Teoh, so glad you are talking about this and you have communicated with the Daniel Smith Company. I just dont understand the palette. I would be afraid that the paint would end up all over my clothes and the no labeling. You are a You Tuber and I am just a tuber ( a person that buys paint in tubes and creates my own sets and palettes. Thanks again for your time.
Does that make me a panner? I love pans, tubes are okay but I let them dry before use so I’m not really eager to buy more tubes - I like my premade pans. And the palettes/boxes they come in.
I agree about the box.. very interesting to know why they didn’t design a better palette. Since they have access to so many artist who can advise them..
I love how YOU edit out all the unnecessary moments in your videos!!! I find the extra work you go to for us to be SO THOUGHTFUL OF YOU TO YOUR VIEWERS! It's such a delight to watch yours!!! I have learned so darned much from you!!! THANK YOU.
Thank you so much for doing the price and quantity comparisons! I am not getting the set but this is still extremely helpful for people like me who forget to pay attention to these details and end up getting a bad deal. Really teaches us to be careful before investing our money into a product. :)
I don't know WHO was the final decider on that BOX and PRICE, but they need to find a new job. Seriously. Did they even try using it before it went to market? BIG FAIL. I have never used DS colors. I was hoping this would be a good way to try them. I will be buying the 6 pack of reds ,blues ,and yellows and add 6 others.I have a spare 12 PAN Meeden metal box that is a PERFECT DESIGN. This is what happens when a company gets sold and grows too fast.
I agree. But the real judge of the company’s character would be how they react to this failure of theirs. If they don’t do anything about it they have really f*cked up
At first I couldn't figure out why they included the extra palette, but maybe they realized the design flaw and are getting rid of them in favor of a better box. I hope so because Daniel Smith is an excellent quailty watercolor and worthy of a workable palette box!
So a hundred bucks for 2 useless palettes. 15 colors in pans that fly out when you finally get the most awkward lid open and no real way to put more pans in if you would so wish. Companies are getting to big for their britches when they think anyone but youtubers are going to buy their products. Not to mention a mixing palette that includes color you can mix yourself. No need for a convenience color. Ridiculous.
@ewok jedi well the paint should be the usual quality,but then again i am not blindly loyal to any brand as i use different brands for different options,for example white nights is great for practice but for more serious paint I usually stick with schmincke or sennelier depending on the subject. I will not buy the tubes again,quality vs price ; as dutch schmincke and sennelier are more affordable and imho just as reliable. But thats just me; I can buy me two tubes of schmincke for one ds tube,wich is,let's just say it, ridiculous when you think about it.
I was super excited for these because of that big logo on the front. I love DS and use it for most of what I do because it’s the best I can buy locally. I was really disappointed with the box too. Feels like something someone 3d printed as a test. I’m with you on that. Love the colors though. I’m a huge box nerd- I build them for fun even though I know they don’t really have any effect on skill haha
I can't believe that Daniel Smith would put their high quality paints in such a poorly designed palett box. It is pretty much useless to me. On Amazon you can purchase a Meeden metal box that holds 12 pans for $10.99. And you can get 100 empty half pans for 13.99. I have purchased the Meeden palette box in the past and it is very high quality in my opinion. So for around a $24.00 investment you could use the rest of your !00.00 to purchase tub paint and fill your pans a number of times and be able to purchase the colors of your choosing.
Connie Bigelow, or a quick fix for this very poor palette would be a meeden tin which will take seven half pans in each row, and put the 15th pan in the central well. If you lever off one of the rails you can make room for 21 half pans, you can refix the rail with glue or a glue gun, that would give a little expandability to the DS set.
I am glad i decided to go for the tubes of my liking and a mijello palette. May have cost me 20 euro more but from the looks of it that was a good call... pitty they did not pay attention to the lid,i would have tossed it, im not keeping a useless palette if i can not mix in it.
I've been looking at this, but since I have tubes of Daniel Smith, in the colors I love, and lots of much better palette boxes (even some I made myself from tin pencil boxes) you just saved me $100... thanks Teoh.
Agreed! Although I don't care for their paints at their price point I do love their tins. I've purchased 4 of them. Gave the paints to the kids. Filled the find with my Daniel smith's and Winsor & Newton professionals. If a craft company can get the palette right, why can't an artist's paint company. Maybe because the paint companies hire engineers instead of actual painters to design their product.
This is Daniel Smith's first time doing pan boxes and I hope they take this feedback to heart and make a better box next gen. I want the colors of Inspiration set because I want the colors themselves. I'll use the box to store my cotman halfpans that got displaced when I threw my DS essentials set in the cotman box!
It's really too bad that they went with that palette case. They have such great quality watercolors, why skimp so much on the case???? I'll never buy that!
Teoh, I really appreciate your reviews. You take the time to point out the flaws of the products you review. I am so amazed that Daniel Smith got this product so wrong. Especially the palette design and how overpriced it is when compared to other watercolor sets of the same or better quality.
Karen Liu Jane’s Gray is actually the gray that artist Jane Blundell has been mixing and recommending for years and she makes it with DS Burnt Sienna and DS Ultramarine. And yes, I feel that since her name rhymes with Payne that’s why she named it that; maybe just as a playful reminder of what color it was substituting in her palette.
I know someone who has DS watercolor paint and I was very impressed by the bright rich colors. I may just get the tubes I like and go from there. TY for the video xoxo
You are so right! When I first used it outdoor, the mixing leaked all over my hand from the lid palette. I eventually ditched the plastic boxes, and bought a 24 half-pan tin box. I am not too impressed by this product.
Schmincke pans are better quality and are filled 4 times, not three. Schmincke also checks each batch before they are pored. These are cheap packaging with quality paint. I bought 2 half pan sets and I was soooo upset with the palette boxes that DS came with. I thought that I would get similar packaging to schmincke and I was upset. They lost my business permanently. They clearly don't care about the customers. I'm sticking to my other trusted brands.
I remember the minute I saw the palette boxes advertised. I instantly thought, "Those don't look nearly as good as anything that Teoh has reviewed, I bet he's going to review these too." And now, I just remembered what the CFO of Holbein told me to my face about Holbein making the highest quality accessories and NOT making "student grade" paint: you should be suspicious of a company that takes time and resources to make crappy products because it's a waste of resources just for a money grab. Cotman line, Grumbacher Academy line... the student grades of well-established companies, not making quality but making quantity. Looks like DS just tested the market-waters, and this box should either improve, get tossed out, or is free with every $100 purchase.
The cotman line is for the art students and amateurs of watercolor, which is a bigger market that the professional artist one... It's not just about companies being hungry for money, it's a market necessity.... And sorry for my English, thats not my mother tongue 😝
Wow you might be the reason that Daniel Smith has traditional metal watercolor boxes now. Thank you so much for giving Daniel Smith feedback! They even have the same deal where you can buy a metal watercolor box with 12 half pans and get a free empty watercolor box 💯
I just got the Daniel Smith Colours of Inspiration 6 pan set. I added my Daniel Smith Primatek colours set to it and I must say I’m loving the pallette combination outcome!!!
For tubes I don't think much beats the Mission Gold options in price, I love the 15ml set of 34 colors for about $100. For pans there are better and better sets coming out all the time. Right now the best new brand I've found is Paul Rubens half pan sets for $50 for a set of 24 colors, and an upcoming 48 half pan set for about $70! A far cry from 15 ordinary colors in this D.S. set. They have a student set too which is "pretty awesome" by MeiLiang for only $20 on Amazon. The competition is just too great for the prices Daniel Smith decided on for these sets.
But that Jane's Grey colour isn't because Daniel Smith called it Jane's Grey but it is actually what's its called because it was made popular but Jane Blundell where she has an actual ratio of ultramarine and burnt sienna to create the cool grey that she uses using Daniel Smith paints (this was published on her blog in 2014 but she has done it for many years) so everyone started to call it Jane's Grey .. similar to Payne's Grey. She also wished that Daniel Smith will one day make that mixture for her so she doesn't need to do all that mixing so they finally did! And she also said the tubes of them may be out next year! Exciting :D
Faye Wulf That’s what Jane called it. But I’d have to call it Cathy’s Grey, because I first learned about it from Cathy Johnson, who has been publishing watercolor books for decades.
