To obtain a composition which can easily form colored characters or patterns on a substrate such as glass without the necessity for an expensive apparatus by using a polysilazane and a pigment as the essential components.

A polysilazane is suitably diluted with desirably an organic solvent and mixed with a pigment (e.g. copper phthalocyanine). The obtained composition is applied to a substrate such as glass, ceramics, a metal or a plastic by e.g. brushing, spraying or dipping, and the formed wet film is dried and heat-treated. The formed colored film is covered with a mask on which characters or patterns are formed, and the exposed area of the film is mechanically or chemically removed to form colored characters or patterns on the substrate. Suitable examples of the methods for mechanical removal include sand blasting and grinding, and an example of the method for chemical removal comprises dissolution with e.g. hydrofluoric acid.