This colour sometimes retains the old name, ivory black, though today in the manufacture of this pigment, calcined ivory has been replaced by charred animal bones. Was widely used as an artist pigment starting in the 1930s. This black pigment is very useful in acrylic paint making as it does not exhibit certain film forming problems that occur when used in oil binders. Bone black dries extremely matt, with a beautiful silky look and slightly scratchy texture. Because of its surface, which provides excellent adhesion for subsequent layers of paint, bone black is often used for underpainting or as a ground. Its matt finish gives the appearance that it is not jet black, however if you add a layer of clear gloss medium, it becomes the most jet black possible in acrylics. Mixed with white this pigment exhibits a slightly yellowish brown undertone. Due to its lowish tint strength, it makes a convenient black for colour mixing since the additions can be controlled very precisely, with tonal shifts occurring in small increments. It has large particle size, good flow properties and is a good all-round black pigment for the painter. See choosing blacks