Colour news
FestivalsShrichakra Rangoli: How ancient India turned geometry, mathematics and cosmic thought into a sacred art formFestivalsPhotos of the weekColour of the yearEvery 2027 Color of the Year We Know So FarFashion and designThe 8 Colors Fashion Girls are Building Their Fall Wardrobes AroundFestivalsIn India, Holi welcomes spring with a Festival of ColorsColour of the yearTom鈥檚 Watch Bar Partners With Dodgers Fan Club Pantone 294Craft and textilesMore clues to Maya blueCraft and textilesDesigners Say These 6 Unexpected Paint Colors Can Make Any Room Feel Instantly Warmer and More InvitingCraft and textilesMacron and UYBA Volley present the new 2026/27 Game SetCraft and textilesThe Souls I (Grafix Gold, Topaz, Chilli Red) (2010) by Damien Hirst - For SaleFestivalsShrichakra Rangoli: How ancient India turned geometry, mathematics and cosmic thought into a sacred art formFestivalsPhotos of the weekColour of the yearEvery 2027 Color of the Year We Know So FarFashion and designThe 8 Colors Fashion Girls are Building Their Fall Wardrobes AroundFestivalsIn India, Holi welcomes spring with a Festival of ColorsColour of the yearTom鈥檚 Watch Bar Partners With Dodgers Fan Club Pantone 294Craft and textilesMore clues to Maya blueCraft and textilesDesigners Say These 6 Unexpected Paint Colors Can Make Any Room Feel Instantly Warmer and More InvitingCraft and textilesMacron and UYBA Volley present the new 2026/27 Game SetCraft and textilesThe Souls I (Grafix Gold, Topaz, Chilli Red) (2010) by Damien Hirst - For Sale
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Colours of buildings and cities

Walls, roofs, tiles, doors and whole painted towns.