@@nancypalmer6729 ahh, I guess it is a colour that Daniel Smith named themselves then. I know Jane specifically uses Daniel Smith only for her mixes so maybe that's why xD
I was so excited about these DS palettes until I saw reviews about them. Such a bummer, the box and pricing 🙄 thank you for your honest review & I think I'll finally get the Mjello tube set instead.
The main problem I have with "Jane's Grey" being offered in the set is that the set also includes Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna. So basically it's a repeat color... 😡 for the price, I'd rather get a color I can't mix myself using the same set it comes with.
Oh. And I was wondering if maybe the drip can be solved by just holding the mixing area in the hand with the pans above it. Basically just turning it 180 degrees. I'd probably reverse the color layout also.
Thanks for the detailed and honest review! It's important to talk about the flaws in design. That's why appreciate your opinions before buying supplies myself. Thank you!
For that price, I'd rather just buy tubes of colors I know I'll use and find my own palette. This is really disappointing that they would put such a poor design to house one of their staples. I haven't had the opportunity to use Daniel Smith yet as I'm trying to get through my Schmincke, Zecchi and Qor first. This video convinced me to look more into their tubes instead of the set when I do start to look. Thank you, Teoh!
Thanks Teoh for speaking out! other pro daniel smith channels have gone quite about reviewing them. I am saying this because there is much propaganda around certain brands on youtube. There is a lady (from california) promoting constantly daniel smith watercolours, you know the one who does million of swatches, she reviews other brands but always finds faults with them, she is bias. My opinion about it is that i consider daniel smith watercolours good, but there are better around like: schmincke, old holland, winsor & newton, sennelier.etc.. used by master painters for decades likeTurner, Sargent, and other recent ones. Go and check handprint.com . Art is not about collecting colours!
Hi Teoh, can you do a video to explain how to use buff titanium? I know it's not one of your go-to colors, but since you own it now and you have a working knowledge of jane's website/color ideas, maybe you could explain it? I find most colors self explanatory but not buff titanium. Thx :)
I do hope DS will add half pans to their range. The 15ml (and 5 ml) tubes are too large and expensive here if you want to try a colour, so a half pans would be a welcome addition.
I get that on my fursty papers like the langton by daler rowney, it sucks the paint in and locks it down very fast and is impossible to lift when dry but that is good for glazing, thanks for the video. For its price tag they should have a spot on box, come on DS have a rethink!
Hi Teoh. Wow... I really love Daniel Smith paints, but I find it hard to fathom how they could have gotten this so wrong, as you said. Unfortunately, even worse than the poor product is the idea that DS does't have a very high opinion of their customers or are severely out of touch with how the painting process for the average person works. However, as long as the quality of the paint remains consistent I will continue to use it and find my own palettes boxes. Thanks Teoh!
Nice review! I agree with you completely on the pallet design. I was thinking the cost of the watercolor pans were expensive to, then I just purchased some Winsor Newton replacement pans from Blicks and it cost $68 for 9 pans, crazy expensive. I checked a few other sources before ordering and it was pretty much the same every where. I should have bought the tubes however they are so messy when I’m traveling it’s like they never dry completely. By the way I’ve really been enjoying your Gumroad tutorials I purchased. As always you do such a great job on your videos.
Thanks for the review Teoh. Too bad DS went with such a poor box design. The Schmincke special edition boxes with the graphic designs on the lid are my favorite, and they're the regular metal tin many brands use. If DS did something cool like that I would probably buy all the sets! 😍 Gonna pass for now though. 😕
Thanks Teoh for such a detailed view of this product. A lot of effort must have gone into swatching out on two types of paper. The difference is simply amazing. To me it seems as if the first paper had no sizing? I agree with you regarding the design of the box. It feels as if they did not put any effort into the design or even consulted with any artists. It is also a pity that the mixing area stained so easily after just one use, has no divisions and it leaks. I truly hope that Daniel Smith will take videos like yours as well as the comments from artists into consideration before they attempt to improve their boxes in the future. Until then, I will wait for the improvements before investing in such a box. Thanks again! 😊
I hope that Daniel Smith does something different soon. I have bought 2 schmincke 18 half pan palettes just for the pallet..and it is number 5 or 6 on my favorite brand list..I am not alone when it comes to palette design.
It's a shame. I am a DS superfan and while I have more than enough of their tubes, had the palettes themselves been ingeniously designed to justify the pricing, I would have gotten myself a set.
Hmmm where have I seen these business practices before? Oh yeah, 👉 the pharmaceutical industry. Seems to me Daniel Smith might have a marketing consultant who's pushing them to cut corners and price gouge consumers. 💰 Thanks for the fair and honest review Teoh. 👍 😄
Teoh, it looks like the sizing is missing from your paper. Hmmm, that's really strange. I hope the rest of your sketchbook isn't like that. What a bummer.
I had a whole sheet of Saunders paper have no sizing. It’s so frustrating, because there’s literally nothing you can do. Fingers crossed that the rest of the sketchbook paper is sized.
Christina, I personally was wondering, at first, if the Society of the Physically Disabled had put a couple of cover sheets, of a different paper type, in the sketchbook. Though what you said about the sizing makes perfect sense 🤔, but honestly in seemed to be reacting like cartridge paper. Ah, the good ol days when my kid was younger and I could let her paint on whatever... before she knew the difference between paper types and weights.
Jacqulyyn Writeordie, it was acting exactly like printer paper, which is so weird. The way it immediately stained and the way the water just soaked right in made me realize the paper wasn't sized. At ALL
Had a lot of paper lose their sizing due to humidity in our tropical country (Philippines) :( that's why I find it hard to invest in expensive paper in large quantities. Some artists have studios with proper storage
Thanks for the review! I wanted to order this set for myself, but after watching the video I changed my mind. I will continue to use the tubes) Thank you!
But thats why it is called jane's gray because your ultramarine and B.sienna mix and the pre-made mix are different. It was made as an alternative to the various neutral tints paints that contain black in the mixture. Some people want a clean mix of those two colors and would rather have a convenience mixture instead of having to guess the ratio every time they need that combination.
@@knp01 You made my point the mixture was coined Janes Gray long before Daniel Smith created this palette, so they clearly didnt have an issue with the name or they would have changed it. And like I said in my previous comment this mixture is a lot cleaner than if you had mixed ultramarine and burnt Sienna. It has far less granulation. It don't find the name tacky in any sense. My only issue is the price.
I understand that some people may like a convenience mix, but in a set based around taking the time to mix your own colors it seemed out of place. It also seemed pretty quick and easy to get this color as soon as I started mixing the two colors together. I would have been so much happier with this set if they had added a unique color, like cobalt turquoise or even lunar black, that would have allowed for a ton of new color mixes.
Kimberly Crick this set of 15 are colors Jane has been advocating as the ultimate mixing set for years. She has several posts on her website showing different mixes between all these colors. There aren’t any unique colors because that’s not what this set is about, this set is about mixing most standard colors do you need for most paintings. if you want specialty colors you have to get that on your own. This is supposed to be a standard set. Lastly there would be no black in this set, she doesn’t like using that pigment.
knejt01 First of all why are you assuming that she knows somebody at Daniel Smith because they asked her to make a pallet that’s a huge assumption. Companies collaborate with artists all the time, saying that their friends because of that is a bit presumptuous. Secondly not everybody knows the best way to create these mixes green, personally, I learned that from reading her site so I don’t have a problem with her coining the phrase Janes Gray or Janes black that’s not my ministry, it’s not a hill going to die on. if she wants to name it Janes Gray she can name it Janes Gray I don’t really care I don’t know why you do. The pallets is based off her if they want to give it a signature with a specialty mix who am I to argue with DS, it’s their company. Lastly Nobody has time to always squeeze paint every time I want to get a clean ultramarine and b Sienna mix (which rarely solves the problem of granulation) so if I can get a specialty mix that doesn’t give me the granulation I am going to buy it, end off.
