Pigment
Description
An insoluble, dry solid that is pulverized to a fine powder then mixed with a binder to form a paint, ink or crayon.
Examples of inorganic pigments:
- earth colors (ocher, sienna, umber, green earth);
- metallic oxide (ferric oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc white; viridian);
- metallic carbonates (lead white, calcite, malachite);
- metallic chromates (lead chromate; barium chromate;
- carbon black (bone black, lampblack, graphite)
Examples of some organic pigments are:
- animal (melanin, cochineal, Indian yellow)
- vegetable (madder, indigo, gamboge)
- synthetic (verdigris, phthalocyanine, lakes, para red)
Additional information
- R.L. Feller, A. Roy, E. West Fizthugh, B. Berrie, Artists' pigments: A handbook of their history and characteristics (4 vol.), NGA (Washington DC) & Archetype Publications (London)
Synonyms and Related Terms
pigments (pl., Fr.); pigmento (Esp., Port.);
Comparisons
Websites of pigment manufacturers
Additional Images
Windsor Newton artist colors
Indigo powder (Indigofera tinctoria)
