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Compositions
Black powder is the most common composition in pyrotechnics and is used for a multitude of purposes. Every sort of firework can be made (in a basic form) with black powder or the chemicals that it is composed of. It is used to lift shells out of a mortar, make them burst in the sky, as a rocket fuel, as beautiful stars, and in several types of fuse. The chemicals that black powder uses (Potassium Nitrate, Charcoal, and Sulfur) are the most basic used in fireworks, and are the three chemicals a new pyrotechnic should focus on. Compositions using only these three chemicals are also the only full compositions that may be milled.

For many black powder compositions a binder is also needed. This is commonly an organic glue and holds the chemicals together in a solid mass instead of a loose powder. Dextrin is a basic water soluble binder made from cooked corn starch and is the first choice for this purpose. As a commonly available replacement, liquid laundry starch will bind compositions just as well, if not better than dextrin. To substitute liquid starch for dextrin, a solution of 50% liquid starch to 50% water by volume is used to dampen a composition in the same way pure water would be used for the same application. Obviously, when the composition is made, dextrin is left out.
Black Powder Based Compositions
(Compositions using only BP chemicals)
First, let me explain some things about compositions. They are, in the most basic way, what put the fire in fireworks. They are what provide the sparkle, the color, the bang. They are made up of an intimate mixture of chemicals that, when ignited, produce a specific effect or perform a task they are tailored to.

Understanding compositions is as important to building fireworks as any other aspect you will encounter. It is also very enjoyable when enough has been learned to improve on existing compositions for a more specific effect.
Working with Compositions:
The most important step to making a proper composition is measuring the chemicals. Chemicals change in density based on many variables, and therefore may never be measured by volume. All compositions are measured in mass. For this, an accurate scale is needed, preferably digital and accurate to a minimum of 0.1 gram.

You will notice that compositions are shown with the chemical names to the left and a number with no determined measurement on the right. This is because compositions are measured in ratios. Each number the chemicals are assigned, when added to the other numbers in the composition will add up the the whole, usually 100 to represent 100%. This system allows any weight measurement to be substituted for the numbers in the ratio and work correctly.

A ratio of:
Potassium Nitrate - 50
Charcoal              - 30
Sulfur                   - 20

Shows that 50 grams of potassium nitrate can be used in the composition, 30 grams of charcoal, 20 grams of sulfur. 50 pounds nitrate, 30 pounds charcoal, 20 pounds sulfur would also be correct to the ratio and add up to 100 pounds of composition total. Dividing all the numbers by 10, the composition could be brought down to 5 grams, 3 grams, and 2 grams, yielding a much more manageable amount and still remaining true to the ratio.

Some compositions require different preparation than others. Some are wet with water or another solvent and made into stars, others are granulated through screens, or wet pressed, or dry pressed such as most rocket fuels. Many compositions can be prepared in any number of ways for various purposes. I will deal with the different ways for making stars and using the compositions in separate parts of this website. On this page I will only include preparation notes if they break from the usual.

One note about safety pertaining particularly to compositions: Many chemicals are ball milled, but black powder type compositions are the only full compositions that may be milled. All others must be mixed in other ways, commonly through screening the chemicals together when they are already in fine powder form.

Before making any composition, read the safety and legality page found here: Safety/Legal (You will not regret it)
Black Powder: 
Potassium Nitrate 75
Charcoal 15
Sulfur 10
Black powder is best ball milled, then granulated or coated onto rice hulls for break. Read more: Black Powder
Black Powder-Sulfurless: 
Potassium Nitrate 70
Charcoal 30
Best if milled. Treat the same as standard Black Powder. Better ratios exist for various types of charcoal. They must be determined by experimentation.
Black Powder-Rocket Fuel: 
Potassium Nitrate 60
Charcoal 30
Sulfur 10
Black powder for use in core burning rockets. May be milled or screened together if the components are a fine powder.
Black Powder-Fountain: 
Potassium Nitrate 60
Croarse Charcoal 30
Sulfur 10
For use in fountains. Potassium nitrate and sulfur may be milled together, then coarse charcoal screened in later.
Tigertail Stars:
Potassium Nitrate 44
Charcoal 44
Sulfur 6
Dextrin 6
Must be milled.
Chrysanthemum 6 Stars:
Potassium Nitrate 55
Charcoal 33
Sulfur 7
Dextrin 5
Must be milled. A more violent burn than Tigertail stars
Senko Hanabi: 
Potassium Nitrate 55
Charcoal 15
Sulfur 30
Unique charcoal sparkler composition. It varies greatly depending on the charcoal and sparkler construction. More on this later.
Chrysanthemum of Mystery Stars:
Potassium Nitrate 45
Charcoal 50
Dextrin 5
Must be milled. A dark, interesting charcoal star. There is very little visible flame. Only the tail of these stars is seen.