FamilyRedOrangeYellowGreenTurquoiseBluePurplePinkBrownWhiteGreyBlackGold
KindBasic colourNamed shadePigmentDyeColour named from natureTraditional colourNational or team colourHeraldic colourStandard colourScreen colour
Made fromMineral or earthPlantAnimalSyntheticLight only (no pigment)
#FFFF00 Yellow A primary colour between green and orange, seen in sunlight, leaves, and pigmentsBasic colour 路 馃嚝馃嚪 France +5 Blue Lapis lazuli A deep blue stone prized for jewellery and the source of ultramarine pigmentColour named from nature 路 馃嚘馃嚝 Afghanistan +5 Green Malachite A banded green mineral and pigment once prized for art and decorationColour named from nature 路 馃嚜馃嚞 Egypt +4 Red Cinnabar A scarlet to brick-red mineral and the main source of mercury and vermilion pigmentColour named from nature 路 馃嚜馃嚫 Spain +5 Brown Terracotta A clay-based material and colour, known for its reddish-brown toneColour named from nature 路 馃嚠馃嚦 India +4 White Zinc oxide A white inorganic powder used in pigments, ointments, ceramics and electronicsPigment 路 馃嚠馃嚦 India +2 #CC7722 Ochre A natural earth pigment ranging from yellow to deep orange or brownPigment 路 馃嚘馃嚭 Australia +5 Yellow Orpiment A golden-yellow mineral pigment once prized for its brilliant colour and rarityPigment 路 馃嚜馃嚞 Egypt +5 #120A8F Ultramarine A deep blue pigment once made from lapis lazuli, prized for centuries in artPigment 路 馃嚘馃嚝 Afghanistan +2 #E34234 Vermilion A brilliant orange-red pigment, once made from toxic mercury orePigment 路 馃嚬馃嚪 Turkey +5 Black Carbon black A deep black pigment and filler made by burning carbon-rich materials with little airPigment #50C878 Paris Green A toxic emerald-green pigment once prized in art and used as an early insecticidePigment 路 馃嚛馃嚜 Germany +4 Black Vantablack A super-black coating made from carbon nanotubes that absorbs nearly all visible lightPigment #0047AB Cobalt blue A strong, stable blue pigment made from cobalt and alumina since the early 1800sPigment 路 馃嚝馃嚪 France +3 #43B3AE Verdigris A historic bluish-green pigment formed on copper and used in art since antiquityPigment 路 馃嚞馃嚪 Greece +1 #1034A6 Egyptian blue A vivid blue pigment first made in ancient Egypt from copper, lime, and sandPigment 路 馃嚜馃嚞 Egypt +5 Black Bone char A deep black pigment and filter made by charring animal bonesPigment #801818 Falu redfalu r枚df盲rg A deep red paint pigment from the Falun copper mine, used on wooden houses in SwedenPigment 路 馃嚫馃嚜 Sweden +2 Green Scheele's green A yellowish-green pigment once prized for its brilliance, now infamous for its toxicityPigment #FADA5E Naples yellow A historic synthetic yellow pigment once prized by painters and pottersPigment 路 馃嚜馃嚞 Egypt +1 #FFA700 Chrome yellow A bright yellow pigment made from lead chromate, once popular in art and industryPigment #73C2FB Maya blueazul maya A vivid turquoise blue pigment made by the ancient Maya and AztecsPigment 路 馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico +1 #006B3C Cadmium pigments A family of strong yellow, orange, red and green pigments made from cadmium compoundsPigment #2E5090 YInMn Blue A modern, stable blue pigment made from yttrium, indium and manganese oxidesPigment 路 馃嚭馃嚫 United States +1 #FFFEEF Titanium white A bright white pigment made from titanium dioxide, valued for its strong coveragePigment 路 馃嚭馃嚫 United States +1 White Lead white A dense, opaque white pigment once used in art, home, and cosmetics worldwidePigment 路 馃嚚馃嚦 China +2 Grey Hematite A mineral iron oxide, black to red, used since prehistory as a pigment and oreColour named from nature 路 馃嚳馃嚘 South Africa +5 White Titanium dioxide A brilliant white pigment made from titanium, used in paints, food and sunscreenPigment 路 馃嚚馃嚦 China +5 #86A1A9 Tourmaline喽о窛喽秽陡喽洁穵喽洁窉 A mineral group prized for its rainbow of gemstone coloursColour named from nature 路 馃嚤馃嚢 Sri Lanka +5 White Barium sulfate A dense, white mineral used in pigments, X-rays, and industryPigment Brown Goethite A yellowish to reddish brown mineral used as a pigment since ancient timesPigment 路 馃嚛馃嚜 Germany +3 Brown Iron oxide Earthy pigments made from iron and oxygen, found in nature and used since prehistoryPigment Red Iron(III) oxide A deep red iron compound found in hematite and used as pigment and polishPigment Red Lead(II,IV) oxide A strong red-orange pigment once widely used to protect iron and in illuminated manuscriptsPigment 路 馃嚘馃嚭 Australia White Antimony trioxide A white antimony compound used in flame retardants and glassmakingPigment 路 馃嚚馃嚦 China +4 White White lead A historic opaque white pigment once made from lead and vinegarPigment Green Glauconite A soft green mineral used as a pigment and in fertilisersColour named from nature 路 馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil +2 White Zinc phosphate A white inorganic compound used to protect metal and in dental cementPigment Yellow Calcium chromate A bright yellow, highly toxic pigment and industrial chemicalPigment White Lithopone A white pigment made from barium sulfate and zinc sulfidePigment #020D15 Gunmetal A dark copper alloy once used for casting guns and now valued for its strength and finishNamed shade 路 馃嚭馃嚫 United States Yellow Strontium chromate A yellow pigment and corrosion inhibitor made from strontium and chromium compoundsPigment White Barium metaborate A white or clear inorganic compound used in optics and as a pigmentPigment #CB410B Sinopia A reddish-brown earth pigment once prized for fresco underdrawingsPigment 路 馃嚠馃嚬 Italy Red Cinquasia red A deep red pigment from the quinacridone family, valued for its durabilityPigment #FF4203 Minium A bright orange-red pigment made by heating lead, once common in medieval manuscriptsPigment 路 馃嚚馃嚦 China +5 #E9D66B Arylide yellow A family of semi-transparent yellow pigments used in art and industryPigment 路 馃嚛馃嚜 Germany +1 #79443B Bole A reddish-brown pigment made from fine clay, used under gold leaf in artNamed shade 路 馃嚘馃嚥 Armenia
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The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly palette

Every Monday: seven colours you may not know, what the world is wearing this week, and one idea about colour.