• Question: how is paint different colours how is paint different colours?

    Asked by millaw147 to Andrew, Bruce, Lindy, Lizzie on 21 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Lizzie Eaves

      Lizzie Eaves answered on 21 Jun 2012:


      Paint is different colours because of things called ‘pigments’. These pigments absorb certain energies from visible light (which is split into 7 different colours, i.e. the rainbow). The specific energy that each pigment absorbs determines what colour it can make things. Paint scientists can use this, and mix pigments together to make loads of different colours – even a small change in the amount of each pigment can make a big difference to the colour of the paint, which is why there are so many different colour options!

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