PR 255 – pyrrole scarlet

One of the most lightfast red organic pigments

Manufacturer/ product code:  Kremer / 23179
Chemical Description:  diketo-pyrrolo-pyrrole
Color: red
Color Index: PR 255
Date:  from 1983

PR 255 – Pyrrole Scarlet is a synthetic organic pigment belonging to the diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) family, a group of high-performance pigments known for their exceptional chromatic strength, lightfastness, and chemical stability. PR 255 is characterized by a vivid, warm scarlet hue with strong orange undertones, placing it among the brightest and most saturated modern red pigments available.

Chemically, PR 255 shares the robust DPP molecular framework that gives pyrrole pigments their outstanding resistance to light, heat, solvents, and weathering. These properties make it widely used in demanding industrial applications such as automotive finishes, industrial coatings, plastics, and high-quality printing inks. Its stability under outdoor exposure has made PR 255 a common alternative to cadmium scarlet and molybdate orange in contexts where toxicity and environmental regulations are critical concerns.

In artists’ materials, PR 255 typically exhibits very high tinting strength and good opacity to semi-opacity, depending on particle size and formulation. It produces clean, luminous mixtures with yellows and oranges, yielding brilliant warm reds and fiery oranges, while mixtures with blues tend toward strong purples without excessive greying. Because of its intensity, small additions are sufficient to dominate mixtures, making controlled use essential for subtle color modulation.