my 5 year old asked me, mom how do they make color? I have to tell you I am not quite sure?

Question

how do they make color? he is so cute, he said is it from the earth? i said yes i think so. but anyway if anyone knows exactly how they make the color for crayons etc.... let me know. thanks. and please dont disrespect, he is only 5

Answer 1

I'm not sure if the colors are natural or not...that's a good question actually. The link in the source tells you how the crayon-making process works but lists the color simply as 'pigment'...which can be natural or man-made so that isn't of much help. I'll continue searching and edit the post if anything turns up.


*He seems like a very inquisitive little one..hope someone can answer this better than I did. :)

Answer 2

He is certainly on the right track with the amazing intuition of the very young. People from eons ago have always loved color - they used red clay to paint their faces and bodies. Later they learned they could dye their clothing by using certain plants and berries. The color purple was very hard to come by and therefore only royalty could afford to have purple robes.

People loved the colors of the cat too. That of course comes from their genes like the color of our hair and skin.

It is less romantic now and his crayons are probably colored with chemical dyes.

Answer 3

Colors are natural; look at a rainbow. The color depends on how much light comes through; like purple being denser than yellow. Primary colors are blue, yellow and red. Thus, essentially every color can be derived from these. Example: Secondary colors are orange, green and purple. Orange due to mixing red and yellow; green from yellow and blue, purple being red and blue. Then on and on it goes. Crayons are made using different dyes; just like fabrics. Dyes are originally derived from natural things, like plants.