Gamblin 1980 Oils - Cadmium Red Light PR108-Cadmium Red;
PR188-Naphthol Red
Gamblin’s approach is different. 1980 colours contain pure
pigments, the finest refined linseed oil, and marble dust (calcium carbonate).
Since oil painting began, these three ingredients have made more affordable
colours.
Painters experience true colours without homogenized texture
or muddy colour mixtures. Gamblin's approach to using traditional raw materials and processes ensures that artists experience the luscious working properties they expect from their oil colours.
Cadmium Red Light: Orange/red was first synthesized in 1910.
Because of its muted tints, it is an excellent colour for natural light
painting. It is strong and opaque, with good tinting strength. Cadmium Red
dries slowly. It grays down when mixed with white, mixes well with blues to
create a range of browns, and mixes well with Cadmium Yellow to create an
intense orange. It also works well in neutral mixes.
PIGMENT COMPOSITION AND PERMANENCE
- Pigment Name: PR108-Cadmium Red
- Pigment Type: inorganic, cadmium
PROPERTIES
Cadmium Red is a bright, warm red that ranges in the shade
from orange-red to maroon and is available in light, medium, and dark versions.
It is strong and opaque, with good tinting strength. Cadmium Red dries slowly.
It grays down when mixed with white, mixes well with blues
to create a range of browns, and mixes well with Cadmium Yellow to create an
intense orange. It also works well in neutral mixes.
Cadmium pigments have been partially replaced by azo
pigments, which are similar in lightfastness to the cadmium colours, cheaper,
and non-toxic. Hues vary by brand. Cadmium Red is usually available in either a
pure grade or a cadmium-barium mix. The cadmium-barium mix has the same
permanence as pure Cadmium Red but has a lower tinting strength.
PERMANENCE
Cadmium Red is lightfast and permanent in most forms, but
like many cadmium pigments, it will fade in fresco or mural painting. Its
improved lightfastness has helped it to replace Vermilion on the artist’s
palette.
TOXICITY
Cadmium Red is a known human carcinogen. It is highly toxic
if inhaled and slightly toxic if ingested.
HISTORY
Cadmiums get their names from the Latin word cadmia, meaning
zinc ore calamine, and the Greek word kadmeia, meaning Cadmean earth, first
found near Thebes, the city founded by the Phoenician prince Cadmus. Metallic
cadmium was discovered in 1817 by Friedrich Strohmeyer, but Cadmium Red was not
introduced until 1907 in Germany.
PIGMENT COMPOSITION AND PERMANENCE
- Pigment Name: PR188-Naphthol Red
- Pigment Type: monoazo
PROPERTIES
Naphthol PR188 is a lightfast, semitransparent, moderately
staining, moderately dark valued, and intense orange-red pigment available
worldwide from five pigment manufacturers. The ASTM (1999) rates its
lightfastness in watercolours as "very good" (II), although my 2004
tests place it somewhat higher. (In particular, its lightfastness is
undoubtedly higher and more consistent than the brands of PR170 I have tested.)
Like other naphthol pigments, PR188 undergoes a slight
drying shift, holding lightness and losing about 15% saturation. It's a
beautiful, deep scarlet verging on a light red, the same hue as most cadmium
scarlet watercolours (PR188 is an excellent cadmium alternative if price or
toxicity is a concern). The average CIECAM J,a,b values for naphthol scarlet (PR188)
are 48, 81, and 45, with chroma of 92 (estimated hue purity of 77) and a hue
angle of 29.
Naphthol This Red is a bright, deep red with bluish
undertones. It has an average drying time.
PERMANENCE
This Naphthol Red has fair to good lightfastness, not
because of its masstone, but because it fades in tints. Not suitable for
exterior use.
TOXICITY
Naphthol Reds are not considered toxic but may cause eye,
skin, or respiratory irritation. Contact with dry pigment should be avoided.
HISTORY
Unknown.