Daniel smith needs to get with it...need some youth and seasoned artist in there design room! They have great paint but think they are still over priced. No reason there pre package sets cant be hugely discounted! Just like most other company's. Then you get ur awesome paints in more people's hands, and when they run out of a color they are more likely to pay the crazy $25 for a tube of paint, one at a time over years.... but spending 100s of dolors for just a handful of colors before u get to try them....or $100 for a small pre made set that u have no say in what colors u get
I once had the same problem with paper. I think I stored it wrong or too long. Not sure. But I had it two times and both times with cotton paper. Someone mentioned that it could be because I stored single sheets with cellulose paper, but we didn`t find out for sure. I also think the boxes are too expensive. It`s a shame. DS costs enough in Europe. Thank you for your honest review.
Ummmm.... As a newbie to watercolour I do I d this very helpful. I was thinking of buying this set, but now I will just but individual tubes and make my own palette... I want a great mixing palette but need a box worth using! Thank you so much for this review.
Thanks so much for your reviews! I've now made the decision to chuck the gorgeous DS Colours of Inspiration boxed set out of my cart and purchase the individual DS tubes for a very similar price. I'll be squeezing them into a Meeden palette alongside the DS Essentials, Primatek, and Alvaro Castagnet sets that I've collected over the past year...And I'll have loads of Colours of Inspiration left to refill the pans later. 😊👍
I think Jane Blundell just named it that for her own page and showed how she made it. It was DS's choice to hame it that. BTW, totally agree on the box. I would not buy their sets. I have Portable Painter and looking at the credit card size set.You did a good and fair review.
You are going to love pyrrol scarlet based on all of the other colors I've seen you use. It may even make you rethink your organic vermillion (although that one is much lighter). Jane actually picked all of the colors for this set and her jane's grey was created because she wanted it without black and liftable.
I love your reviews. You have never steered me wrong! Link for the sketchbook, pretty please? BTW, I now have all of Steven Reddy's books. They're beautiful!!!! Have you seen the last one, in black and white? Such depth and detail!
To me it feels like DS felt obligated to come on the market with pans, but they do not really like it. They'd rather just sell the tubes, but now at least there is some kind of 'choice'. This way most people will just go on buying the tubes, like me :)
If I get any of these sets, it wouldn’t be the ultimate mixing set... I already have most of those colors except for goethite and raw umber (and I can mix my own half pan of janes grey). I would get one of the smaller sets containing colors I don’t already have. I must say I am really disappointed in the box design, but its also nice to see a plastic palette that doesn’t bead upon first use. Either way I won’t be purchasing any of these sets in the near future. Thanks for your review of these!
I was so close to buying one of these, I'm glad I waited for the reviews to start coming out. They really should have spent more time on the box palette, it's just not good. And for the price, I could see it making some types of customers mad. DS is such a great brand and they seem to be very conscious of what their customers want so this is just kind of confusing. It even looks a bit cheap, which I think is fine if it is still good and saves on price. When I'm looking for a palette I want it easy access with removable pans and LOTS of mixing space with no pilling. The color choices are great though. I love that they used a grey instead of a black like the Sennilier palette I was just looking into.
I figured out a way to make the palette lid work. Carefully take it off the base and use a utility knife to cut away about 1/8” away from the inside edge of the lid. That gives enough clearance for the lid to open flat - you have to play around with it to get it right but it was worth it IMHO
Teoh, I agree with other comments about the palette box. I think the palette box is the reason for my not purchasing (not much in the way of palette mixing). However, I do love DS watercolors,
Thanks for this comprehensive review of this set. It totally made me changed my mind of purchasing it! It is a shame that DS can't make a better case for the quality paint... We can find better products to spend our money!
I got the DS blue set on a closeout or I wouldn't have bought it. As much as I've heard that Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is a gimmick, I had to try it anyway and was fortunate to find a crazy deal on the set! And yep, the SBT is pretty boring and I'm thrilled that I didn't have to buy the tube to try it, but I found that I liked the other colors in the set more. I don't mind the box, since I mix all my colors on a Mijello palette anyway. For travel, I'd never take all the blues with me, but if I want one or two of them I'd pop them into a separate palette. It's a shame that the box isn't good for mixing, because I otherwise like its layout. Thanks for the review. It's hard to go wrong with these colors. Jane is sensible.
Yes, WN Cotman watercolor is a student grade watercolor. But they have, as far as i know, the most design of palette boxes. And, some of the best. It ranges from the most compact, to some of the unique ones, to the generic big boxes. Daniel Smith should learn from WN.
The box was the main reason I have not bought any of the collections. I started with a couple of tubes and my own half pans. I just don't understand why these just weren't sold in a lovely gift box like Kuretake Gansai Tambi.
love the video Teoh! "I'm not sure how Daniel Smith was able to get the design of this palette box so wrong" hahah, well said! since last time, I've just tossed my dramatic blues paints into an Altoids tin since even that is better to paint and mix with when you're away from home. like you said, the high paint quality is there - which is why I'll recommend buying DS tubes to anyone who asks :D
it is unfortunate that Daniel Smith made one vital error for the palette and that was the box its self. With no mixing sections or ability to lay flat it makes the item less coveted. And thats coming from a gal that loves loves Daniel Smith paints
I find it unusual that the pans can fall out when you use it first, considering Daniel Smith goes to such a length to claim the pans are poured three times. Schmincke pours their pans also but their pans never fall out and seem to be almost welded to the pan. This set is way overpriced and the tin was designed with no thought whatsoever. I also agree with what you said about the name of "Jane's Grey". Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna have been used in a mix forever and it did not take Jane Blundell to invent it. Furthermore, why include a mix of Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna in an "ultimate mixing set" when these two colours are already in the set? It's a great shame because Daniel Smith makes nice paints but these pans will not sell well.
Watercolour paint always shrinks when dried, so it is not surprising if they become a bit smaller and fall out the pan. But after you paint with them once, the wet paint will go into the gaps and they won't fall out again.
I know part of janes vision was to have all single pigment colors, bad enough the unavoidable quin gold isuues but that switcheroo sticking in perm alizarin with THREE pigments turns me off to the palette esp without explanation.
Jane gave the reason why on her blog (down in the comments) because someone asked the same question as to why she decided to use Perm Alizarin. Here was her reason: "It was purely for technical reasons - they were not able to produce the pans successfully using pyrrol crimson. I suggested Permanent Alizarin Crimson as a suitable substitute since it is almost exactly the same hue so will mix in the same way. Since Quinacridone Gold is also no longer a single pigment, the set is no longer purely single pigment colours so I was fine with that change. The book remains single pigments plus Jane's Grey but the alternative colours will mix in the same way."
This is a wimpy excuse, because a huge maker like Daniel Smith is unable to make a pan from pyrrol crimson? For an ultimate mixing set of 15 pans, which was visioned as single pigment palette (and also intended for mixing in it), does now have 3 mixtures and only 12 single pigment paints. For me, it’s no more ˋultimate´. I’m not going to start talking about the ultimate mixing palette, in which you cannot mix without having problems.
I was expecting a more functional palette too , maybe version 2.0 will improve on it! They are probably testing the waters and weren’t sure if people would buy it, not sure.... I hope version 2.0 is metal (so it can take more abuse!) and has more than just a single mixing large well - it should not be hard to design something as compact with perhaps 3 mixing wells! The color choices are great, I discovered a couple of colors I can really use - I give DS a B- for their efforts 🤓
Very comprehensive review, thanks! It seems to me that it would be a better value to buy DS tubes, and put them in a different palette. The only question that you didn't answer about this plastic box is whether other half pans will fit in the slots. I know that half pans are not a standard size, and these pan slots seem very specific to me. I think that's another disadvantage for this box. (but I do like the gold logo on the lid). I have so many DS colors already, it doesn't make any sense for me to buy one of these sets, just for the cute box, especially since the box design has so many flaws. Thanks!
