Quinacridone Red
PR209
Alternate Names
Quinacridone Yellow Red
Quinacridone Red Y
Pigment Description
Quinacridone Red is a merry, bright red that is gorgeous on its own and also in mixes with white. One of many quinacridones (other famous ones include PV19 red version), PR209 has a distinct handling in tints. As an oil paint, it is transparent or semi-transparent.
M Graham Quinacridone Red, PR209
As far as lightfastness, certain brands in watercolor came closer to ASTM I or excellent in Bruce MacEvoy’s testing. However, it seems like there may be some complexity to the lightfastness one may expect from this pigment. Depending on the supplier it may have an ASTM rating of II (which is very good but not quite excellent). We love this color so much that the lightfastness rating of II just hurts to see if a person is looking for the most archival colors. If the paintmaker sourced their pigment from a supplier where one could avoid those blue wool scale 6's reported on Artiscreation, that's one thing, but this beauty seems to have a definite risk of fading depending on the supplier. Like so many colors, it is probably best to do one's own lightfastness testing periodically with PR209 if there is a version that one particularly likes.
M Graham PR209, Quinacridone Red
According to Artiscreation, this color comes in opaque and transparent versions, but we've only encountered the transparent ones so far in oils.
A tint of M. Graham Quinacridone Red in oil paint with Titanium White, PW6
Resources
PR209 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com
Information about PR209 from Bruce MacEvoy, Handprint Guide to Watercolors,
Stats
Lightfastness
Various, May differ according to supplier
Thought to be ASTM I (excellent) in oil and ASTM II (very good) in watercolor, however some of the measurements fall a bit lower than we like to see (in one case BWS 6).
Transparency
Transparent
Toxicity
Lower Concern
Treat all pigments and paints with studio safety protocols.
Tinting
Moderate
Dry Time
Medium
Some brands listed a moderate dry time while some say slow. Some brands had a 2 day short dry time and may include driers.
Particle Size
Very Fine
Chemical Name
Quinacridone
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