Optical Red
 

Do anybody know what color the Optical Red is ?

Thanks, Allan.

Not sure but...
 

Hi Allen -

What are you referring to? A color mentioned in a book? A color on a computer screen?

The only thing that comes to mind immediately is an optical mix of magenta and yellow - 100% each, which looks like red when put together, one over the other. This is from my old days as a graphic artist in a printing company: for printing we had to mix our four colors of cyan, yellow, magenta and black to get any desired color.

I don't know if this is what you are looking for.

Hi Julie.

I know the printing colors, some very strong and clean ones.

But this Optical Red is used for portraits by Adrian Gottlieb who is also a member at SOG. He have a homepage with many interesting informations, besides some excellent portraits.

He explains that he sometimes use the Optical Red. I just wonder if it is some red neon mistake or what.

Allan

Optical red
 

Hello Allan
I'm not sure , but Adrian Gottlieb may be refering to a final thin transparent glaze of red in order to give flesh color a warm glow and make the figure stand out more. To give the image that outstanding quality that the old masters were able to do so well, but I could be wrong.

Henry, this is most likely the explanation.

By glazing with red you will damp down all other colors relatively more than the red, and thereby make it stand out as stronger in tone and lighter. Optical stronger.

I could not understand why he would need any stronger red than the cadmium he use.

Thanks, Allan

I have enquired of Adrian about his use of the term and would hope to have his response anon. Patience will likely be rewarded.

Adrian provided the following response:

Thanks, this was very informative.

If I have understood it right this will be the effect of blinding.

I believe this tool can be seen clearly in the picture "St. Peter Denying Christ" by Rembrandt.

Not only has he used the red in big parts of the shadows, which creates a glowing temperature to the whole painting and especially the lit parts, he also enforced the tonal contrast in shadow areas close to the light-source.

Allan

My use of optical red
 

I used optical red in this painting... note the "red glow" just on the outside of the profile of the forehead... It's a wonderful concept of giving "life" to any portrait or figure...

Remember, light is tangible believe it or not... so when bright warm light reflects of flesh, it can cast a "glow" or "halo" to produce an atmosphere in the painting.

Hope this helps!

Tony

So, if optical red creates the illusion of the brightness of the adjacent light area in the minds of the viewers, does that mean it's just a pigment of their imagination?