette of colors.

[@christinefaith7762]

Thank you for this comparison.. I was just deciding on Dick Blick! I'm going for the Chromium. I love lots of color and action in my watercolors.

[@halfabee]

My last two Watercolour paintings I have started , I used Cerulean Blue (PB35 Jackson Art Professional paint) for the first time. Had a very difficult time obtaining an even Cerulean Blue wash for the sky (No Clouds) on one of them the wash had to go around some trees and Tower the other around some roofs. Found Cerulean Blue far too easy to lift all most to the point the Saunders Watercolour paper look like it was resisting the pigment. I have Ordered a tube of SCHMINCKE PB35 from Jackson to see if it is any better. Watching another video last night mentioned PB35 was a heavy pigment which was difficult to obtain an even wash with. Wish I had stuck to French Ultramarine.

[@radnukespeoplesminds]

is this the same as spongebob's lipstick color?

[@OtoKano]

Oh my lord, it might be! XD

[@MeowMeowKapow]

I don't have either of these colors in any brand, I think, but I'm actually really surprised at how different they are. ESPECIALLY just the pow that chromium has in its... uh... the word that means full saturation. Oh man, that's going to bother me. I'm going to suddenly remember it at like 3am and then not remember why I needed to know it. =>.

[@MeowMeowKapow]

Mass tone. Dang it. You even said it. =>.

[@OtoKano]

So glad you figured it out :D and it doesn't look like a 3am recall either. yay :D

[@DivineGypsy]

I own the schmincke PB36 however I’ve noticed that the schmincke version is very opaque and I already have a love hate relationship with it. I don’t own the DS version and looks more transparent but I’m not sure how I feel about the color in my pallet.

[@everartokelli]

Cerulean Blue (DS or WN) is wonderful for painting clouds, with a Quin Rose, Red or Potter's Pink it adds beautiful sunrise/sunset light to clouds. It also is great for portraits for adding a bit of texture--again it holds light in a unusual way. That said, I have DS Cerulean Chromium on my palette because it is more versatile :) , but the Winsor & Newton version is in my travel landscape palette.

[@goofmeister1949]

Hi Oto, thank you so much for this comparison. I would choose the Cerulean blue chromium. I was immediately attracted to the deeper color and the mixing results. I do have a request, what is met by re-wetting. This is second time in two days that I have heard that certain colors are difficult to re-wet and did not understand the term. Thanks so much and I am so glad you are posting again.

[@OtoKano]

re-wet basically means how easily does a dried paint softens and become liquid again. If a color is not very good at becoming liquid again, you'll have trouble getting the color onto your brush.

[@goofmeister1949]

Thank you, I understand.

[@sushanart]

Oooh, love the pale colours of Cerulean Blue mixtures, specially the perm. green one. ♥ :D

[@threesixfiveart563]

(Oops forgot to say it's my frequent sky color as well... cerulean.blue chromium)

[@swethakalluri2205]

Super well taught. Thanks very much

[@jodihigginsjh]

Thank you for doing this comparisons! They are really helpful, and love to read the comments from others as well. I bought DS Cerulean Blue a few months ago, and I actually thought there was something wrong with the paint in the tube because it was so gummy. The texture was - weird - is the only word I can think of so I was really glad to read the comment below about it being gummy! I do really like the color. I've been using a lot of granulating color lately and enjoying the textures they create. I love the pale blue this adds. But the chromium is really a great vibrant color.

[@OtoKano]

You're right, the cerulean blue seem to have a gummy texture. I also had a lot of separated binder so I thought it was to do with that. Interesting that both you and someone else also felt the same.

[@jodihigginsjh]

Yes, separated binder. I bought it from Dick Blick - they are wonderful. I squeezed out quite a bit to get past the separation, and it was really gummy so I called them and they sent me another tube. That one did not have any separation but the texture was the same. Until now I still wasn't sure if there was a problem with my paint or if it was normal for that pigment.

[@jodihigginsjh]

I edited my response because initially I typed sneezed not squeezed! lol...

[@OtoKano]

Great info, thank you for sharing it with us Jodi :)

[@jodihigginsjh]

It's good to know the gooeyness is normal. It's not my favorite texture to work with but I do love the color. I was mostly concerned that it would effect the integrity of the work if there was something wrong with the paint. Thank you for you input, and the information about the other colors - I was surprised that a Cobalt color would also be gooey.

[@melissabailey2209]

Thanks for another great video, Oto! I was JUST shopping my local online discount supply store and was considering adding cerulean blue chromium to my cart! (I put the DS dot card in there instead, probably a smarter choice.) For an upcoming project, I'm going to need a cerulean/cobalt-ish blue, but I don't want anything with the prop-65 label (required by California for things that contain even a trace amount of toxic substances). It was great seeing you test these two colors out. Right now, I've got a few ultramarines (Schmincke nongranulating and DS granulating) and a cobalt hue (Mission Gold, GORGEOUS color but a little too green). Do you have any other suggestions for a true blue?

[@OtoKano]

Wooo what's your project? Sounds fun :D I would say DS's ultramarine is a good option, along with Turner's Ultramarine blue deep if you can get it. Have you tried some phthalo blue red shades? They are pretty close to ultramarines but more bold in color. Turner's one in particular is very close to the ultramarine. If you have time to wait, I am reviewing those two turner colors next week (next thursday).

[@grayblosser6630]

I actually had to make this choice a while back. Wanted to add another blue to my palette and had to decide between these two. Went with the Chromium for the lower cost and more vibrant colors. Better use for skies than Ultramarine in my book.

[@OtoKano]

Good choice, I would've gone for the same Grace!

[@Donna_G]

I have Cerulean Blue Chromium and have used it for the sky; but, I don't use it for much of anything else. Unless I use it right from the tube, it doesn't come out as dark as the one in your sample.

[@OtoKano]

I can see it's a perfect use for sky! Thank you for sharing how you use the color Donna :)

[@Achatfell]

You've got some of my favourite pigments there. Cerulean blue and Prussian blue are my greatest weaknesses.

[@OtoKano]

You have great taste in color!

[@lubapatitucci5831]

I tend to stay away from chromium.

[@linzenota]

For once I'm actually drawn more to the cerulean blue than the cerulean blue chromium, which is a little out of the ordinary for my personal tastes. Yet another great comparison video for 2 beautiful colors!

[@OtoKano]

So glad you liked the comparison. Thank you for watching Linz!

[@StrawberryLegacy]

These are both so nice 😣

[@davidgrant9700]

Great thorough review!

[@dedesu3]

The chromium for sure.

[@chantelmcskimming6633]

Thank you!

[@dynomax101]

PB 36

[@patricialk4996]

What was the name of the color chart? Dennis...?

[@OtoKano]

Which color chart?

[@patricialk4996]

Dr. Oto Kano you mentioned these colors are next to each other on the Dennis (?) color chart. Or are you saying Daniel Smith?

[@OtoKano]

Patricia Kinney I was saying Daniel Smith.

[@geckonia]

Hi Oto thanks for doing this... These two are more different than I expected. The chromium is my favorite too. They’re both great for skies since they lift so easily but I am a fan of the granulation the chromium brings. I’m going to try those mixing tips from the Daniel Smith website! 👍🏼

[@OtoKano]

You are so welcome :D Yes you're right, the two colors are a lot more different from each other than I had expected as well. Do let me know how the mixing goes!

[@imanina]

Have the chromium and love it! I see a few lovely mixes I didn’t think of trying out because I haven’t touched my Holbein paints in awhile. Thanks for sharing.

[@OtoKano]

You are so welcome, thank you for watching this video :D