Cadmium-free reds

Cadmium reds are superb pigments, but they're expensive and contain a toxic metal that needs careful handling and disposal. Modern organic reds, especially the pyrroles developed in the 1980s, now match them closely in strength and lightfastness, often at a lower price. See cadmium on the safer pigments page.

• Most organic reds are more transparent than cadmium. A very small amount of titanium white or pyrrole orange adds covering power without dulling the red much.
• Or underpaint the area with an opaque earth such as light red (PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Mars / Burnt Sienna)), then paint or glaze the clean red over it.
• For oranges, mix pyrrole red with a warm arylide yellow (PY65 Arylide Yellow RN); for pinks, use a quinacridone with white so they stay clean.