Cadium Red Vs Cadium Red Medium Vs the "Hues"... ???

Question:in context of acrylics...

is cadium red medium often refered as just cadium red... or are they different colors?

and what exactly is a hue? i looked up many definitions and most says its "a color of a color...." please explain this concept to me so it could be understood...

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: in context of acrylics...

is cadium red medium often refered as just cadium red... or are they different colors?

and what exactly is a hue? i looked up many definitions and most says its "a color of a color...." please explain this concept to me so it could be understood...

Cadmium red is the pigment cadmium selenide. There is Cadmium Red Light (an orange red), Cadmium Red Medium (the purest Cadmium Red) and Cadmium Red Deep, which is a darker, more muted Cadmium Red.

They are ALL cadmium red, but cadmium red medium is usually referred to as cadmium red.

Cadmium Red Hue is not pure pigment. It has more filler, and is more translucent (less opaque). Cadmium Red Medium is pure pigment, and light will not penetrate the surface.

Think of it like this: If a pure pigment paint is a perfume, a hue is a body spray:) The hues are cheaper, because they have more filler and less pigment. (Generally they are considered not as good as the pure pigmented colors...but take that with a grain of salt, because it is ONLY an opinion.)

Cadmium is a metal which is the coloring ingredient in the paint. Hue means the paint was made with synthetics instead of the natural material. The colors are pretty close and for most purposes will work just fine. In most cases the "Hues" are not nearly as toxic. It's a lot less expensive too. The put "Hue" in the name to separate that product from the naturally derived pigment.

Could I just add that cadmium, the metal, is very poisonous and can be absorbed through the skin, as well as being inordinately expensive. The artificial versions (labelled "hue") mix just as well and are just as archivally sound, and you save money to spend on brushes!