This colour is made from the organic monoazo pigment yellow 74.
The 2 G rating refers to a scale used by pigment manufacturers indicating how close to green a yellow is. 2 G means 2 steps toward green. (Compare with Hansa light yellow, rated 10G.) This pigment has many variations, some of which are not as desirable as this one is for artist’s purposes. This variation is slightly reddish in colour and is often chosen because it is a “sunny” yellow that falls in the middle of the yellow range. This variation has very good hiding power, comparable to a cadmium or a chrome yellow pigment. The large particle size and high quality of this pigment make it excellent in lightfastness while other variations in this chemical group have only ‘very good’ ratings. The colour, good flow properties and high hiding power make a paint that is similar in nature to the traditional chrome yellow. Chrome pigments are no longer in general use due to their toxicity and their tendency to discolour. Hansa medium yellow is a great choice for a mid yellow, especially if cost is a consideration. Cadmium medium yellow is worth looking at as a comparison.