A near infrared dye comprising a counterion and a structure of Formula I

##STR00001##

wherein the at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from dibenzazepinyl, thienyldibenzazepine, bithienyldibenzazepine, thienodibenzazepine, dihydrodibenzazepinyl, thienyldihydrodibenzazepine, bithienyldihydrodibenzazepine, and thienodihydrodibenzazepine, and X, R, R.sub.3-R.sub.4, R.sub.19, R.sub.20 and R.sub.22-R.sub.29 are as disclosed herein. Materials and compositions comprising the SWIR dye can absorb light at a wavelength of 800 nm to 1400 nm and release the energy in the form of light (fluorescence) or heat (non-radiative). The dyes can also convert the absorbed light to heat and ultrasound waves via the photoacoustic effect. The photoacoustic effect can be used in photoacoustic tomography to image biological materials or processes. Methods for synthesizing the SWIR dyes and materials comprising the same are also disclosed.

The thiol group-containing colored compound includes a chromophore having absorption in a visible light region, a thiol group, and a spacer provided between the chromophore and the thiol group. The spacer is a chain alkylene group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, a cyclic alkylene group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, or a derivative of either alkylene group in which the number of carbon atoms in an additional structure of the alkylene group is equal to or less than the number of carbon atoms in the alkylene group.

A coloring composition having excellent light fastness, color migration properties, and flatness, a colorant, and a method for producing a colorant are provided. Further, a cured film, a color filter, a method for manufacturing a color filter, a solid-state imaging device, an image display device, and an organic electroluminescent element, each using such the coloring composition, are also provided. The coloring composition contains a colorant represented by General Formula (1) and a curable compound, and has a specific absorbance of 5 or more at a maximum absorption wavelength of 400 nm to 800 nm. R.sup.1 represents an (m+n)-valent linking group, P represents a monovalent substituent having a repeating units derived from a vinyl compound, D represents a colorant structure, and R.sup.2 and L.sup.1 each independently represent a single bond or a divalent linking group.

(D-R.sup.2).sub.nR.sup.1-(L.sup.1-P).sub.m(1)