How Color Pigments Originated
Color pigments are the materials which change the reflected light’s color because of the wavelength absorption. The process which creates pigments is actually quite different than fluorescence, phosphorescence and other luminescence in which the emission of light through a material is involved.
The materials which are used as pigments contain special properties which are quite capable of changing the colors of other material. The pigments must have high strength in tinting as compared to the materials that they color.
Natural Color Pigments
Сolorants like ochres and iron oxides have been used by human beings since the prehistoric times. Various archaeological evidences show that the paint had been used by the early man for body decoration. Before the Industrial Revolution, there had only been few colors which had been used for decoration purposes. Earth and minerals had been common pigments which were used for this purpose.
Biological Pigments
It is very difficult to get color pigment which has a biological origin. The material had to be harvested and then traded to far away places. Some colors had been costly or difficult to mix along with the existing pigments. For this reason purple and blue had been associated with the higher class and royalty because the cost of producing them had been very high. Producing biological color pigments had been an industry secret.
Mineral Pigments
Like biological pigments, mineral pigment also had to be traded from distant places. The rich deep blue color of ultramarine can be achieved only by using lapis lazuli which is a semi precious stone. This stone had been sourced from remote areas for use.
Synthetic Color Pigments
Because of the Scientific and the Industrial Revolutions, a large range of synthetic pigments had been born. Synthetic color pigments are manufactured or refined from the natural minerals. These pigments are used for manufacturing uses and for artistic purposes.
Prussian Blue had been discovered accidentally in 1704 and it had been the first synethic pigment. A wide range of blue colors were available in 19th century which included synthetic and metallic blue pigments like Cerulean Blue, French Ultramarine and cobalt. Phthalo Blue was discovered in 20th century which has a very high tinting power.
The development of chemical pigments and dyes has helped industries to prosper in several northern European countries. The development in color continues even today and it is responsible for creating various changes in fashion in taste.