Color Spotlight: Imidazolone Brown (PBr25)

Holbein – Imidazolone Brown (PBr25)

A single pigment transparent brown with a distinct warm reddish undertone.

Experiment Results

Hue: A brown with a red/pink/coral cast, especially in midtone.

Gradient: Smooth, strong, non-granulating.

Transparency: Transparent.

Color Mixes: A range of reddish browns. Neutralizes blues.

Comparison to Other Colors

Less orange (more red) than earth oranges like Burnt Sienna, Transparent Red Oxide, and Quinacridone Burnt Orange.

Less yellow-toned than Burnt Umber. Also not granulating.

More brown (less red) than Deep Scarlet, Perylene Maroon, Quinacridone Burnt Scarlet.

Comparison to Other Brands

Daniel Smith – Permanent Brown

This is one of the ones that jumped out at me in the Daniel Smith dot cards (as Permanent Brown). I’ve never purchased a tube because it’s not available in a sample size and I can’t commit.

Mission Gold – Red Brown

Mission Gold – Red Brown (PBr25)

Like many Mission Gold colors, it’s quite shiny in masstone.

Color Mixes

Mixes with Imidazolone Brown (PBr25)

Neutralizes Phthalo Turquoise. Mixes a range of reddish-browns.

What Others Say

PBr25 is an interesting alternative to Indian Red if you want to use a transparent earth rather than an opaque PR101 Indian Red.

Jane Blundell – Earth Watercolour Swatches

Denise Soden loves it for bay horses.

It’s not an absolutely vital pigment, but it is a useful one. I recommend it if you struggle with mixing browns, or if you tend to mix subjects this pigment may be a good match for. I enjoy it for animals and birds, and even mixed with reds for floral shadows. PBr25 is also great if you just want a quick way to make neutral grays by adding it to blues, or you want a transparent brown for glazing and layering effects.

Kim Crick

My Review of Imidazolone Brown

When I had this in my palette, I found I rarely used it. In competition with other brown mixers, it simply didn’t have the edge. I tend to go for PR101’s every time, especially for earthy applications where granulation is a plus. In theory, this is a good competitor for a deep red slot, e.g. against Deep Scarlet or Perylene Maroon, because it also neutralizes blues and deepens reds; but although it’s red for a brown, I find it adds an orangey quality to my deep red mixes that I don’t love.

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