Abstract
Surface colours derive from the action of light on colourless molecular structures—a physical process—or on chemical colorants contained in the surface of the object. Chemical components which selectively reflect coloured light to the observer, called colorants, are either dyes or pigments, depending on whether they have, or do not have, affinity for the materials to which they are applied, but, conventionally, they are classified as dyes or pigments according to their usage. The main use of pigments is to make paints, which provide a new surface, whereas dyes combine with the substrate. The main difference between the two is that pigments are insoluble and most dyes are soluble.
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References and Bibliography
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© 1980 Enid Verity
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Verity, E. (1980). Colorants. In: Colour Observed. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16373-1_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16373-1_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
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