Pigfolio

PR108 Cadmium Red

Cadmium sulfoselenide. Also listed as PR108:1.

86 tubes from 23 of 24 paint lines contain PR108. 74 are made from PR108 alone, which is the closest match when you're switching brands.

Toxicity
Toxic: contains cadmium Cadmium compounds are toxic if swallowed or breathed in as dust. In oil paint the risk comes mostly from getting it in your mouth, or from sanding or spraying, so keep it off your hands and don't eat while painting.
Drying
Slow
Opacity
Single-pigment tubes are mostly opaque.

About PR108

History

Cadmium red became available to artists in the early 20th century and became the standard opaque red for oil painters.

In mixes

Opaque, warm and strong, covering well in one coat. Tints with white stay clean and warm. With blues it makes dull violets and browns rather than clean ones.

Genuine or hue?

Cadmium colors are opaque, warm and strong, but cost more and are toxic if swallowed or breathed in as dust. Hues are cheaper and safer, and usually more transparent, so they cover less well.

Drying speed is typical for linseed oil; tubes ground in safflower or poppy oil, or with driers added, will differ. These are general notes on the pigment, not on any one brand.

Purest PR108, by brand

The best single-pigment PR108 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.

  1. Art Spectrum Cadmium RedSeries 4 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  2. Blockx Cadmium RedSeries 6 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  3. Cobra Cadmium Red DeepLF I · Opaque Opaque
  4. Gamblin Cadmium Red DeepLF I
  5. Langridge Cadmium Red LightSeries 6 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  6. M. Graham Cadmium RedSeries 6 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  7. Michael Harding Cadmium Red LightSeries 5 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  8. Old Holland Cadmium Red Medium (Vermilion)Series E · LF I
  9. Rembrandt Cadmium Red MediumSeries 4 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  10. Schmincke Mussini Cadmium Red MediumLF I · Opaque Opaque
  11. W&N Artisan Cadmium Red MediumSeries 2 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  12. W&N Artists' Cadmium RedSeries 4 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  13. W&N Griffin Cadmium Red DeepSeries 2 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  14. Williamsburg Cadmium Red LightSeries 7 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  15. Grumbacher Cadmium Red LightSeries 5 · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  16. Holbein Cadmium RedSeries E · LF I · Opaque Opaque
  17. Lukas 1862 Cadmium Red DeepSeries 3 · LF I
  18. Da Vinci Cadmium Red LightLF not rated · Opaque Opaque
  19. Maimeri Puro Cadmium Red OrangeLF not rated
  20. Vasari Cadmium Red DeepLF not rated · Opaque Opaque
  21. Van Gogh Cadmium Red MediumSeries 2 · LF I · Opaque Opaque · student grade
  22. W&N Winton Cadmium Red MediumSeries 2 · LF I · Opaque Opaque · student grade

Not sold here by: Art Creation.

