There are thousands of different colors in the world. The wide variety of colors we see is possible because of the physics of light and the biology of our visual system. Light is made up of different wavelengths, each corresponding to a different color. Our eyes contain cells called cones that are sensitive to different wavelengths and allow us to perceive color. By mixing light of different wavelengths, we can produce many intermediate colors. In this article, we will provide an overview of the sources of color in the world and present a comprehensive list of color names across major color systems.
Where do colors come from?
The colors we see originate from different sources:
Pigments
Pigments are chemical compounds that selectively absorb some wavelengths of light and reflect others. For example, chlorophyll in plants absorbs red and blue light and reflects green light, giving leaves their characteristic green color. Other common pigments include melanin, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and betalains. By mixing different pigments, a wide gamut of colors can be produced.
Structural color
Some colors are produced not by pigments, but by the physical structure of surfaces. Examples include the iridescent blues and greens of peacock feathers, butterfly wings, and beetle shells. These structural colors are caused by the interference and diffraction of light. Varying the structure dimensions results in different reflected wavelengths and perceived colors.
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescent organisms such as fireflies, anglerfish, and glowworms produce their own light through biochemical reactions. This light often has a characteristic color, such as the greenish glow of fireflies. Different proteins can emit different colors of bioluminescent light.
Sky color
The blue color of the daytime sky is caused by Rayleigh scattering, where shorter wavelengths of sunlight are scattered more by atmospheric gas molecules. At sunrise and sunset, the long path of sunlight through the atmosphere results in more scattering of blues and greens, leaving reds and yellows to pass through and create colorful skies.
Rainbows
Rainbows are an optical phenomenon caused by the refraction and dispersion of sunlight through water droplets. The component colors of sunlight – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet – are separated into bands according to wavelength. Rainbows showcase the spectrum of visible light.
Major color systems
There are several major color ordering systems that classify colors in a systematic fashion and give names to specific colors. Reviewing these systems provides insight into the diverse range of colors perceived by humans.
The color wheel
One of the most common frameworks for categorizing color is the color wheel. The traditional artist’s color wheel consists of primary colors (red, yellow, blue), secondary colors (orange, green, purple), and tertiary colors made by mixing primary and secondary hues. Additional shades and tints are created by mixing with white and black.
| Primary colors | Red, yellow, blue |
| Secondary colors | Orange, green, purple |
| Tertiary colors | Red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple, red-purple |
RYB (red, yellow, blue) color model
The RYB or artist’s color model is based on the standard color wheel primaries. Hundreds of colors can be represented using mixtures of red, yellow, and blue pigments. RYB is used for painting, art, and computer graphics.
RGB (red, green, blue) color model
The RGB color model is used for electronic displays. Red, green, and blue light combined in different proportions can produce millions of colors. RGB values are specified using numbers between 0-255 for each channel. Hexadecimal RGB codes starting with # are commonly used in web design.
CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model
While RGB is an additive color model using light, CMYK is a subtractive color model using inks or dyes. Cyan, magenta, and yellow are the complementary colors to RGB primaries. Black is added for contrast. CMYK is used for color printing.
CIE 1931 color space
The CIE 1931 color space developed by the International Commission on Illumination models human perception of color. It defines colors in terms of chromaticity coordinates x and y along with luminance Y. Many other color spaces are derived from CIE standards.
Munsell color system
The Munsell color system specifies colors based on hue (principal color), value (lightness), and chroma (color purity). It provides a systematic approach to identifying subtle color variations. Munsell colors are denoted using notations like 5R 5/10 (reddish hue of medium lightness and purity).
Pantone Matching System
Pantone is a proprietary standard used in graphic design and printing for specifying and matching colors. The Pantone Matching System defines thousands of colors using numbered pigment mixes. Each Pantone color has an associated number code like PMS 1805 or 18-1663 TPX.
Natural Color System
The Natural Color System (NCS) models human visual perception based on six elementary colors – white, black, red, yellow, blue, and green. All other colors are specified using percentages of these elementary colors. NCS aims to produce intuitive color names like white with a tint of blue.
Comprehensive color list
Combining color names across major color systems results in an extensive list of thousands of distinct colors. While it may not be feasible to provide names for every perceivable color, some resources do compile very large databases of color names and swatches.
A few examples of extensive color lists include:
– ISCC-NBS color dictionary (over 10,000 color names)
– X11 color names supported in web browsers (140 colors)
– Resene Color List (nearly 2000 colors)
– VGA color palette (256 colors)
The following table presents a more manageable selection of around 120 common color names organized by color family:
| Red colors | Orange colors | Yellow colors |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Orange | Yellow |
| Crimson | Amber | Gold |
| Maroon | Coral | Lemon |
| Scarlet | Persimmon | Maize |
| Ruby | Peach | Sunflower |
| Cherry | Mandarin | Mustard |
| Apple red | Terracotta | Khaki |
| Wine | Rust | Daffodil |
| Magenta | Copper | Dandelion |
| Carmine | Bronze | Saffron |
| Burgundy | Ginger | Acid yellow |
| Mahogany | Tangerine | Safari |
| Brick | Cinnamon | Sand |
| Garnet | Carrot | Butter |
| Green colors | Blue colors | Purple colors |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Blue | Purple |
| Emerald | Navy | Violet |
| Lime | Cobalt | Lilac |
| Mint | Sapphire | Mauve |
| Jade | Azure | Orchid |
| Clover | Teal | Plum |
| Olive | Aqua | Fuchsia |
| Moss | Cyan | Wisteria |
| Chartreuse | Cerulean | Lavender |
| Malachite | Sky | Grape |
| Seafoam | Turquoise | Mulberry |
| Jungle | Periwinkle | Eggplant |
| Asparagus | Indigo | Amethyst |
| Shamrock | Steel | Heliotrope |
| Brown colors | Gray colors | White colors |
|---|---|---|
| Brown | Gray | White |
| Sepia | Silver | Ivory |
| Umber | Charcoal | Pearl |
| Taupe | Slate | Snow |
| Beige | Steel | Cream |
| Tan | Ash | Chalk |
| Chestnut | Graphite | Coconut |
| Hazel | Smoke | Navajo |
| Umber | Lead | Vanilla |
| Ochre | Mercury | Floral |
| Maize | Fog | Seashell |
| Bistre | Mist | Beige |
| Drab | Platinum | White |
| Black colors | Metallic colors | Multicolored |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Gold | Rainbow |
| Raven | Silver | Tie dye |
| Ebony | Bronze | Camouflage |
| Onyx | Copper | Splatter |
| Jet | Pewter | Ombre |
| Coal | Chrome | Galaxy |
| Sable | Platinum | Marble |
| Obsidian | Brass | Tortoiseshell |
| Raisin | Bronze | Calico |
Conclusion
This article has provided an overview of the physics, biology, and chemistry behind the wide variety of colors we can perceive. Key color ordering systems were reviewed, along with tables listing over 100 common color names across families of reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples, browns, grays, whites, blacks, metallics, and multicolored tones. While it is impossible to document every perceivable color, resources such as detailed color dictionaries and color swatch systems can catalog thousands of colors that enrich our visual experience of the world. Understanding the sources and science behind color perception allows us to more deeply appreciate the colorful beauty around us.
