Indigo: deep blue‑violet color, spectral range and history of the dye
Indigo: the deep blue‑violet hue in the visible spectrum, its approximate wavelength band, origin from the indigo plant, and the history and uses of its dye from traditional textiles to modern denim.
Indigo describes a deep blue color with a noticeable purple tint; it is traditionally regarded as a darker, purplish variety of blue.
Appearance in the spectrum
The term was used by Isaac Newton when he divided visible light into seven basic colors. In that scheme indigo occupies a band of the visible spectrum, commonly cited near wavelengths of about 450–420 nanometres.
Image gallery
10 Images
Source and uses
The color name comes from a plant that yields a dark blue pigment. The substance extracted from the plant is processed into an indigo dye, which has been widely used for textiles. A well-known application is the dyeing of denim, the fabric used to make blue jeans—garments that historically took their color from indigo.
Etymology
The plant used for the dye originally came from what is now India. The word passed into European languages from the Ancient Greek indikon and the Latin form used by the Romans, indicum, which later evolved into the modern English name.
Common items that are or can be described as indigo include:
- textiles dyed with natural or synthetic indigo
- classic denim jeans
- some flowers and pigments that show a deep blue-violet hue
Questions and answers
Q: What is indigo?
A: Indigo is a shade of blue, specifically purplish blue or dark blue.
Q: Who named and defined indigo as a spectrum color?
A: Isaac Newton named and defined indigo as a spectrum color when he divided up the spectrum into the seven colors of the rainbow.
Q: What is the spectral range of indigo?
A: The spectral range of indigo is between 450 and 420 nanometers.
Q: Where did the name of the color indigo come from?
A: The name of the color indigo originally came from the indigo plant.
Q: What is indigo dye used for?
A: Indigo dye is used to dye cloth, specifically denim cloth which is used to make what are called blue jeans.
Q: Where did the indigo plant originally come from?
A: The indigo plant originally came from the nation of India.
Q: What is the Ancient Greek language word for the dye?
A: The Ancient Greek language word for the dye is indikon.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Indigo: deep blue‑violet color, spectral range and history of the dye Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/47175