I have a question. Do you think it's a good idea to mix ultramarine and burnt sienna while pouring it from tubes to a pan? I also enjoy the effect of mixing the two colours to see the separation once it dries, but the mixed with a toothpick won't be so "perfect".
You can certainly pre-mix it if you use this mixture a lot. Just stir thoroughly. I prefer them separate so I can still have access to more of the individual colours.
Teoh Yi Chie Thank you for the advice. I go through the two pans so quickly that having it pre-mixed and just pushing it to one side or the other of the spectrum would make my palette last a tidbit longer. 😊
I was looking forward to the new launch of the pan sets, but thanks to your review I find them very disappointing for such and expensive purchase... The palette is as important as the paint! DS definitely didn't think it through and went for the easy and cheapest palette they could dump some paint into instead they had the chance to come up with an innovative design, something new cool and fresh... I also don't think they understand the urban sketching aspect of it all. Not all painting is done at a flat top desk... They truly need to up their game... I definitely will not even consider these palette's until they redesign... 100% FAIL!!!
DS watercolours are gorgeous but the set is too expensive and with that cheap palette, it's not worth it. You can find cheaper sets that come with a metal palette. They went a bit too far with the price. Thank you, Teoh for this review :)
I love how thin the box is but I hate the design. It isn't practical. Lid doesn't lay flat. Lid isn't closed off. I love that it's hard to open newscasts it keeps from accidently opening in travel. Love that is thin and low profile. Love the pans pop out easily. The rest, eh... w&n sketcher box is still the best plastic travel box
I will never understand why these paint companies don't hire actual painters to design their palettes. Unreal. See this is what happens when you hire engineers to do a job a six year old could do. They just go out of their way to screw things up. Maybe they think it's job security. Newscaster now they have to pay them to fix that which they screwed up in the first place. Just hire or consult with an actual plein air painter. Then you'll know you'll get the palette right. There is no need to ask a RUclipsr that reviews products but never uses them in the real world. They'll not know. Someone like you perhaps. Someone who not only reviews the product, but actually uses it in a real world application. I do like how compact the set is. Love that there are no bubbles, bumps, raised portions in the lid, but as you said, it's still ineffective if the lid won't hinge flat.
I really want to purchase this set, but the palette’s setup seems to be really impractical. I guess I could buy the portable painter travel box, and use the pans in one of those. But since that idea is pretty impractical I guess I’ll just buy the colors as tubes and mix Jane’s grey on my own. 😩😩😩
Thanks for your video ❤️ ! Ineed your experience! I was going to order some color tube, when I saw that there is a box (all colors are all in). Do you think I would see a difference between the tubes and the pan? it's "P" Primatake colors, or for moonglow? (It's really original hues, with material and various effects) the box interests me well for the price (and the box) but I would not especially lose the effect of moonglow or serpentine genuine ... ( sry for my low english)
There is no quality difference between tube and pans. Primatek are created from minerals and gemstones so they are more granular. Moonglow granulates a lot but you can mix that with your own paint since it is a mix of three colour. Serpentine Gen looks kinda like Sap Green, but more expensive.
Teoh Yi Chie I can not send pictures by youtube. I really like these effects of granulation and "double color" that we see in picture on internet with Moonglow and serpentine. Have you had the opportunity to test pan and tube versions of primatek colors? (I think there are none in this box, I can be wrong) Thanks for your answer
@@seppyo_art - If you don't mind me chiming in, I recommend getting the sticks in colors that they come in instead of the pre-poured pans. I have used Primatek colors in the Sticks & Tubes & haven't noticed a difference. The Primatek colors Serpentine, Piemontite, Sodalite, Hematite are the ones that come in Stick form. They only cost $8.74 at major online US art stores & that is a steal of a deal. I cut off small slice off each stick, wet the bottom & placed it into a pan I normally use for liquid tube watercolors. The drop of water will glue it into the pan. It works perfectly!
@@seppyo_art I've also purchased many other granulating & non-granulating colors in the Stick form & it is the best value purchase I've ever made. Jame Blundell says one stick will fill up 3 Whole Pans of 5 Half Pans. That is a huge value for only $8.74 per stick. I just use the Meeden empty pans off Amszon at 100 for $13.
I'm okay with the term Jane's Grey, it was Jane Blundell's pun on her version of Payne's Grey and since she's single-handedly created the most amazing, comprehensive watercolor library (a sort of sequel to Handprint), her little joke became ubiquitous and well loved a long time ago. Having the color in a poured pan is a convenience compared to pre-mixing it in pans yourself. I've mixed my own messy Jane's Grey pan in the past and use it in my travel palette to save time. Perm Alizarin Crimson mixes nicely and is very transparent, although I use the slightly deeper Anthraquinoid Red in my palette.
I just picked these up. Only because I got three sets for $25.00. I got the one you reviewed here, the inspiration and the earth for $25.00. Otherwise I wouldn't have bought it.
Does anyone know if they have improved this product? It has been at least a year. And they have received a MASSIVE amount of complaints. Surely they HAD to be pressured into fixing this and lowering the price. Anyone have an update on this for me?
@@teohyc So they haven't fixed it then? I find that quite shocking given the amount of comments. From customers to youtube content creators, they've gotten quite the feedback.
Teoh, so glad you are talking about this and you have communicated with the Daniel Smith Company. I just dont understand the palette. I would be afraid that the paint would end up all over my clothes and the no labeling. You are a You Tuber and I am just a tuber ( a person that buys paint in tubes and creates my own sets and palettes. Thanks again for your time.
Essie Tangle love that! Just a tuber too
Does that make me a panner? I love pans, tubes are okay but I let them dry before use so I’m not really eager to buy more tubes - I like my premade pans. And the palettes/boxes they come in.
I agree about the box.. very interesting to know why they didn’t design a better palette. Since they have access to so many artist who can advise them..
Yeah, that's the really confusing part. OR maybe the covers of these boxes aren't meant for mixing after all 😂
@@teohyc ?????
mike murphy Maybe the covers are just covers. lol
Maybe...... it's just a "Storage Box". Haha! On Dyck Blick you can get a set of 12 WN artist grade 1/2 pans in a nice metal palette for $65.
Yeah the box lid is a real mess. Luckily I usually am wearing black because the thing leaks all over me. Paints are amazing though.
I think that this company has become kind of arrogant , with pricing and because of their huge selection of paints...
is a shame , really ...
Totally agree
I love how YOU edit out all the unnecessary moments in your videos!!! I find the extra work you go to for us to be SO THOUGHTFUL OF YOU TO YOUR VIEWERS! It's such a delight to watch yours!!! I have learned so darned much from you!!! THANK YOU.
Thank you so much for doing the price and quantity comparisons! I am not getting the set but this is still extremely helpful for people like me who forget to pay attention to these details and end up getting a bad deal. Really teaches us to be careful before investing our money into a product. :)
I don't know WHO was the final decider on that BOX and PRICE, but they need to find a new job. Seriously. Did they even try using it before it went to market? BIG FAIL. I have never used DS colors. I was hoping this would be a good way to try them. I will be buying the 6 pack of reds ,blues ,and yellows and add 6 others.I have a spare 12 PAN Meeden metal box that is a PERFECT DESIGN. This is what happens when a company gets sold and grows too fast.
I agree. But the real judge of the company’s character would be how they react to this failure of theirs. If they don’t do anything about it they have really f*cked up
I just can't believe the pallette you get for the price 🙄
I totally agree! It's been almost two years since Teoh's review and prices are still over the top! 😱
If you have a problem with staining from phthalo blue, rubbing a white rubber eraser usually removes it.
