Yellow pigments

Description

Yellow is a color produced by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of about 560–590nm. Yellow is considered a secondary color in the RGB additive color system and a primary color in the traditional RYB color wheel. It is represented by the following color coordinates:

• Hex triplet: # FFFF00
• RGB: (255, 255, 0); CMYK (0, 0, 0, 100)
• HSV: (%)

Examples of inorganic yellow pigments:

• earth colors (Raw umber, Goethite, Limonite, Ocher).
• oxides (Litharge).
• sulfides (Cadmium sulfide, Orpiment, Realgar, Pararealgar).
• chromates (zinc chromate, Strontium chromate, Barium chromate, Lead chromate).
• other (Cobalt yellow, Naples yellow).

Examples of organic yellow pigments:

• animal (Indian yellow).
• vegetable (Saffron, Gamboge, weld, Luteolin, Xanthin, Quercitron, Persian berries).
• synthetic (Hansa, diazo dyes).

Synonyms and Related Terms

gul (Dan., Sven.); Gelb (Deut.); amarillo (Esp.); pigments jaunes (Fr.); giallo (It.); flavus (Lat.); geel (Ned.); amarelo (Port.); pigmentos amarelos (Port.)

Resources and Citations

• Ruth Siddall, 'Mineral Pigments in Archaeology: Their Analysis and the Range of Available Materials' Minerals Vol 8, p. 201 (2018). Link
• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
• The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: "Pigments"