A pigment comprising: a plurality of photonic crystal particles dispersed in a medium, each photonic crystal particles containing a plurality of spectrally selective absorbing components dispersed within the photonic crystal particle, wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise spherical gold nanoparticles with a size from 5nm-80nm, which do not significantly absorb at 650 nm but selectively absorb other visible wavelengths for producing a red color, the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise gold rods having a short axis diameter of 10nm, a long axis length of 50-60 nm and an aspect ratio of 5-6, and have an absorbing wavelength that is centered around 520 nm and 1000 nm with an absorption minimum centered around about 620 nm for producing an orange-red to brown color, the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise gold hollow spheres having a core diameter of 600 nm and a shell of 7 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 910 nm with an absorption minimum below 650 nm for producing a green color, the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise silver nanoplates having a diameter of 40-50 nm and a thickness of 10 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 550 nm with an absorption minimum centered around 450 nm and above 700 nm for producing a purple/red color, the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise silver nanoplates having a diameter of 60-80 nm and a thickness of 10 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 650 nm with an absorption minimum below 480 nm for producing a blue color, or the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise silver nanoplates having a diameter of 110-150 nm and a thickness of 10 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 950 nm with an absorption minimum centered around 520 nm for producing a green color, wherein each photonic crystal particle has 4-50 repeat units of the photonic crystal structure. a plurality of photonic crystal particles dispersed in a medium, each photonic crystal particles containing a plurality of spectrally selective absorbing components dispersed within the photonic crystal particle, wherein the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise spherical gold nanoparticles with a size from 5nm-80nm, which do not significantly absorb at 650 nm but selectively absorb other visible wavelengths for producing a red color, the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise gold rods having a short axis diameter of 10nm, a long axis length of 50-60 nm and an aspect ratio of 5-6, and have an absorbing wavelength that is centered around 520 nm and 1000 nm with an absorption minimum centered around about 620 nm for producing an orange-red to brown color, the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise gold hollow spheres having a core diameter of 600 nm and a shell of 7 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 910 nm with an absorption minimum below 650 nm for producing a green color, the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise silver nanoplates having a diameter of 40-50 nm and a thickness of 10 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 550 nm with an absorption minimum centered around 450 nm and above 700 nm for producing a purple/red color, the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise silver nanoplates having a diameter of 60-80 nm and a thickness of 10 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 650 nm with an absorption minimum below 480 nm for producing a blue color, or the spectrally selective absorbing components comprise silver nanoplates having a diameter of 110-150 nm and a thickness of 10 nm and have an absorbing wavelength centered at around 950 nm with an absorption minimum centered around 520 nm for producing a green color, wherein each photonic crystal particle has 4-50 repeat units of the photonic crystal structure.