Velvet Underglaze

50 underglazes / Amaco

Underglaze is not glaze. It is not paint, and it is not a base coat. It is the stuff you draw with.

Amaco's Velvet line is the one most studios settle on, because it goes on silky, holds a line without bleeding, and keeps its color from low fire all the way up.

Cone 05/10Bisque to Cone 04

Velvet Underglaze by the numbers

50underglazes on our shelves
50at Black Level

Friendly studio tip for this underglaze family

Underglaze is for drawing, not for coloring.

If you are illustrating, doing sgraffito, carving, lettering, or washing color into texture, you are exactly right. If you are about to solidly cover a pot, stop and ask a main instructor first, the ones in the pink tees. These are the most expensive bottles in the building.

And remember the order: raw clay, then bisque, then glaze. Underglaze goes on before the first firing here, not after.

Every Velvet Underglaze underglaze we have in house

Hover any tile to see a pot fired in it, or tap once on a phone.

Amethyst underglaze test tile
Amethyst

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Amethyst fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Avocado underglaze test tile
Avocado

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Avocado fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Baby Blue underglaze test tile
Baby Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Baby Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Blue Green underglaze test tile
Blue Green

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Blue Green fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Blush underglaze test tile
Blush

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Blush fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Bright Orange underglaze test tile
Bright Orange

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Bright Orange fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Bright Red underglaze test tile
Bright Red

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Bright Red fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Cactus underglaze test tile
Cactus

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Cactus fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Chartreuse underglaze test tile
Chartreuse

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Chartreuse fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Chocolate Brown underglaze test tile
Chocolate Brown

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Chocolate Brown fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Cinnamon underglaze test tile
Cinnamon

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Cinnamon fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Coral underglaze test tile
Coral

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Coral fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Dark Green underglaze test tile
Dark Green

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Dark Green fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Deep Yellow underglaze test tile
Deep Yellow

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Deep Yellow fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Electric Blue underglaze test tile
Electric Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Electric Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Elephant underglaze test tile
Elephant

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Elephant fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Flaming Orange underglaze test tile
Flaming Orange

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Flaming Orange fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Hunter Green underglaze test tile
Hunter Green

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Hunter Green fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Iceberg Blue underglaze test tile
Iceberg Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Iceberg Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Indigo underglaze test tile
Indigo

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Indigo fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Intense Yellow underglaze test tile
Intense Yellow

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Intense Yellow fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Ivory Beige underglaze test tile
Ivory Beige

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Ivory Beige fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Jet Black underglaze test tile
Jet Black

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Jet Black fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Lavender underglaze test tile
Lavender

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Lavender fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Light Green underglaze test tile
Light Green

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Light Green fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Light Red underglaze test tile
Light Red

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Light Red fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Lilac underglaze test tile
Lilac

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Lilac fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Maroon underglaze test tile
Maroon

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Maroon fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Medium Blue underglaze test tile
Medium Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Medium Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Morning Fog underglaze test tile
Morning Fog

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Morning Fog fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Nectar underglaze test tile
Nectar

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Nectar fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Orange underglaze test tile
Orange

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Orange fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Peach underglaze test tile
Peach

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Peach fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Pearl Gray underglaze test tile
Pearl Gray

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Pearl Gray fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Pistachio underglaze test tile
Pistachio

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Pistachio fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Purple underglaze test tile
Purple

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Purple fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Radiant Red underglaze test tile
Radiant Red

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Radiant Red fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Real Orange underglaze test tile
Real Orange

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Real Orange fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Red underglaze test tile
Red

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Red fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Red Brown underglaze test tile
Red Brown

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Red Brown fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Rose underglaze test tile
Rose

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Rose fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Royal Blue underglaze test tile
Royal Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Royal Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Salmon underglaze test tile
Salmon

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Salmon fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Sea Glass underglaze test tile
Sea Glass

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Sea Glass fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Slate underglaze test tile
Slate

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Slate fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Straw underglaze test tile
Straw

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Straw fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Teal Blue underglaze test tile
Teal Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Teal Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Teddy Bear Brown underglaze test tile
Teddy Bear Brown

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Teddy Bear Brown fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Terra Cotta underglaze test tile
Terra Cotta

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Terra Cotta fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Turquoise Blue underglaze test tile
Turquoise Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Turquoise Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

How the Velvet Underglaze line works

Fifty seven colors on our shelf, all Black Level, and worth understanding before you reach for one.

These bottles are the most expensive thing per ounce in the building. That is the whole reason there are rules: the only way we can keep this many colors on an open shelf is if nobody empties one coloring in a planter.

Coats

Two or three thin coats beat one thick one, every time. A thick coat is where you get crawling and lifted edges.

Share brushes with the brush-on glazes if you want. Just wash them properly when you are done.

Layering

Underglaze goes under a clear glaze most of the time, and that is what the right half of every test tile on this page is showing you.

Left bare it stays matte and chalky. Under clear it deepens and gains a little gloss. Neither is wrong, and both are on the tile so you can choose.

