2. Classification and nomenclature of colorants

The most widely used classification is the Colour Index (CI). First published in 1924 by the Society of Dyers and Colourists and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), it is the leading catalog of dyes and pigments. Dyes are classified according to their chemical composition (30 subgroups) and use (19 subgroups) .

The first three volumes of the third edition of Colour Index provide detailed information on the 19 colorant subgroups classified according to use. Within each sub-group, the colorants have a generic Colour Index name based on the particular application and hue. For example, "CI disperse Blue 73" is...