Perylene Crimson

Description

Perylene Crimson (PR178) is a single-pigment perylene red. It produces a deep, slightly muted crimson with a gentle maroon undertone and a richly saturated masstone. Compared to brighter quinacridone crimsons and scarlets, this pigment is a touch more subdued and atmospheric, offering a velvety, wine-red character that is rich and sophisticated

In use, Perylene Crimson gives a luminous, transparent to semi-transparent red ideal for florals, textiles, fruit, autumn foliage, wood, leather, and warm shadows in portrait and figure work. It has strong tinting strength and builds beautiful darks in glazes, making it excellent for layered washes and optical mixing. It mixes beautifully with yellows for deep oranges and red earth tones, with blues and blue-greens for complex near-blacks and shadow neutrals, and with violets and magentas for sumptuous wine reds and plum tones that stay clear.

This perylene pigment is finely milled, chemically stable, and compatible with a wide range of binders and mediums. In artist’s colors it serves as a modern, high-performance alternative to traditional alizarin-style crimsons, providing both a rich glazing color and a versatile mixer for warm, low-key, and classical palettes.

History

Perylene pigments belong to the rylene family of organic colorants, developed in the 20th century from perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride chemistry. They were originally created for high-performance industrial applications, such as automotive finishes, plastics, and protective coatings, where very high tinting strength, chemical resistance, and lightfastness were required.

As pigment-grade perylenes were refined, paintmakers recognized their potential for artist colors: intense chroma, deep masstone, good permanence, and a distinctive, slightly “smoky” character in the reds and maroons. Perylene Crimson (PR178) occupies a middle position within the perylene reds, deeper and more wine-like than bright scarlets, but less brown than perylene maroons, making it particularly attractive for artists seeking a dark crimson that can shift from glowing glazes to quiet, atmospheric shadows. Today, PR178 appears in select professional watercolor, oil, and acrylic ranges and is valued by painters who want a dependable, subtly muted crimson with a modern technical pedigree.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Synthetic (Organic) perylene pigment

Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic, Lime / Fresco, Ceramic and cement applications

Lightfastness: Excellent

Opacity: Transparent to semi-transparent

Other Names: Perylene Crimson, Perylene Red (PR178), Perylene Deep Red

Color Index Code: PR178