Pigments are finely ground powders derived or manufactured from a variety of sources. These powders provide colour and also impart the paint with other characteristics, such as opacity, light-stability, and durability. They are natural or synthetic, inorganic or organic particles that are dispersed into a variety of chemicals and then added to the acrylic polymer resin make acrylic paint.
Dyes are colours which are soluble in the liquid they are introduced to and will stain freely. Dyes are not considered to be permanent, whereas pigments range form fugitive to extremely permanent.