Green emission lines, in addition to the blue and the red, were observed upon 980 nm excitation in yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3) nanopowder codoped with Yb 3þ and Tm 3þ , synthesized by the chemical combustion method. Upconversion emission studies suggest that the number and characteristics of the green lines are influenced by the annealing temperature as well as by the Yb 3þ ∕Tm 3þ concentration ratio, opening possibilities for new customized applications. The chromaticity properties of the upconversion spectra were quantified by the Commission Internationale de l'éclairage coordinate analysis.