Many inorganic pigments are made by heating compounds such as cobalt and aluminum to temperatures more than 2,000 degrees F for long periods of time. High priced raw materials plus the high costs of manufacturing make cobalt and cadmium colors particularly expensive. They grey down when mixed with white which is perfect for capturing light of the natural world. Mineral based pigments have larger pigment sizes and lower tinting strengths than modern colors. They are leaner and naturally more matte.
Mineral colors are mostly opaque.
Modern colors Modern organic pigments are made in high tech factories from molecular materials which have central atoms of carbon. Most modern colors, including quinacridone, pthalo and perylene are transparent. Hansa and napthol are semi-transparent. When mixed with white, modern colors make incredibly intense tints. They stay high key in mixtures unless a complement is added.