Pigment

Plural: pigments

Pigment definition

A finely ground substance that provides color to a material by selectively absorbing and reflecting light.
In painting, a pigment is the solid colorant mixed with a binder (such as oil, acrylic, or gum arabic) to create paint.
A material whose color remains stable and visible due to its chemical composition, rather than dissolving into the medium.

Examples

Ultramarine blue pigment produces a deep, rich blue when mixed with oil.

When titanium white pigment is added to a color, it increases its opacity and lightness.

Some pigments, like phthalo blue, are very strong and can dominate mixtures.

Context

In painting, pigments are the foundation of all color. Their properties such as opacity, transparency, tinting strength, and undertone directly affect how colors mix and behave. Understanding pigments allows artists to predict results, control mixtures, and maintain consistency across a palette.

Core Principles

Derivation

From Latin pigmentum, meaning “coloring matter” or “paint,” derived from pingere, “to paint.”

See also

Binder