D190 Primary Magenta/Magenta Primaire - PR122 Quinacridone Magenta (organic, quinacridone)

Quinacridone Magenta came from a red violet aniline dye first produced in 1858 by Natanson. It was called Magenta to commemorate a battle in Magenta, Italy. Over time, Magenta became the standard colour name for a deep, violet red. Although quinacridone compounds became known in the late 19th century, manufacturing methods to make them practical for use as commercial pigments did not begin until the 1950s. PR122 has become particularly popular in the formulation of Magenta for CMYK process printing.

• Series: A
• Lightfast: ***

Pigment Name: PR122-Quinacridone Magenta

Pigment Type: organic, quinacridone

Chemical Name: n/a

Properties: Quinacridone Magenta is a semi-transparent, robust bluish red with an impressive mixing range. It makes an excellent glazing colour and is one of the bluest of the Quinacridone colours. The pigment's properties vary considerably, depending on how it is ground. Quinacridone pigments have relatively low tinting strength in general. For this reason, quinacridone colours are often expensive because more pigment is required in the formulation.

Permanence: Quinacridone Magenta offers excellent lightfastness in most media, but some have argued less lightfast in watercolour form. Although Quinacridone Magenta received only a passing grade of "fair" under ASTM test protocols, other test results have rated the pigment very good to excellent. Transparent reddish violet pigments, in general, have more problems with lightfastness than any other range of colours. PR122 has often been used as the Magenta of CMYK (four colours) process printing because it offers a better trade-off between tinting strength and lightfastness than other pigments in its class.

Toxicity: Quinacridone Magenta has no acute hazards. However, overexposure to quinacridone pigments may cause skin irritation. Quinacridone pigments contain a compound that is a skin, eye, and respiratory irritant.

Alternate Names: Acra Red, Quinacridone Violet (PV19), Thalo Red Rose.