Also called mars red, iron oxide red and sometimes Venetian red (though true Venetian red has long been replaced with synthetic iron oxide.) It is a very useful and low cost colour with incredible opacity and surprisingly high tint strength for a simple inorganic pigment. It has the best possible lightfastness. This colour makes attractive blends with quinacridone red and magenta. It is also useful for desaturating cleaner red colours without shifting their colour or darkening their tone.