At first I couldn't figure out why they included the extra palette, but maybe they realized the design flaw and are getting rid of them in favor of a better box. I hope so because Daniel Smith is an excellent quailty watercolor and worthy of a workable palette box!
So a hundred bucks for 2 useless palettes. 15 colors in pans that fly out when you finally get the most awkward lid open and no real way to put more pans in if you would so wish. Companies are getting to big for their britches when they think anyone but youtubers are going to buy their products. Not to mention a mixing palette that includes color you can mix yourself. No need for a convenience color. Ridiculous.
@ewok jedi well the paint should be the usual quality,but then again i am not blindly loyal to any brand as i use different brands for different options,for example white nights is great for practice but for more serious paint I usually stick with schmincke or sennelier depending on the subject. I will not buy the tubes again,quality vs price ; as dutch schmincke and sennelier are more affordable and imho just as reliable. But thats just me; I can buy me two tubes of schmincke for one ds tube,wich is,let's just say it, ridiculous when you think about it.
@ewok jedi some of w&n are great i enjoy them as well but the cadmiums feel to chalky for my liking,other than that most are fun
I was super excited for these because of that big logo on the front. I love DS and use it for most of what I do because it’s the best I can buy locally. I was really disappointed with the box too. Feels like something someone 3d printed as a test. I’m with you on that. Love the colors though. I’m a huge box nerd- I build them for fun even though I know they don’t really have any effect on skill haha
I can't believe that Daniel Smith would put their high quality paints in such a poorly designed palett box. It is pretty much useless to me. On Amazon you can purchase a Meeden metal box that holds 12 pans for $10.99. And you can get 100 empty half pans for 13.99. I have purchased the Meeden palette box in the past and it is very high quality in my opinion. So for around a $24.00 investment you could use the rest of your !00.00 to purchase tub paint and fill your pans a number of times and be able to purchase the colors of your choosing.
Connie Bigelow, or a quick fix for this very poor palette would be a meeden tin which will take seven half pans in each row, and put the 15th pan in the central well. If you lever off one of the rails you can make room for 21 half pans, you can refix the rail with glue or a glue gun, that would give a little expandability to the DS set.
I am glad i decided to go for the tubes of my liking and a mijello palette. May have cost me 20 euro more but from the looks of it that was a good call... pitty they did not pay attention to the lid,i would have tossed it, im not keeping a useless palette if i can not mix in it.
I just bought the scratch made journal palette with da Vinci watercolours. 18 colours for 70$ usd. It's beautiful
I've been looking at this, but since I have tubes of Daniel Smith, in the colors I love, and lots of much better palette boxes (even some I made myself from tin pencil boxes) you just saved me $100... thanks Teoh.
Which palette boxes do you have which are portable and lightweight for travel
Good lord that box. I would probably move those pans in my Prima Marketing tin
Agreed! Although I don't care for their paints at their price point I do love their tins. I've purchased 4 of them. Gave the paints to the kids. Filled the find with my Daniel smith's and Winsor & Newton professionals. If a craft company can get the palette right, why can't an artist's paint company. Maybe because the paint companies hire engineers instead of actual painters to design their product.
This is Daniel Smith's first time doing pan boxes and I hope they take this feedback to heart and make a better box next gen.
I want the colors of Inspiration set because I want the colors themselves. I'll use the box to store my cotman halfpans that got displaced when I threw my DS essentials set in the cotman box!
The 2 palette boxes will end up in the landfill soon because they aren’t useful. 🗑 Shame, Daniel Smith.
It's really too bad that they went with that palette case. They have such great quality watercolors, why skimp so much on the case???? I'll never buy that!
Thank you, Teoh. Yes, quite disappointing to see the box-palette quality. Good to know that the paints are excellent.
Teoh, I really appreciate your reviews. You take the time to point out the flaws of the products you review. I am so amazed that Daniel Smith got this product so wrong. Especially the palette design and how overpriced it is when compared to other watercolor sets of the same or better quality.
Maybe Janes gray is a play on words with Payne's gray?
Karen Liu Jane’s Gray is actually the gray that artist Jane Blundell has been mixing and recommending for years and she makes it with DS Burnt Sienna and DS Ultramarine. And yes, I feel that since her name rhymes with Payne that’s why she named it that; maybe just as a playful reminder of what color it was substituting in her palette.
I have no idea what the people behind this were thinking. It's like they never intended for painters to use this as a palette
I would totally agree. It is sad. I really wanted to love this. 😖😤😭
Storage for the pans only? If only they offered 2 options - one with an actual useable palette and a cheaper version with a temporary storage box.
I know someone who has DS watercolor paint and I was very impressed by the bright rich colors. I may just get the tubes I like and go from there. TY for the video xoxo
You are so right! When I first used it outdoor, the mixing leaked all over my hand from the lid palette. I eventually ditched the plastic boxes, and bought a 24 half-pan tin box. I am not too impressed by this product.
Very helpful, thank you. And I agree on the USB gray name!
Schmincke pans are better quality and are filled 4 times, not three. Schmincke also checks each batch before they are pored. These are cheap packaging with quality paint. I bought 2 half pan sets and I was soooo upset with the palette boxes that DS came with. I thought that I would get similar packaging to schmincke and I was upset. They lost my business permanently. They clearly don't care about the customers. I'm sticking to my other trusted brands.
I remember the minute I saw the palette boxes advertised. I instantly thought, "Those don't look nearly as good as anything that Teoh has reviewed, I bet he's going to review these too." And now, I just remembered what the CFO of Holbein told me to my face about Holbein making the highest quality accessories and NOT making "student grade" paint: you should be suspicious of a company that takes time and resources to make crappy products because it's a waste of resources just for a money grab. Cotman line, Grumbacher Academy line... the student grades of well-established companies, not making quality but making quantity. Looks like DS just tested the market-waters, and this box should either improve, get tossed out, or is free with every $100 purchase.
The cotman line is for the art students and amateurs of watercolor, which is a bigger market that the professional artist one... It's not just about companies being hungry for money, it's a market necessity.... And sorry for my English, thats not my mother tongue 😝
@@jafetisraelmendezcastro5648 your english is better than what I see english-speaking people write in many cases so do NOT apologize! 😃
Wow you might be the reason that Daniel Smith has traditional metal watercolor boxes now. Thank you so much for giving Daniel Smith feedback! They even have the same deal where you can buy a metal watercolor box with 12 half pans and get a free empty watercolor box 💯
I just got the Daniel Smith Colours of Inspiration 6 pan set. I added my Daniel Smith Primatek colours set to it and I must say I’m loving the pallette combination outcome!!!
For tubes I don't think much beats the Mission Gold options in price, I love the 15ml set of 34 colors for about $100. For pans there are better and better sets coming out all the time. Right now the best new brand I've found is Paul Rubens half pan sets for $50 for a set of 24 colors, and an upcoming 48 half pan set for about $70! A far cry from 15 ordinary colors in this D.S. set. They have a student set too which is "pretty awesome" by MeiLiang for only $20 on Amazon. The competition is just too great for the prices Daniel Smith decided on for these sets.
But that Jane's Grey colour isn't because Daniel Smith called it Jane's Grey but it is actually what's its called because it was made popular but Jane Blundell where she has an actual ratio of ultramarine and burnt sienna to create the cool grey that she uses using Daniel Smith paints (this was published on her blog in 2014 but she has done it for many years) so everyone started to call it Jane's Grey .. similar to Payne's Grey. She also wished that Daniel Smith will one day make that mixture for her so she doesn't need to do all that mixing so they finally did!
And she also said the tubes of them may be out next year! Exciting :D
Faye Wulf That’s what Jane called it. But I’d have to call it Cathy’s Grey, because I first learned about it from Cathy Johnson, who has been publishing watercolor books for decades.
