Cadmium Scarlet is very soft and evenly distributed across the surface except for the outer edges of the deckled paper, where there is a saturation of colour. There does appear to be some colour differences in the red – a separation of the two red hues – a slightly yellowish warmer hue. It almost looks like the sample has been contaminated with a yellow pigment in one area. I wonder if I’ve got the Cadmium Scarlet and the Cadmium-Free Scarlet mixed up. I won’t know till they dry. Upon drying, the sample of coloured paper still evidences a solid yellow stain. Colour intensity on the edges has diminished significantly. 

I think that I mixed up the samples, which is Cadmium Scarlet’s description. As soon as I opened it – IT STUNK! This is typical of the Cadmium Scarlet mould. It’s growing, and it has evaporated much more. They are all sealed in the same way, and it seems that the moisture has been held in the paper structure. This results in the growth of mould and fungus from individual pigments.

The solution is evident at the top with minimal pigment. Paper is softly and evenly coloured from viewing outside the tube before pulling out the paper. The solution smells dank but is not as apparent unless close and nothing like the offensive smell of the previous sample. There is more saturation of colour on the deckled edge, but it is less intense than Cad Scar. Variations of colour intensity exist where the paper has rolled.

I’m scared to open this one – the stench of the previous one overwhelmed me. Much pinker than I expected and not as smelly. The bottom of the deckled edge is full of luscious colour, and it seems to have soaked every crevice of the paper. There is a random spotting and dotting of colour from top to bottom. One side is far more intense than the other; spotting corresponds with the mark on the other side. As it settles, it grows with intensity. It seems to stain more than different colours observed.

I’m not sure that I understand what has happened with this sample. It looks like I’ve mixed up the samples, but I’m confident that they have been placed back into the precisely correct order. The paper is very soft, and it left very few traces of pigment that would be expected of a cadmium colour. Once installed, these tubes of warm reds 1 and 2 could not be reached, so there was no agitation of the samples in the test tubes. There is a marked difference in the colour’s performance on the paper. Must check the order. This sample of Cadmium Red Deep is correct, but I think the Scarlet Lake is possibly the Cadmium Red sample.

The Cadmium Red Deep pigment sample displays a notable green and black mould around the lid, and there are traces of mould on the top of the colourant inside the test tubes.

The gradation of pigment colour on the paper is subtle. The most intense colour was at the top of the paper and then towards the bottom of the test tube, where the pigment has already settled. As it is drying the granulating quality of the pigment becomes evident. The pigment settles in the creases of the paper. The mid-third of the paper has more obvious granulation and mottling. Still, this is a very soft and subtle sample and it is surprisingly not characteristic of my expectations of cadmium red-coloured pigments. The dilution reveals something else about these coloured pigments – their opacity is also providing an unexpected characteristic of presence but subtlety.

Definitely more pronounced than the last sample. I’m really doubting the order now; nevertheless, the resulting papers are beautiful to observe. The settling of the pigments into the creases and notches in the paper. It’s definitely not as smooth in its coverage on the paper – some small dots and a mottled appearance. Deckled edges are notably darker at the top of the paper (which is not evident in others – need to look at the video to see if I turned it upside down).

Just when I thought I had the wrong order... I get Winsor Red. So saturated, so deep, and intense in colour. It keeps bleeding red. This sample has random spots and dots all over it. Warm reds are all done now and Winsor Red is the most intense by far. The paper seems to have held a lot of pigment.