organic pigment

Organic pigments are coloring materials that contain carbon and are used to impart color to other substances. Unlike inorganic pigments, which are often derived from minerals, organic pigments are typically synthesized from petrochemicals or coal tars.1

These pigments function by absorbing specific wavelengths of visible light and scattering or transmitting others. They are insoluble and applied as fine solid particles mixed with a liquid, rather than in solution. While natural organic pigments have been used for centuries, most modern organic pigments are synthetic. Common examples include azo pigments, which provide reds, oranges, and yellows, and copper phthalocyanines, known for their brilliant blues and greens. Organic pigments are distinguished from mineral pigments and are essentially dyes converted into an insoluble form.213