@@nancypalmer6729 ahh, I guess it is a colour that Daniel Smith named themselves then. I know Jane specifically uses Daniel Smith only for her mixes so maybe that's why xD
I was so excited about these DS palettes until I saw reviews about them. Such a bummer, the box and pricing 🙄 thank you for your honest review & I think I'll finally get the Mjello tube set instead.
The main problem I have with "Jane's Grey" being offered in the set is that the set also includes Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna. So basically it's a repeat color... 😡 for the price, I'd rather get a color I can't mix myself using the same set it comes with.
Oh. And I was wondering if maybe the drip can be solved by just holding the mixing area in the hand with the pans above it. Basically just turning it 180 degrees. I'd probably reverse the color layout also.
Yes you can. But individual mixing wells will still be better. Now it's just a large area and all the paint will mix and run together.
Thanks for the detailed and honest review! It's important to talk about the flaws in design. That's why appreciate your opinions before buying supplies myself. Thank you!
For that price, I'd rather just buy tubes of colors I know I'll use and find my own palette. This is really disappointing that they would put such a poor design to house one of their staples. I haven't had the opportunity to use Daniel Smith yet as I'm trying to get through my Schmincke, Zecchi and Qor first. This video convinced me to look more into their tubes instead of the set when I do start to look. Thank you, Teoh!
Yeah, at this price, building your own set is more worth the money
Exactly. Plus you get way more product buying tubes anyway. It's a win win.
Thanks Teoh for speaking out! other pro daniel smith channels have gone quite about reviewing them. I am saying this because there is much propaganda around certain brands on youtube. There is a lady (from california) promoting constantly daniel smith watercolours, you know the one who does million of swatches, she reviews other brands but always finds faults with them, she is bias. My opinion about it is that i consider daniel smith watercolours good, but there are better around like: schmincke, old holland, winsor & newton, sennelier.etc.. used by master painters for decades likeTurner, Sargent, and other recent ones. Go and check handprint.com . Art is not about collecting colours!
Hi Teoh, can you do a video to explain how to use buff titanium? I know it's not one of your go-to colors, but since you own it now and you have a working knowledge of jane's website/color ideas, maybe you could explain it? I find most colors self explanatory but not buff titanium. Thx :)
Cris AD thx, do you have any samples online? :)
I do hope DS will add half pans to their range. The 15ml (and 5 ml) tubes are too large and expensive here if you want to try a colour, so a half pans would be a welcome addition.
I get that on my fursty papers like the langton by daler rowney, it sucks the paint in and locks it down very fast and is impossible to lift when dry but that is good for glazing, thanks for the video.
For its price tag they should have a spot on box, come on DS have a rethink!
Hi Teoh. Wow... I really love Daniel Smith paints, but I find it hard to fathom how they could have gotten this so wrong, as you said. Unfortunately, even worse than the poor product is the idea that DS does't have a very high opinion of their customers or are severely out of touch with how the painting process for the average person works. However, as long as the quality of the paint remains consistent I will continue to use it and find my own palettes boxes. Thanks Teoh!
Nice review! I agree with you completely on the pallet design. I was thinking the cost of the watercolor pans were expensive to, then I just purchased some Winsor Newton replacement pans from Blicks and it cost $68 for 9 pans, crazy expensive. I checked a few other sources before ordering and it was pretty much the same every where. I should have bought the tubes however they are so messy when I’m traveling it’s like they never dry completely. By the way I’ve really been enjoying your Gumroad tutorials I purchased. As always you do such a great job on your videos.
Thanks for your support 😁 Which tutorial did you get?
I bought 3. Sketching tutorial 1, Sketching tutorial 2 and Ho Chi Minh City. Love them!
Thanks for the review Teoh. Too bad DS went with such a poor box design. The Schmincke special edition boxes with the graphic designs on the lid are my favorite, and they're the regular metal tin many brands use. If DS did something cool like that I would probably buy all the sets! 😍 Gonna pass for now though. 😕
Thanks Teoh for such a detailed view of this product. A lot of effort must have gone into swatching out on two types of paper. The difference is simply amazing. To me it seems as if the first paper had no sizing? I agree with you regarding the design of the box. It feels as if they did not put any effort into the design or even consulted with any artists. It is also a pity that the mixing area stained so easily after just one use, has no divisions and it leaks. I truly hope that Daniel Smith will take videos like yours as well as the comments from artists into consideration before they attempt to improve their boxes in the future. Until then, I will wait for the improvements before investing in such a box. Thanks again! 😊
I hope that Daniel Smith does something different soon. I have bought 2 schmincke 18 half pan palettes just for the pallet..and it is number 5 or 6 on my favorite brand list..I am not alone when it comes to palette design.
It's a shame. I am a DS superfan and while I have more than enough of their tubes, had the palettes themselves been ingeniously designed to justify the pricing, I would have gotten myself a set.
Hmmm where have I seen these business practices before? Oh yeah, 👉 the pharmaceutical industry. Seems to me Daniel Smith might have a marketing consultant who's pushing them to cut corners and price gouge consumers. 💰 Thanks for the fair and honest review Teoh. 👍 😄
Exactly
Teoh, it looks like the sizing is missing from your paper. Hmmm, that's really strange. I hope the rest of your sketchbook isn't like that. What a bummer.
I had a whole sheet of Saunders paper have no sizing. It’s so frustrating, because there’s literally nothing you can do. Fingers crossed that the rest of the sketchbook paper is sized.
Christina, I personally was wondering, at first, if the Society of the Physically Disabled had put a couple of cover sheets, of a different paper type, in the sketchbook. Though what you said about the sizing makes perfect sense 🤔, but honestly in seemed to be reacting like cartridge paper. Ah, the good ol days when my kid was younger and I could let her paint on whatever... before she knew the difference between paper types and weights.
Jacqulyyn Writeordie, it was acting exactly like printer paper, which is so weird. The way it immediately stained and the way the water just soaked right in made me realize the paper wasn't sized. At ALL
Had a lot of paper lose their sizing due to humidity in our tropical country (Philippines) :( that's why I find it hard to invest in expensive paper in large quantities. Some artists have studios with proper storage
Thanks for the review! I wanted to order this set for myself, but after watching the video I changed my mind. I will continue to use the tubes) Thank you!
But thats why it is called jane's gray because your ultramarine and B.sienna mix and the pre-made mix are different. It was made as an alternative to the various neutral tints paints that contain black in the mixture.
Some people want a clean mix of those two colors and would rather have a convenience mixture instead of having to guess the ratio every time they need that combination.
@@knp01 You made my point the mixture was coined Janes Gray long before Daniel Smith created this palette, so they clearly didnt have an issue with the name or they would have changed it. And like I said in my previous comment this mixture is a lot cleaner than if you had mixed ultramarine and burnt Sienna. It has far less granulation. It don't find the name tacky in any sense. My only issue is the price.
I understand that some people may like a convenience mix, but in a set based around taking the time to mix your own colors it seemed out of place. It also seemed pretty quick and easy to get this color as soon as I started mixing the two colors together. I would have been so much happier with this set if they had added a unique color, like cobalt turquoise or even lunar black, that would have allowed for a ton of new color mixes.
Kimberly Crick this set of 15 are colors Jane has been advocating as the ultimate mixing set for years. She has several posts on her website showing different mixes between all these colors. There aren’t any unique colors because that’s not what this set is about, this set is about mixing most standard colors do you need for most paintings. if you want specialty colors you have to get that on your own. This is supposed to be a standard set. Lastly there would be no black in this set, she doesn’t like using that pigment.
knejt01 First of all why are you assuming that she knows somebody at Daniel Smith because they asked her to make a pallet that’s a huge assumption. Companies collaborate with artists all the time, saying that their friends because of that is a bit presumptuous. Secondly not everybody knows the best way to create these mixes green, personally, I learned that from reading her site so I don’t have a problem with her coining the phrase Janes Gray or Janes black that’s not my ministry, it’s not a hill going to die on. if she wants to name it Janes Gray she can name it Janes Gray I don’t really care I don’t know why you do. The pallets is based off her if they want to give it a signature with a specialty mix who am I to argue with DS, it’s their company. Lastly Nobody has time to always squeeze paint every time I want to get a clean ultramarine and b Sienna mix (which rarely solves the problem of granulation) so if I can get a specialty mix that doesn’t give me the granulation I am going to buy it, end off.
