FAQ

The terms “pigment” and “color” are related but distinct concepts. Here’s a breakdown of their differences:

1. Definition and Nature

Pigment:

A physical substance (solid particles) used to impart color to materials.

Insoluble in media like water, oil, or resin; it disperses throughout a medium to create color.

Examples: Titanium dioxide (white pigment), iron oxide (red/black pigment).

Color:

A perceptual property of light or objects.

Arises from the interaction of light with an object’s surface (reflection, absorption, or emission).

Not a physical object but a sensory experience.

2. Existence and Form

Pigment:

Exists as solid particles (powder, granules, or suspensions).

Mixed into materials like paint, plastic, or ink to give them color.

Color:

Exists as electromagnetic radiation (light) or as a visual sensation.

Described by properties like hue, saturation, and brightness.

3. Purpose and Use

Pigment:

Functional: Adds color to industrial products (paints, textiles, plastics).

Practical applications: Printing, manufacturing, art supplies.

Color:

Descriptive: Used to describe the appearance of objects, light, or digital images.

Applications: Design, art, communication, and science (colorimetry).

4. Properties

Pigment:

Physical properties: Particle size, dispersion, opacity, and chemical stability.

Color attributes: Determined by the pigment’s absorption/reflection of light.

Color:

Perceptual attributes: Hue (e.g., red, blue), saturation (intensity), and brightness.

Psychological impact: Affects mood, attention, and aesthetics.

5. Examples

Pigment:

Ultramarine blue (used in Renaissance paintings).

Carbon black (in printer ink).

Color:

The “sky blue” of a clear day.

The “crimson” of a sunset.

Summary Table

Feature	Pigment	Color
Nature	Physical substance	Perceptual property
Form	Solid particles	Electromagnetic radiation
Purpose	Industrial coloring	Description of appearance
Examples	Titanium dioxide, iron oxide	Red, blue, green (visual)
Key Attribute	Chemical composition, particle size	Hue, saturation, brightness

In short, pigments are the tools we use to create color, while color is the sensory experience of those tools in action.