Made from PR108 alone

Cadmium MaroonArt SpectrumPR108Series 5OpaqueLF ICadmium RedArt SpectrumPR108Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepArt SpectrumPR108Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium PurpleBlockx 212825PR108Series 6OpaqueLF ICadmium RedBlockx 212823PR108Series 6OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepCobra 306PR108OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightCobra 303PR108OpaqueLF ICadmium Red MediumCobra 314PR108OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepDa VinciPR108Opaque–Cadmium Red LightDa VinciPR108Opaque–Cadmium Red MediumDa VinciPR108Opaque–Cadmium Red DeepGamblinPR108LF ICadmium Red LightGamblinPR108LF ICadmium Red MediumGamblinPR108LF ICadmium RedGrumbacher P030PR108:1Series 5OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepGrumbacher P026PR108:1Series 5OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightGrumbacher P027PR108:1Series 5OpaqueLF ICadmium Red MediumGrumbacher P029PR108:1Series 5OpaqueLF ICadmium MaroonHolbein H225PR108Series EVerifyOpaqueLF ICadmium Orange Red ShadeHolbein H210PR108Series EVerifyOpaqueLF ICadmium RedHolbein H207PR108Series EOpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepHolbein H209PR108Series EOpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightHolbein H208PR108Series EVerifyOpaqueLF ICadmium Red PurpleHolbein H211PR108Series EOpaqueLF ICadmium RedLangridgePR108Series 6OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepLangridgePR108Series 6OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightLangridgePR108Series 6OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepLukas 1862 0074PR108Series 3LF ICadmium RedM. Graham 040PR108Series 6OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepM. Graham 045PR108Series 6OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightM. Graham 050PR108Series 6OpaqueLF ICadmium RedMichael Harding 504PR108Series 5OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepMichael Harding 505PR108Series 5OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightMichael Harding 503PR108Series 5OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepMaimeri Puro 232PR108–Cadmium Red LightMaimeri Puro 226PR108–Cadmium Red MediumMaimeri Puro 228PR108–Cadmium Red OrangeMaimeri Puro 224PR108–Cadmium Red PurpleMaimeri Puro 230PR108–Cadmium Red DeepSchmincke Mussini 10357PR108OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightSchmincke Mussini 10356PR108OpaqueLF ICadmium Red MediumSchmincke Mussini 10341PR108OpaqueLF ICadmium OrangeOld Holland E17PR108Series EVerifyLF ICadmium Red DeepOld Holland E23PR108Series ELF ICadmium Red LightOld Holland E21PR108Series ELF ICadmium Red Medium (Vermilion)Old Holland E154PR108Series EHueLF ICadmium Red PurpleOld Holland E25PR108Series ELF ICadmium Red ScarletOld Holland E20PR108Series ELF ICadmium Yellow Extra DeepOld Holland E139PR108Series EVerifyLF ICadmium Yellow OrangeOld Holland E142PR108Series EVerifyLF ICadmium Red DeepRembrandt 306PR108Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium Red MediumRembrandt 314PR108Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium Red PurpleRembrandt 309PR108Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepVasariPR108Opaque–Cadmium Red LightVasariPR108Opaque–Cadmium Red MediumVasariPR108Opaque–Cadmium Red DeepVan Gogh 306PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium Red MediumVan Gogh 314PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium PurpleWilliamsburg 6000658PR108Series 8OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepWilliamsburg 6000647PR108Series 7OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightWilliamsburg 6000587PR108Series 7OpaqueLF ICadmium Red MediumWilliamsburg 6000607PR108Series 7OpaqueLF ICadmium Red PurpleWilliamsburg 6000657PR108Series 7OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightW&N Winton 100PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium Red MediumW&N Winton 099PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium RedW&N Artists' 094PR108Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepW&N Artists' 097PR108Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium ScarletW&N Artists' 106PR108Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DarkW&N Artisan 104PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightW&N Artisan 100PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium Red MediumW&N Artisan 099PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium Red DeepW&N Griffin 097PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightW&N Griffin 100PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium Red MediumW&N Griffin 099PR108Series 2OpaqueLF I

PR108 with white added

Coral RedHolbein H206PR108PW6Series BVerifySemi-opaqueLF I

Mixtures that contain PR108

Cadmium ScarletArt SpectrumPR108PO20Series 4OpaqueLF IJaune BrilliantArt SpectrumPW6PY35PR108Series 1OpaqueLF ICaucasian Flesh ToneGamblinPW6PY43PR108LF ICadmium RedGeorgian D111014503PR108PR254–Naples YellowGrumbacher P146PW4PY35PR108PBr7Series 2HueLF ICadmium Yellow DeepOld Holland D16PY35PR108Series DLF ICadmium Red LightRembrandt 303PR108PO20Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium Red LightVan Gogh 303PO20PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium OrangeW&N Winton 089PO20PR108Series 2OpaqueLF ICadmium OrangeW&N Artists' 089PO20PR108Series 4OpaqueLF ICadmium OrangeW&N Griffin 089PR108PO20Series 3OpaqueLF I

Brands: Art Spectrum, Blockx, Cobra, Da Vinci, Gamblin, Georgian, Grumbacher, Holbein, Langridge, Lukas 1862, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Maimeri Puro, Schmincke Mussini, Old Holland, Rembrandt, Vasari, Van Gogh, Williamsburg, W&N Winton, W&N Artists', W&N Artisan, W&N Griffin.