A mix of blue and red light, magenta is closer to a “true primary” than red. A magenta, rose, or pink color can have a crucial palette slot as a versatile mixer, or for botanicals. Mix with orange or a bit of yellow for red, or with blue for vibrant violets.
Color List
Magenta-Adjacent
Pinks suitable for primary or near-primary mixing in a Magenta/Yellow/Cyan palette.
Quinacridone Pyrrolidone (PR N/A)
The line between rose or carmine and crimson can be quite fuzzy; you may find more rosy colors under Red or Crimson. The line between magenta and fuchsia or violet can also be unclear; you may find more violet-undertoned colors in Violet.
Pinks unsuitable for primary mixing
These qualify as pink but are not suitable be used as a primary magenta.
Shell Pink (PW6, PO73) or other pastel pinks (mixed with white)
Opera Pink (PR122, fluo.) or other fugitive neon pinks (with a fluorescent additive)
My thoughts
Necessary slot? Yes! Primary magenta is one of my top three colors. Color theory aside, I have certainly found anecdotally that the mixing power of the colors in this slot are very great, mixing a wide range of oranges, scarlets, and reds with a yellow (orange-yellow is best for this), and really punchy violets with blues.
Okay, technically, some people get along without a color in this slot. Folks who don’t like pink and don’t want their paintings to look pinkish may wish to skip a pink and go with a crimson instead. The mixing power is nearly as good but the paintings will look more subdued. You could also split the palette role into a red and a violet, as Max Romey does. I wouldn’t, though, because I like pink.
Favorites: Although PR122 is closest to a ‘true magenta’ I love the warm roses you get from PV19. I also tend to use PR209 a lot for sunsets because of its fiery warm coral hue; it also mixes the best oranges.
See Also
- What’s the difference between Quinacridone Rose (PV19) and Quinacridone Magenta (PR122)?
- Da Vinci PV19 Comparison: Is Alizarin Crimson Quinacridone Reduplicative With Red Rose Deep?
Similar Slots
- Red or Crimson [includes Alizarin Crimson]
- Violet [includes Quinacridone Fuchsia/Magenta PR202]
- Earth Red [includes Potter’s Pink]
- Back to all Color Slots