Cadmium red

Cadmium red is a bright and warm red color that is derived from cadmium pigments.

Cadmium pigments are a class of inorganic compounds that contain the element cadmium, which is a heavy metal with a high toxicity.

They are used in various applications, such as artists' paints, plastics, and specialty paints, because they have good lightfastness, tinting power, and resistance to high temperatures.

However, they also pose health and environmental risks, especially when inhaled or ingested.

Cadmium red is one of the most common cadmium pigments, along with cadmium yellow and cadmium orange.

It is a mixture of cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide, which have different proportions of sulfur and selenium.

The more selenium, the more orange the hue; the more sulfur, the more yellow.

Cadmium red has a hue angle of 351 degrees, a saturation of 100%, and a lightness of 44.5% in the HSL color space.

In the RGB color space, it has a hexadecimal code of #E30022, which means it has 89.02% red, 0% green, and 13.33% blue.

In the CMYK color space, this color has 0% cyan, 100% magenta, 85% yellow, and 11% black.

Cadmium red was first produced in the late 19th century as a synthetic alternative to the natural vermilion, which was made from mercury sulfide and had poor lightfastness and high toxicity.

It became popular among artists, especially in the early 20th century, as it offered a vibrant and stable red color that could not be achieved by other pigments.

Some famous artists who used cadmium red include Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Mark Rothko.

Cadmium red is still widely used today, despite the availability of safer and cheaper alternatives, such as organic pigments or digital colors.

Some artists prefer this color for its unique qualities and historical significance.

However, cadmium red should be handled with care and disposed of properly, as it can cause serious health problems and environmental damage.

• Fire engines: Many fire engines are painted with cadmium red or a similar shade of red, because it is a very visible and attention-grabbing color.
  Red is also associated with danger, urgency and alertness, which are appropriate for fire-fighting vehicles.

• Traffic lights: The red light in traffic signals is often made from cadmium red or a similar hue, because it is a very bright and clear color that can be seen from a distance.
  Red is also used to indicate stop, warning and prohibition, which are important for road safety.

• Lipstick: Some lipstick shades are based on cadmium red or a similar tone, because it is a very flattering and attractive color for many skin tones.
  Red is also a symbol of passion, romance and confidence, which are desirable qualities for many people.

• Flags: Some national flags use cadmium red or a similar color as one of their main colors, such as the flag of China, the flag of Canada, the flag of Switzerland and the flag of Turkey.
  Red is often used to represent blood, sacrifice, courage and revolution, which are significant for many countries' histories and identities.

• Art: Many artists use cadmium red or a similar shade in their paintings, sculptures and other artworks, because it is a very expressive and dynamic color that can create contrast, harmony and mood.
  Some famous examples of artworks that use cadmium red are Broadway Boogie Woogie by Piet Mondrian, Mural by Jackson Pollock, Alchemy by Jackson Pollock and The Scream by Edvard Munch.