Gamblin 1980 Oils -Cadmium Red Medium PR112-Naphthol Red AS-D; PR108-Cadmium Red

Cadmium Red Medium: Darker than Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Red Medium is a valuable medium red with a strong, opaque masstone and muted tint; light will not penetrate its surface.

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: PR112-Naphthol Red AS-D
• Pigment Type: organic, monoazo

PROPERTIES

This Naphthol Red is an intense scarlet red pigment that is heavily staining. It has an average drying time. It is semi-transparent and has relatively poor covering power.

PERMANENCE

This Naphthol Red has been rated as having excellent lightfastness under ASTM testing. Still, other testing methods have demonstrated some tendency for the colour to fade with exposure to intense ultraviolet light. It has been considered a replacement for less lightfast naphthol reds such as PR3. Not suitable for exterior use.

TOXICITY

Naphthol Reds are not considered toxic. Naphthol Red AS-D may cause eye, skin, or respiratory irritation. Contact with dry pigment should be avoided.

HISTORY

Unknown.

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.