Colour Index International (CI) is a reference database jointly maintained by SDC Enterprises and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. It currently contains over 27,000 individual products listed under 13,000 Colour Index Generic Names. It was first printed in 1924 but is now published solely on the Internet. The index serves as a common reference database of manufactured colour products and is used by manufacturers and consumers, such as artists and decorators.
Overview Colourants (both dyes and pigments) are listed using a dual classification which use the Colour Index Generic Name the prime identifier and Colour Index Constitution Numbers. These numbers are prefixed with C.I. for example, C.I. Acid Orange 7 or C.I. 15510. (This abbreviation is sometimes mistakenly thought to be CL, due to the font used to display it.) The generic name lists first the class of dye (acid dye, disperse dye, etc.), then its hue (e.g., orange), followed by a number assigned by the Colour Index, in chronological order (e.g., Acid Orange 5, Acid Orange 6, Acid Orange 7).
A detailed record of products available on the market is presented under each Colour Index reference. For each product name, Colour Index International lists the manufacturer, physical form, and principal uses, with comments supplied by the manufacturer to guide prospective customers.
For manufacturers and consumers, the availability of a standard classification system for pigments is helpful because it resolves conflicting historic, proprietary, and generic names that have been applied to colours.
List of Colour Index Constitution Numbers Colour Index arranges the CICN into 5 or 6 digit (from 1997 onwards) numbers grouped into numerical ranges according to the chemical structure.
Structure Range Category Nitroso 10000–10299 Nitro 10300–10999 Monoazo 11000–19999 :Category:Azo dyes Disazo 20000–29999 :Category:Azo dyes Trisazo 30000–34999 :Category:Azo dyes Polyazo 35000–36999 :Category:Azo dyes Azoic 37000–39999 :Category:Azo dyes Stilbene 40000–40799 Carotenoid 40800–40999 Diarylmethane 41000–41999 :Category:Diarylmethane dyes Triarylmethane 42000–44999 :Category:Triarylmethane dyes Xanthene 45000–45999 Acridine 46000–46999 :Category:Acridine dyes Quinoline 47000–47999 :Category:Quinoline dyes Methine 48000–48999 Thiazole 49000–49399 :Category:Thiazole dyes Indamine 49400–49699 Indophenol 49700–49999 :Category:Indophenol dyes Azine 50000–50999 :Category:Azin dyes Oxazine 51000–51999 :Category:Oxazine dyes Thiazine 52000–52999 :Category:Thiazine dyes Sulfur 53000–54999 Lactone 55000–55999 Aminoketone/Hydroxyketone 56000–56999 Anthraquinone 58000–72999 :Category:Anthraquinone dyes Indigoid 73000–73899Quinacridone Pigments73900-73999 Phthalocyanine Dyes and Pigments 74000–74999 :Category:Phthalocyanines Natural Organic Colouring Matters 75000–75999 :Category:Natural dyes Oxidation bases 76000–76999 Inorganic pigments 77000–77999 :Category:Inorganic pigments
For further in-depth reading, see "Chemical constitutions in the Colour Index: A century of colourant classification" This is open source and free to read.
Print editions 1st (1924) 1st Supplement (1928) 2nd (1956) Volume 1 2nd (1957) Volumes 2 & 3 2nd (1958) Volume 4 2nd Supplement (1963) 3rd (1971) 3rd 1975 (Volume 6) 3rd 1982 (Volume 7) 3rd 1987 (Volume 8) 3rd 1992 (Volume 9) Pigments and Solvent Dyes edition (1997) 4th 2000 - online
See also Color chart List of dyes Pantone
References
External links American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Colour Index™ International Society of Dyers and Colourists Happy 100 year anniversary of the International Colour Index