Food and safety

Amaco rates the Velvet line lead free. Under a food safe clear glaze, an underglazed pot is as safe as the glaze over it.

Bare underglaze is not a food surface. If a piece is going to hold food or drink, put a clear over the decorated area.

Clays that suit Velvet Underglaze

Underglaze reads truest on a light body, because it is a colored slip and the clay under it shows through in the thin places.

Light bodies#16 Porcelain, B-Mix and Half & Half give you the color on the bottle. Start here for illustration work.
Buff bodies52 Buff and Speckled Buff warm every color slightly, which is often what you want on a rustic piece.
Berlin GrayOur dark body will fight a pale underglaze. Ultra White and the lighter colors need two or three coats to read at all.
SgraffitoA dark underglaze over a light clay is the classic setup. You scratch through the color and the clay comes back as a clean bright line.
Blocks of clay in the studio at The Clay Hole The complete guide to clay bodies What each body is made of and how it behaves under a underglaze. The clay bodies we stock at The Clay Hole The clays we carry Every body on our shelf, with bag sizes and prices.

From The Clay Hole University

More info about Velvet Underglaze below, but first... Everything we teach about glazing, written down and taught properly. These are the glaze lessons, and they are a small corner of a library that runs from centering your first pot to selling your work.

How to Use Underglaze: Techniques, Rules and Firing UnderglazeHow to Use Underglaze: Techniques, Rules and Firing Mishima: How to Inlay Slip and Underglaze into Carved Lines UnderglazeMishima: How to Inlay Slip and Underglaze into Carved Lines Wipe-Away Texture: Underglaze and Oxide Washes on Bisque UnderglazeWipe-Away Texture: Underglaze and Oxide Washes on Bisque Glaze Brushing Techniques, Coat by Coat GuideGlaze Brushing Techniques, Coat by Coat Glazing Big and Intricate Pottery Faster GuideGlazing Big and Intricate Pottery Faster Getting the Most Out of the Mega Glaze Tool GuideGetting the Most Out of the Mega Glaze Tool Making, Logging and Dialing in Test Tiles GuideMaking, Logging and Dialing in Test Tiles Glaze Problems, Causes and Fixes GuideGlaze Problems, Causes and Fixes Glazing on the Wheel for Even Coats and Clean Bands GuideGlazing on the Wheel for Even Coats and Clean Bands Oxide and Carbonate Washes GuideOxide and Carbonate Washes When to Use Celadon Glazes GuideWhen to Use Celadon Glazes How to Use Dipping Glazes GuideHow to Use Dipping Glazes Raku Firing: Techniques, Tips and How It Works RakuRaku Firing: Techniques, Tips and How It Works
Browse all 170+ lessons and guides

Common questions about Velvet Underglaze

What is underglaze for at The Clay Hole?

Detail work. Sgraffito, carving, illustration, line work, lettering and washes into texture. If you are drawing, you are fine. Solid coverage needs a main instructor's approval first.

When do I apply underglaze?

On raw clay, leather hard or bone dry, before the piece is fired. Not on bisque.

Do I have to fire underglaze before glazing it?

Yes. Every piece of underglaze goes through a bisque before any glaze touches it, no exceptions. Unfired underglaze lifts off on the brush and contaminates shared glaze and dipping buckets. Bisque is free, so this costs you time and nothing else.

Which membership level covers Velvet Underglaze?

Black Level, because these are the most expensive bottles per ounce in the building. Members at any level are welcome to buy their own and bring them in.

How many coats of underglaze?

Two or three thin ones. A single thick coat is where crawling and lifted edges come from.

What do the two halves of the test tile show?

The left half is the underglaze fired with no clear over it. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze. That difference is usually bigger than people expect.

Browse every glaze and underglaze we carryAll Amaco glazesFind one on our shelves
Test tile pots lined up on the glaze shelves at The Clay Hole

The Velvet Underglaze test tile pot

This family does not have a test tile pot. The colors and results come out close enough to what the book shows that a pot would not tell you much more, so work from the printed Glaze Bible and the tile above.

About these images and what your pot will actually look like

We have done our best to represent every glaze here accurately, and you should still expect your pot to look different from what is on this screen.

Our glaze tile images are digitally created. They are built to show the character of a glaze, not to be a color match.

A screen is not a printout, a printout is not a test tile, and a test tile is not a finished pot. Each step in that chain shifts what a glaze looks like, sometimes a lot.

On top of that, the pottery itself changes the result: the clay body, how thick the glaze went on, whether it was brushed, dipped or sprayed, what was layered under or over it, where the piece sat in the kiln, how hot that spot ran, how fast it cooled, what was fired next to it, and how much texture the surface had. Two pots glazed from the same jar on the same day can come out different.

Treat every image here as a starting point, and treat a test tile fired on your own clay as the real answer.

Download the Glaze Bible PDF