pigment

This term carries a technical and scientific weight, evoking a sense of chemistry and biological composition. It describes the actual substance that creates color, rather than the perceived color itself. In a biological sense, it suggests an organic, intrinsic property of a cell or tissue. In the context of art and industry, it implies a raw, concentrated material. It differs from dye in that pigments are typically insoluble particles that sit on the surface of a material, whereas dyes bond chemically with the fibers.