In the past, I used Cadmium Orange as the tertiary yellow-orange on the color wheel. It is a pure color that is perfect for its complementary color listed below. But, there are newer paint color alternatives that I prefer now. They are Transparent Orange and Cadmium-Free Orange. Why? Because Cadmium paints are toxic. So, I avoid using them.
Understanding Cadmium Orange on the Palette
Cadmium Orange is known for its strong chroma and distinctly opaque nature. Unlike transparent watercolor pigments that allow light to pass through the paint layers and reflect back from the paper, Cadmium Orange blocks light. This opacity causes the color to sit more heavily on the paper surface, which affects both layering and mixing.
Because of this, Cadmium Orange does not glaze well and can quickly dull mixtures when combined with transparent pigments. While it produces bold, solid color in a single layer, it often lacks the luminosity that many watercolor artists seek in modern transparent palettes.
Cadmium Orange vs. Modern Transparent Alternatives
Advances in pigment technology have made it possible to achieve vibrant orange hues without the drawbacks of cadmium paints.
- Transparent Orange offers high chroma with excellent transparency, making it ideal for glazing, color layering, and clean mixes.
- Cadmium-Free Orange provides a similar visual warmth to Cadmium Orange without the toxicity, though it may differ slightly in intensity or undertone depending on the manufacturer.
These modern alternatives support luminous watercolor techniques while maintaining safety and versatility in the studio.
Temperature and Color Bias of Cadmium Orange
Cadmium Orange is a warm orange with a noticeable yellow bias. This warmth influences how it behaves in mixes:
- Mixed with blues or blue-violets, it tends to create muted neutrals rather than vibrant secondaries.
- When combined with yellows, it produces strong, earthy yellow-orange passages.
- With reds, it can quickly overpower the mixture due to its opacity.
Understanding this color bias helps predict results and avoid muddy mixes.
Color Schemes Using Cadmium Orange
The following color schemes are based on Stephen Quiller’s “Quiller Color Wheel” and his book “Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color Theory.“
Complementary
The complementary color sits on the opposite side of the color wheel. For Cadmium Orange, the complementary color is:
Split-Complementary
The split-complementary colors are the two colors located on either side of the complementary color on the color wheel. The following are the split-complementary colors for Cadmium Orange:
Analogous
Going clockwise on the color wheel from YELLOW-ORANGE to YELLOW-GREEN the analogous colors for Cadmium Orange are:
Triadic
This Triadic consists of three INTERMEDIATE colors. In addition to Cadmium Orange, the other colors that make up this Triadic color scheme are:
Opacity, Mixing, and Layering Effects
Because Cadmium Orange is opaque, it can flatten underlying washes when layered on top of transparent colors. This characteristic makes it less suitable for traditional watercolor glazing techniques but more appropriate for:
- Single-layer applications
- Flat color areas
- Graphic or illustrative styles
In contrast, transparent oranges maintain color harmony and optical depth when layered.
Lightfastness vs. Watercolor Technique
Historically, cadmium pigments were prized for their excellent lightfastness, which made them attractive to artists concerned about permanence. However, permanence alone does not guarantee successful watercolor behavior.
Modern transparent pigments now offer both lightfastness and superior handling qualities, allowing artists to achieve longevity without sacrificing luminosity or clean mixing.
Safety Considerations When Using Cadmium Pigments
Cadmium paints are toxic, particularly if inhaled or ingested. While safe handling practices can reduce risk, many artists prefer to eliminate cadmium pigments entirely—especially in home studios, shared workspaces, or teaching environments.
Cadmium-free alternatives provide a safer and more practical choice for everyday watercolor use.
When Cadmium Orange May Still Be Useful
Although no longer part of my regular palette, Cadmium Orange can still be useful in limited situations, such as:
- Painting autumn foliage or rustic subjects
- Creating muted, earthy neutrals
- Working in styles that favor opacity over transparency
Used thoughtfully, it can serve a specific visual purpose rather than a primary mixing role.