Thank you for the nice report you have done for us during these past for days !✋️✨✨✨🎨
Daniel smith needs to get with it...need some youth and seasoned artist in there design room! They have great paint but think they are still over priced. No reason there pre package sets cant be hugely discounted! Just like most other company's. Then you get ur awesome paints in more people's hands, and when they run out of a color they are more likely to pay the crazy $25 for a tube of paint, one at a time over years.... but spending 100s of dolors for just a handful of colors before u get to try them....or $100 for a small pre made set that u have no say in what colors u get
I once had the same problem with paper. I think I stored it wrong or too long. Not sure. But I had it two times and both times with cotton paper. Someone mentioned that it could be because I stored single sheets with cellulose paper, but we didn`t find out for sure.
I also think the boxes are too expensive. It`s a shame. DS costs enough in Europe.
Thank you for your honest review.
Ummmm.... As a newbie to watercolour I do I d this very helpful. I was thinking of buying this set, but now I will just but individual tubes and make my own palette... I want a great mixing palette but need a box worth using! Thank you so much for this review.
Thanks so much for your reviews! I've now made the decision to chuck the gorgeous DS Colours of Inspiration boxed set out of my cart and purchase the individual DS tubes for a very similar price. I'll be squeezing them into a Meeden palette alongside the DS Essentials, Primatek, and Alvaro Castagnet sets that I've collected over the past year...And I'll have loads of Colours of Inspiration left to refill the pans later. 😊👍
I think Jane Blundell just named it that for her own page and showed how she made it. It was DS's choice to hame it that. BTW, totally agree on the box. I would not buy their sets. I have Portable Painter and looking at the credit card size set.You did a good and fair review.
You are going to love pyrrol scarlet based on all of the other colors I've seen you use. It may even make you rethink your organic vermillion (although that one is much lighter). Jane actually picked all of the colors for this set and her jane's grey was created because she wanted it without black and liftable.
I like Pyrrol Scarlet! I need a warm red in my palette anyway. It's either going to be Pyrrol Scarlet or Transparent Pyrrol Orange
I couldn't really tell if you liked anything by your review lol
I love your reviews. You have never steered me wrong! Link for the sketchbook, pretty please?
BTW, I now have all of Steven Reddy's books. They're beautiful!!!! Have you seen the last one, in black and white? Such depth and detail!
That's a custom made sketchbook. It's not available for sale to public.
Ah! Too bad. I'm in NYC. I should pop over and see the originals!
To me it feels like DS felt obligated to come on the market with pans, but they do not really like it. They'd rather just sell the tubes, but now at least there is some kind of 'choice'. This way most people will just go on buying the tubes, like me :)
If I get any of these sets, it wouldn’t be the ultimate mixing set... I already have most of those colors except for goethite and raw umber (and I can mix my own half pan of janes grey). I would get one of the smaller sets containing colors I don’t already have.
I must say I am really disappointed in the box design, but its also nice to see a plastic palette that doesn’t bead upon first use.
Either way I won’t be purchasing any of these sets in the near future. Thanks for your review of these!
I was so close to buying one of these, I'm glad I waited for the reviews to start coming out. They really should have spent more time on the box palette, it's just not good. And for the price, I could see it making some types of customers mad. DS is such a great brand and they seem to be very conscious of what their customers want so this is just kind of confusing. It even looks a bit cheap, which I think is fine if it is still good and saves on price. When I'm looking for a palette I want it easy access with removable pans and LOTS of mixing space with no pilling. The color choices are great though. I love that they used a grey instead of a black like the Sennilier palette I was just looking into.
He's like the beauty guru of art
I figured out a way to make the palette lid work. Carefully take it off the base and use a utility knife to cut away about 1/8” away from the inside edge of the lid. That gives enough clearance for the lid to open flat - you have to play around with it to get it right but it was worth it IMHO
Not for $75- $100. 🤑
Someone mentioned that in my previous video. Is that you? 😅
@@teohyc nope but i figured that out after posting :)
Teoh,
I agree with other comments about the palette box. I think the palette box is the reason for my not purchasing (not much in the way of palette mixing). However, I do love DS watercolors,
Thanks for this comprehensive review of this set. It totally made me changed my mind of purchasing it! It is a shame that DS can't make a better case for the quality paint... We can find better products to spend our money!
I got the DS blue set on a closeout or I wouldn't have bought it. As much as I've heard that Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is a gimmick, I had to try it anyway and was fortunate to find a crazy deal on the set! And yep, the SBT is pretty boring and I'm thrilled that I didn't have to buy the tube to try it, but I found that I liked the other colors in the set more. I don't mind the box, since I mix all my colors on a Mijello palette anyway. For travel, I'd never take all the blues with me, but if I want one or two of them I'd pop them into a separate palette. It's a shame that the box isn't good for mixing, because I otherwise like its layout. Thanks for the review. It's hard to go wrong with these colors. Jane is sensible.
Yes, WN Cotman watercolor is a student grade watercolor. But they have, as far as i know, the most design of palette boxes. And, some of the best. It ranges from the most compact, to some of the unique ones, to the generic big boxes. Daniel Smith should learn from WN.
I find it very interesting that DS has not even mention this box set on their own RUclips channel.
The box was the main reason I have not bought any of the collections. I started with a couple of tubes and my own half pans. I just don't understand why these just weren't sold in a lovely gift box like Kuretake Gansai Tambi.
love the video Teoh! "I'm not sure how Daniel Smith was able to get the design of this palette box so wrong" hahah, well said!
since last time, I've just tossed my dramatic blues paints into an Altoids tin since even that is better to paint and mix with when you're away from home.
like you said, the high paint quality is there - which is why I'll recommend buying DS tubes to anyone who asks :D
it is unfortunate that Daniel Smith made one vital error for the palette and that was the box its self. With no mixing sections or ability to lay flat it makes the item less coveted. And thats coming from a gal that loves loves Daniel Smith paints
Jane’s Grey vs Payne’s grey? They look pretty much the same.... am I missing something?
I find it unusual that the pans can fall out when you use it first, considering Daniel Smith goes to such a length to claim the pans are poured three times. Schmincke pours their pans also but their pans never fall out and seem to be almost welded to the pan.
This set is way overpriced and the tin was designed with no thought whatsoever. I also agree with what you said about the name of "Jane's Grey". Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna have been used in a mix forever and it did not take Jane Blundell to invent it. Furthermore, why include a mix of Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna in an "ultimate mixing set" when these two colours are already in the set? It's a great shame because Daniel Smith makes nice paints but these pans will not sell well.
Watercolour paint always shrinks when dried, so it is not surprising if they become a bit smaller and fall out the pan. But after you paint with them once, the wet paint will go into the gaps and they won't fall out again.
15:47 😂
I feel you Teoh, they shouldn't have named it like that
Omg I was laughing at that, it's so ridiculous, but I think they did it for marketing
Thank you for the honest review.
I know part of janes vision was to have all single pigment colors, bad enough the unavoidable quin gold isuues but that switcheroo sticking in perm alizarin with THREE pigments turns me off to the palette esp without explanation.
Jane gave the reason why on her blog (down in the comments) because someone asked the same question as to why she decided to use Perm Alizarin. Here was her reason:
"It was purely for technical reasons - they were not able to produce the pans successfully using pyrrol crimson. I suggested Permanent Alizarin Crimson as a suitable substitute since it is almost exactly the same hue so will mix in the same way. Since Quinacridone Gold is also no longer a single pigment, the set is no longer purely single pigment colours so I was fine with that change. The book remains single pigments plus Jane's Grey but the alternative colours will mix in the same way."
