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Perylene Red

PR178

Pigment Description

Perylene Red (distinct from Perylene Maroon). Lightfastness is decent to moderate. Lightfastness may be better in watercolors, however it may fade in tints.

Monona Rossol mentions that this pigment has an anthraquinone-like similarity (potential carcinogen) may cause methemoglobinemia, and be associated with health problems- please see her work for information about powder/dust hazards.

Resources

PR178 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com

Information about PR178 from Bruce MacEvoy, Handprint Guide to Watercolors, General information about this class of pigments from Handprint,

Rossol, Monona. The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide. New York, NY : Allworth Press, 2001. The book is rather dated, updated information is available from her website.

Stats

Lightfastness

Good to Very Good, but one caveat

Very Good, but one of the BWS readings returned a 6 which is lower than we like in an artist paint. Tests reported by the NPIRI in the 1980s showed that in outdoor exposures there was a slight change in tints.

Transparency

Semi-Transparent, Semi-Opaque

Toxicity

Previously thought to be in the category of Low Concern, new research suggests this may be carcinogenic.

Monona Rossol’s writing about pigments and artist safety available on request here notes that this pigment has a similarity to other Anthraquinones which are carcinogenic. While this specific pigment has not been tested, other similar pigments have been listed as "reasonably believed to be carcinogenic." Treat all pigments and paints with studio safety protocols.

Chemical Name

anthraquinone perylene

with PR178 (Perylene Red)
No single-pigment Oil found with PR178

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