Cadmium Red
Pigment HistorySynthetic - cadmium selenide/sulphide, introduced c.1910. Cadmium red came too late for the Old Masters but defined modern colour - from Matisse’s reds to Hockney’s, its opacity and brilliance transformed the 20th-century palette. The benchmark modern red - bright, opaque and permanent, though it requires care because of its cadmium content.
Cadmium Red is a single-pigment Michael Harding watercolour made with PR108.
It is semi-opaque, excellent lightfastness, granulating, medium staining power, tinting strength 3.
- Code
- W407
- Series
- Series 4
- Pigment Index
- PR108
- Contents
- 15ml tube
- Lightfastness
- Excellent
- Tint Power
- 3
- Granulation
- YES
- Staining Power
- Medium
Measured colour data
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Tint · Tone · Shade · Glaze
Preview how Cadmium Red behaves when mixed, toned, shaded and glazed. Each swatch is computed from the masstone using a perceptual subtractive model - an approximation for guidance, not a formulation guarantee.
Cadmium Red straight from the tube.
A thin wash over white.
Mixed with Titanium White.
Mixed with a mid neutral grey.
Darkened with a chromatic black.
A thin transparent film over white.
Popular combinations
Open Cadmium Red in the Virtual Mixing Studio to preview how it combines with these partners before you reach for the palette.
Open Cadmium Red in Mixing StudioFeatured in 8 palettes
What pigment is used in Cadmium Red ?
Cadmium Red is made with PR108.
Is Cadmium Red a single-pigment colour?
Yes. Cadmium Red uses a single pigment (PR108), so its behaviour stays consistent and predictable on the palette.
Is Cadmium Red transparent or opaque?
Cadmium Red is semi-opaque.
Is Cadmium Red lightfast?
Cadmium Red has excellent lightfastness.
Does Cadmium Red granulate?
In watercolour, Cadmium Red is granulating.
Does Cadmium Red stain the paper?
Cadmium Red has medium staining power.
Is Cadmium Red vegan?
Yes. Cadmium Red contains no animal-derived ingredients and is suitable for vegan artists.
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Colour Disclaimer: Colours shown on screen or in print may vary from the actual product. For the most accurate representation of colour, texture and finish, we recommend viewing a physical sample or swatch in person before making your final selection.