Travis Adamson thanks for the info!! :) 👍
This is a wimpy excuse, because a huge maker like Daniel Smith is unable to make a pan from pyrrol crimson? For an ultimate mixing set of 15 pans, which was visioned as single pigment palette (and also intended for mixing in it), does now have 3 mixtures and only 12 single pigment paints. For me, it’s no more ˋultimate´. I’m not going to start talking about the ultimate mixing palette, in which you cannot mix without having problems.
I was expecting a more functional palette too , maybe version 2.0 will improve on it! They are probably testing the waters and weren’t sure if people would buy it, not sure.... I hope version 2.0 is metal (so it can take more abuse!) and has more than just a single mixing large well - it should not be hard to design something as compact with perhaps 3 mixing wells! The color choices are great, I discovered a couple of colors I can really use - I give DS a B- for their efforts 🤓
F.
Very comprehensive review, thanks! It seems to me that it would be a better value to buy DS tubes, and put them in a different palette. The only question that you didn't answer about this plastic box is whether other half pans will fit in the slots. I know that half pans are not a standard size, and these pan slots seem very specific to me. I think that's another disadvantage for this box. (but I do like the gold logo on the lid). I have so many DS colors already, it doesn't make any sense for me to buy one of these sets, just for the cute box, especially since the box design has so many flaws. Thanks!
The box can hold any generic half pans.
I have a question. Do you think it's a good idea to mix ultramarine and burnt sienna while pouring it from tubes to a pan? I also enjoy the effect of mixing the two colours to see the separation once it dries, but the mixed with a toothpick won't be so "perfect".
You can certainly pre-mix it if you use this mixture a lot. Just stir thoroughly. I prefer them separate so I can still have access to more of the individual colours.
Teoh Yi Chie Thank you for the advice. I go through the two pans so quickly that having it pre-mixed and just pushing it to one side or the other of the spectrum would make my palette last a tidbit longer. 😊
You can use a full pan instead of half pan for frequently used colours.
Ever though about showcasing or comparing DS iridescent watercolors? You could be the first!
Maybe I'll get a tube or two to try
I did a search and there are some videos on it
Roman Szmal another worth trying. Jane even put her name to a set of these.
Throwing shade with Jane's Grey :)
I was looking forward to the new launch of the pan sets, but thanks to your review I find them very disappointing for such and expensive purchase... The palette is as important as the paint! DS definitely didn't think it through and went for the easy and cheapest palette they could dump some paint into instead they had the chance to come up with an innovative design, something new cool and fresh... I also don't think they understand the urban sketching aspect of it all. Not all painting is done at a flat top desk... They truly need to up their game... I definitely will not even consider these palette's until they redesign... 100% FAIL!!!
What do you think about the 24 colors handpolished watercolor half pan set in a metal box?
The paint is good quality and the box is more usable.
DS watercolours are gorgeous but the set is too expensive and with that cheap palette, it's not worth it. You can find cheaper sets that come with a metal palette. They went a bit too far with the price. Thank you, Teoh for this review :)
I love how thin the box is but I hate the design. It isn't practical. Lid doesn't lay flat. Lid isn't closed off. I love that it's hard to open newscasts it keeps from accidently opening in travel. Love that is thin and low profile. Love the pans pop out easily. The rest, eh... w&n sketcher box is still the best plastic travel box
I will never understand why these paint companies don't hire actual painters to design their palettes. Unreal. See this is what happens when you hire engineers to do a job a six year old could do. They just go out of their way to screw things up. Maybe they think it's job security. Newscaster now they have to pay them to fix that which they screwed up in the first place.
Just hire or consult with an actual plein air painter. Then you'll know you'll get the palette right. There is no need to ask a RUclipsr that reviews products but never uses them in the real world. They'll not know. Someone like you perhaps. Someone who not only reviews the product, but actually uses it in a real world application. I do like how compact the set is. Love that there are no bubbles, bumps, raised portions in the lid, but as you said, it's still ineffective if the lid won't hinge flat.
I really want to purchase this set, but the palette’s setup seems to be really impractical. I guess I could buy the portable painter travel box, and use the pans in one of those. But since that idea is pretty impractical I guess I’ll just buy the colors as tubes and mix Jane’s grey on my own. 😩😩😩
Thanks for your video ❤️ ! Ineed your experience! I was going to order some color tube, when I saw that there is a box (all colors are all in). Do you think I would see a difference between the tubes and the pan? it's "P" Primatake colors, or for moonglow? (It's really original hues, with material and various effects) the box interests me well for the price (and the box) but I would not especially lose the effect of moonglow or serpentine genuine ... ( sry for my low english)
There is no quality difference between tube and pans. Primatek are created from minerals and gemstones so they are more granular. Moonglow granulates a lot but you can mix that with your own paint since it is a mix of three colour. Serpentine Gen looks kinda like Sap Green, but more expensive.
Teoh Yi Chie I can not send pictures by youtube. I really like these effects of granulation and "double color" that we see in picture on internet with Moonglow and serpentine. Have you had the opportunity to test pan and tube versions of primatek colors? (I think there are none in this box, I can be wrong)
Thanks for your answer
@@seppyo_art - If you don't mind me chiming in, I recommend getting the sticks in colors that they come in instead of the pre-poured pans. I have used Primatek colors in the Sticks & Tubes & haven't noticed a difference. The Primatek colors Serpentine, Piemontite, Sodalite, Hematite are the ones that come in Stick form. They only cost $8.74 at major online US art stores & that is a steal of a deal. I cut off small slice off each stick, wet the bottom & placed it into a pan I normally use for liquid tube watercolors. The drop of water will glue it into the pan. It works perfectly!
@@seppyo_art I've also purchased many other granulating & non-granulating colors in the Stick form & it is the best value purchase I've ever made. Jame Blundell says one stick will fill up 3 Whole Pans of 5 Half Pans. That is a huge value for only $8.74 per stick. I just use the Meeden empty pans off Amszon at 100 for $13.
Thank you for being so damn honest!
The pans should absolutely be labeled, when i got the blues set it was very hard to tell which was which, especially if any pans fell ouy
You've to label it yourself.
Teoh Yi Chie oh i did, but the four grey blue colors still are hard to distinguish from each other before then
Magenta yellow and cyan are the primary colors.
I'm okay with the term Jane's Grey, it was Jane Blundell's pun on her version of Payne's Grey and since she's single-handedly created the most amazing, comprehensive watercolor library (a sort of sequel to Handprint), her little joke became ubiquitous and well loved a long time ago. Having the color in a poured pan is a convenience compared to pre-mixing it in pans yourself. I've mixed my own messy Jane's Grey pan in the past and use it in my travel palette to save time. Perm Alizarin Crimson mixes nicely and is very transparent, although I use the slightly deeper Anthraquinoid Red in my palette.
Both the Jane and Handprint sites are selfless gifts to the arts, ❤️ them both!
I just picked these up. Only because I got three sets for $25.00. I got the one you reviewed here, the inspiration and the earth for $25.00. Otherwise I wouldn't have bought it.
Try Lefranc Bourgeois. Not exp but uses cads,,,,,,,,,,,,very good
I don't think that lid was ever meant to be used as a palette, it's just a cover.
Thanks for video teoh
Lol when you switch the pans at the end
Why are filled half pans smaller off brand, but empty half pans are larger Daniel Smith logo?
Those brand-less plastic half pans are pretty uniform in size. The only pans that are smaller are the ones from Winsor & Newton.
Does anyone know if they have improved this product? It has been at least a year. And they have received a MASSIVE amount of complaints. Surely they HAD to be pressured into fixing this and lowering the price.
Anyone have an update on this for me?
Just think of this as a storage box rather than a mixing box and your expectation will adjust
@@teohyc So they haven't fixed it then? I find that quite shocking given the amount of comments. From customers to youtube content creators, they've gotten quite the feedback.
Style of box and price of set