Cadmium pigments
A family of strong yellow, orange, red and green pigments made from cadmium compounds
Cadmium pigments are a group of bright, long-lasting colours used in art, made from cadmium compounds. They include yellows, oranges, reds, and greens, valued for their permanence and vividness but handled with care due to cadmium's toxicity.
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- Cadmium pigments include yellow, orange, red, and green shades
- Known for excellent resistance to fading and strong colour
- Toxic if inhaled; not recommended for children
- Replaced less stable pigments like vermilion in art
- Used in paints, plastics, and coloured glass
What colour is Cadmium pigments?
Cadmium pigments are a group of colours made from compounds containing the metal cadmium. They include cadmium yellow, orange, red and green, each with a strong, vivid appearance. These pigments stand out for their brightness and resistance to fading, which makes them popular among artists and in industrial uses. The colours range from a greenish yellow through orange and red to a deep yellowish green.
Where does Cadmium pigments come from?
The use of cadmium for pigments began soon after the metal was discovered in 1817, but it only became widely available to artists in the 1840s. Before cadmium pigments, stable bright yellows, oranges, and reds were hard to find, and artists often used mercury-based pigments like vermilion, which were less permanent. Cadmium pigments gradually replaced these older materials because of their improved lightfastness and reliability.
How is Cadmium pigments made?
Cadmium pigments are made by combining cadmium with other elements such as sulfur, selenium, or zinc. The main compounds are cadmium sulfide for yellow, cadmium sulfoselenide for orange and red, and mixtures with zinc sulfide for greenish tones. These compounds are processed into fine powders for use in paints, plastics, and coloured glass. Care is taken in handling the powders, as cadmium is toxic if inhaled.
Where Cadmium pigments is used
Artists use cadmium pigments in oil, acrylic, and watercolour paints, as well as in coloured pastels. They are also found in architectural paints, plastics, and in colouring borosilicate glass for lampworking. Cadmium colours are valued for their permanence and strong tinting power, though they require protection from air to avoid slow fading. Their use in children's art supplies is discouraged due to health risks.
Yellow around the world
What the yellow family means from country to country.
The yellow disc of the Aboriginal flag is the sun, giver of life. The flag was designed by the Luritja artist Harold Thomas and first flown in Adelaide in 1971.
Sacred and holySource: Australian Aboriginal flagAt the gaye holud, held a day or two before a wedding, relatives rub turmeric paste on the bride and groom. Guests dress in yellow and orange.
Weddings and marriageFestival and celebrationJoySource: Gaye holudOn Pohela Falgun, the first day of spring, young women wear yellow and orange saris, a shade called basanti, with flowers in their hair.
Festival and celebrationNature and renewalJoySource: Pohela FalgunThe Flemish flag is a black lion on yellow, and the Walloon flag a red cockerel on yellow. The language communities are often shown by these colours.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of FlandersThe flag is yellow, the colour of the Sultan. By custom, ordinary people did not wear yellow in the ruler's presence.
Royalty and powerPrideSource: Flag of BruneiThe national football team plays in a yellow shirt with green trim, the canarinho. It was chosen in a newspaper contest after the 1950 World Cup final was lost in white.
Festival and celebrationPrideJoySource: Brazil national football teamShades and relatives of Cadmium pigments
Cadmium pigments come in several shades, including cadmium yellow, orange, red, and green. The exact colour depends on the mix of cadmium with sulfur, selenium, or zinc. Cadmium green is usually made by mixing cadmium yellow with viridian. These pigments are sometimes confused with older materials like vermilion, but cadmium versions are more stable and lightfast.
Colours that go with Cadmium pigments
Harmonies are worked out from the value #006B3C. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Cadmium pigments
What colour are cadmium pigments?
Cadmium pigments cover a range from greenish yellow through orange and red to deep green. The specific shade depends on the chemical composition.
Where does the name 'cadmium pigment' come from?
The name comes from cadmium, the metal used to make these pigments. Cadmium was discovered in 1817, and its compounds produce the bright colours.
Why are cadmium pigments used by artists?
Artists value cadmium pigments for their vivid colour, strong tinting power, and resistance to fading, making them reliable for lasting artworks.
Are cadmium pigments safe to use?
Cadmium pigments are toxic if inhaled, especially as dust or powder. They are not recommended for children and should be handled with care by adults.
What are cadmium pigments made from?
They are made from compounds like cadmium sulfide, cadmium sulfoselenide, and mixtures with zinc sulfide, which give different shades.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cadmium pigments", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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