Since 1884, we have curated the language of colour.

The Society of Dyers and Colourists is a registered educational charity based in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Our members — chemists, formulators, conservators, students — set the standards that govern how dyes and pigments are named, tested, and traded.

The Colour Index — edition three.

Edition three consolidates sixty years of amendments into a single live database. Every fingerprint is cross-linked to the commercial products registered against it, to the regulatory status reported by each manufacturer, and — for colourants with pre-1960 provenance — to the heritage archive curated by our Historical Committee.

Contributions to the Index are reviewed by the Nomenclature Committee, which meets quarterly. To propose a new fingerprint or correct an existing entry, see the contributor guide.