Fire engine reds to darker, moodier reds, but colors you’d definitely call “red.”
Color List
Alizarin Crimson (PR83) – fugitive; see Alizarin Crimson Alternatives
Not tried:
- Cadmium Red or Cadmium Red Deep (PR108)
- Naphthol Red (PR170)
- Anthraquinoid Red (PR177)
More pinky-undertoned reds may be found under Magenta, Pink, or Rose.
My thoughts
Necessary slot? Nah, it’s second-tier. I tend to find that rose and pink colors mix more nicely than engine reds. Red is not a primary, but magenta is. When I do want a red, I tend to avoid the fire engine reds and go more for deeper crimsons, which I personally like better and which hold a useful palette role as green muters.
Favorites: Pyrrol Rubin (PR264) is my subjective favorite and also the one I find most useful especially in winter; it mutes greens gorgeously, and is distinct enough from rose to be worth another slot, unlike the Alizarin Crimson replacements. My second choice is Perylene Red (PR178), a slightly ‘redder’ but still slightly subdued red, for muting blues and using mostly-red mixes with blue to create maroon hues. I don’t need both.
Mix your own: Same formula as orange and scarlet: Orange-Yellow plus Pink or Magenta. Just, use mostly Magenta and only the tiniest hint of the yellow.
See Also
- Da Vinci Complete Dot Cards Part 2: Reds & Purples
- Mixing Dark Reds
- Mix Your Own Alizarin Crimson Hue
- What’s the difference between Pyrrol Crimson and Alizarin Crimson Quinacridone?
- What’s the difference between Pyrrole Rubin (PR264) and Alizarin Crimson Quinacridone (PV19)?
- Da Vinci PV19 Comparison: Is Alizarin Crimson Quinacridone Reduplicative With Red Rose Deep?
Similar Slots
- Scarlet
- Magenta, Pink, or Rose
- Maroon
- Earth Red
- Back to all Color Slots