Dark charcoal is a rich, deep shade of black that has long been prized by artists for its intensity and depth of color. Though there is no single definitive number corresponding to dark charcoal, its deep black hue most closely corresponds to certain shades on the Pantone Matching System (PMS) and the CMYK color models used in design and printing. By examining these color standards, we can get a good sense of the numbers and formulas used to reproduce this classic artist’s pigment.
Pantone Matching System
The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a proprietary color space that allows designers and printers to match specific shades of ink based on formulas tied to Pantone reference numbers. Several PMS colors are potential candidates for approximating the deep darkness of charcoal pigment. Some key options include:
| PMS Black 6 C | R:35 G:31 B:32 |
| PMS Black 7 C | R:0 G:0 B:0 |
| PMS 419 C | R:43 G:41 B:44 |
PMS Black 7C is the darkest of these options, formulated as pure black with no other color components. However, the slightly lighter Black 6C and 419C may better capture the subtle warm undertones of true charcoal pigment. Designers often layer these nearly-black colors to create a richer, more nuanced black for uses like charcoal drawing.
CMYK Model
The CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model used in printing relies on combinations of these four ink colors to create a full spectrum of hues. In theory, a pure black can be achieved in CMYK using 100% black (K) ink with 0% of cyan, magenta, and yellow. However, small amounts of the other inks are often still used to create a deeper, darker black:
| Rich Black | C:40 M:40 Y:40 K:100 |
| Deep Black | C:60 M:60 Y:60 K:100 |
These formulas add subtle warmth through the cyan, magenta, and yellow components while relying on full saturation of black. The relative percentages can be adjusted; sometimes up to 50% or more of the other colors are blended in while keeping black at 100%. This allows fine-tuning to create the darkest, richest black possible on a given printer.
Matching Physical Pigments
Of course, no color system can fully capture the complexity of actual artist’s pigments like charcoal. Natural charcoal’ssilky black hue comes from its fine particles of pure carbon, while the warmth and softness result from organic burn residues. Modern synthetic charcoals use powdered carbon black pigment to approximate the color, but have a more neutral cool undertone compared to natural charcoal.
To accurately reproduce real charcoal’s color, artists mix the synthetic black with small amounts of warmer pigments like browns, reds, oranges,and yellows. Raw umber, burnt sienna, iron oxide, and carbon black are typical pigments for mixing a deep, dark charcoal hue. The exact ratio depends on the specific pigments and desired undertone. Starting with a 4:1 to 9:1 ratio of black to warmer pigment is common, then adjusting until the desired charcoal black is matched.
Matching Display Screens
On digital displays, dark charcoal is created by mixing RGB (red, green, blue) light. Display blacks are limited by the underlying display technology; LCD screens cannot produce true solid blacks. OLED and plasma screens come closer through per-pixel lighting control. Approximations of deep charcoal on displays combine low intensities of all three channels:
| Dark Charcoal | R:26 G:23 B:23 |
| Rich Black | R:10 G:10 B:10 |
However, matching physical charcoal pigments on a display is challenging. The limited color gamut fails to capture the complexity of real charcoal’s hue. Calibrated display profiles allow more accurate representation, but inherently Display charcoal remains only an approximation. For artists, nothing fully matches real charcoal’s deep, velvety color like working in the physical medium.
The Science of Charcoal Pigments
On a scientific level, charcoal’s black color arises from the unique properties of carbon. The carbon atoms bond together in hexagonal rings, creating sheets of graphene that stack together to form microscopic charcoal particles. These dense, layered sheets strongly absorb all visible light wavelengths, giving pure carbon material its jet black color.
Charcoal’s warmth comes from other organic compounds like tars that remain after burning wood in an oxygen-limited environment. These residues of hemicellulose, lignin, and plant oils impart subtle warm undertones by selectively absorbing shorter violet and blue light wavelengths compared to the fully neutral carbon black component. This leaves behind more warm oranges, reds, and yellows in the reflected light.
Modern synthetic carbon blacks replicate the color chemistry through similar production methods. Oils and tars are first burned, then the soot is oxidized and filtered to select ideal black pigment particles with optimized absorbance. The result approaches the darkness of naturally produced charcoal carbon black.
Psychology of Charcoal’s Darkness
The appeal of charcoal’s rich black hue also stems from psychological and artistic factors. In color psychology, black is associated with power, elegance, and mystery. As the darkest tone on the spectrum, black draws attention and creates visual weight. Areas of black tend to visually recede in space, giving artwork a sense of depth.
In art, charcoal’s darkness is symbolic of creativity and expression. By starting from a blank slate and building up forms from black, artists mirror the creative process. Charcoal’s responsive handling and wide tonal range, from soft grays to blackest black, allow conveying emotion, mood, and drama. The messy, tactile nature of charcoal also represents the artist’s presence in scribbles, smears, and erasures.
Conclusion
While no single color code or system fully captures the nuances of charcoal’s deep black hue, several standards like Pantone and CMYK provide useful approximations to reproduce this classic artist’s pigment. However, charcoal’s rich color ultimately stems from the unique properties of carbon black pigment combined with organic residues that impart subtle warmth. Synthetic carbon blacks approximate natural charcoal’s color chemistry for more consistent results. Above all, charcoal’s darkness resonates artistically and psychologically, representing creative potential and emotive expression. The deep, velvety blackness remains one of the most evocative hues on the artist’s palette.