Griffin Alkyd is made from pigment and oil modified alkyd resin and is thinned with English Distilled Turpentine, Artists' White Spirit (Mineral Spirits) or Sansodor. The colours in the range are chosen according to masstone (colour from tube), undertone (bias of colour when in a thin film), colour strength and relative opacity. The resultant colour spectrum ensures the largest number of colours can be mixed from the range.

The speed of drying allows oil techniques such as impasto and glazing to be achieved in considerably less time than with traditional oils. Quick drying also makes painting outdoors, on holiday and in examinations a practical proposition. Greater transparency than traditional oil colour gives increased depth and clarity to glazes whilst consistent drying times makes overpainting easier, regardless of the colour on the canvas. All Griffin Alkyd colours remain workable on the palette for 4-8 hours, are touch dry on the canvas in 18-24 hours and dry to a uniform satin finish.