PR176 is a deep, pinky crimson is often suggested as an alternative to fugitive Alizarin Crimson (PR83). Mission Gold calls it Rose Madder, and Daniel Smith calls it Carmine.
Pigment Stats for PR176
Chemical Composition: Monoazo benzimidazolone
Lightfastness: Generally rated at LFII; not tested by me.
Toxicity: Nontoxic. So nontoxic. FDA allows this as a pigment for use in coloring food and toys, per ArtIsCreation.
Observations of Mission Gold’s Rose Madder (Hue)
Gradient: Deep crimson through pink. Very high chroma. Smooth nice gradient. Like many Mission Gold paints, this was quite shiny in masstone (I don’t expect that to be a problem in other brands).
Opacity: Transparent.
Glazing: Glazes to dark red.
Comparison to Other Colors
Very similar to Alizarin Crimson Quinacridone (PV19).
What Others Say
Referring to Daniel Smith’s Carmine:
This color is ever so slightly cooler than [Alizarin Crimson Quinacridone]… Surprisingly vibrant oranges, beautfiul browns when mixed with a light green, bright vibrant purple tones that it just brings out depth from. Mixed with a darker tone, it mixes beautiful dark colors. Carmine is a little bit less lightfast than the other colors on this list.
Denise Soden, My Top 5 Favorite Reds
Conclusion
It’s fine, but I love Quin Red and Permanent Alizarin Crimson, so I see no reason to adopt a PR176 into my palette, especially given that it’s less lightfast.
Favorite version: I haven’t tried it beyond a dot card, but I believe DS Carmine is well regarded. I think it would be better than Mission Gold Rose Madder, which is too shiny.
Comments
2 responses to “Color Spotlight: Benzimidazolone Carmine (PR176)”
I got a version of this in my first Roman Szmal starter set, and it’s lovely (iirc, it wasn’t shiny even when I used it in masstone), but it’s also one of the first paints I saw fade in a light-fastness test! Very sad.
I think PR264, although it’s less pink, satisfies the same part of my brain though.
The shininess is definitely a Mission Gold problem, many of their colors are like that. I agree PR264 is a good alternative.