World’s “Blackest Black” Paint is Even Darker and Available for Anyone to Own

Black Acrylic Paint

One of the world’s “blackest black” paints is getting even darker. Stuart Semple, the man responsible for the light-absorbing Black 2.0, is back with a pigment that promises to be a “black hole in a bottle.” Aptly called Black 3.0, the special acrylic paint is formulated to consume between 98% and 99% of visible light. When applied to a three-dimensional object, it makes the item look like a gap has suddenly been cut into the Earth.

So, how does one create such a deep matte black? To start, Semple and his team “went back to the basics of paint making.” They knew that the issue with existing black pigments was that they have some sheen to them. To avoid the shine, they created their own pigment called Black Magick. Because it was “born matte,” they didn’t have to add the slightly gray tinters found in Black 2.0. Semple also formulated a new acrylic polymer to bind the pigment. “It’s special because it has more available bonds than any other acrylic polymer being used in paints,” he explains. “This means it can cling onto way more pigment, leading to a really dense pigment load and a depth of color not previously possible.”

You can pre-order Black 3.0 via Semple’s Kickstarter. That is, of course, unless you are the artist Anish Kapoor or associated with him in any way. The feud started when Kapoor co-opted exclusive rights to using the ultra-black Vantablack paint, effectively dashing the dreams of other creatives incorporating it into their work. That’s when Semple fought back with Black 2.0 and made it accessible for everyone—except Kapoor.

Get your 150ml bottle of Black 3.0 for around $33 USD. It is set to be released in May 2019.

Looking for a deep black paint? Stuart Semple is launching Black 3.0, which promises to be a “black hole in a bottle.”

Black Acrylic Paint

Black Acrylic Paint

Here’s how it compares to other black acrylic paint on the market.

Black Acrylic Paint

Learn more about Black 3.0 in the video below.

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h/t: [Design TAXI]

All images via Culture Hustle.

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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