Many color wheels are shown using 12 colors. Using this color wheel as an example, it can be read as follows:
Is there a color system in which Red, Yellow, and Blue are primary colors?
I mean, yes, by definition. The stuff taught in schools is a colour system (one based in nature). Or are you asking specifically about computer colour systems?
Dec 17, 2020 at 22:21
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Sorry, but you’ve made some assumptions that aren’t quite right. Anyway I’m going to try to keep this simple and try to avoid jargon. It’s not an easy subject for the uninitiated, and there’s a lot of science behind it too which I won’t really delve into here.
- “Additive colour” applies to mixing colours of emitted light. There’s nothing to stop you from mixing any colours of light. It’s not only limited to RGB. The RGB system is used because it closely resembles the way we humans see and perceive colour using the red, green and blue cones in our retinas.
- “Subtractive colour” applies to all colours created by using physical mixes of pigments in media such as paint/ink/crayons/pastels etc, pigments which absorb certain frequencies of light, and reflect others. There’s nothing to stop you from mixing any pigments to get another colour. It’s not just limited to CMYK.
- RYB isn’t only taught to children, and it’s taught for a reason. The idea of using red, yellow and blue as primary colours was basically invented by painters/artists. Systematic theories about it date back at least four centuries (there’s a wikipedia article here if you’re interested), and no doubt even the ancients knew they could mix paints to get different colours although their understanding of it might have been somewhat limited. That system is still used by artists today. Of course artists are not limited to mixing just red, yellow and blue colours, but have a whole slew of pigments at their disposal.
- Since all physical mixes of paints/inks work using subtractive colour, RYB is also a Subtractive colour system, just a different one from CMYK which was specifically developed for full colour printing. It’s not even used for all colour printing. For example Pantone uses a basic set of 18 base colours for creating spot colour ink mixes.
- The RYB system eventually evolved into CMY, because basically when people discovered how to print images in colour by overlaying different coloured halftone screens, they realised that RYB wasn’t the best system for reproducing colour photographic images in print. Also, inks are a bit different from paints in that they are transparent, and the colour of the paper always shines through the ink. Paints tend to be rather opaque by comparison. In time CMYK became the standard used for full colour printing today. Black was added because dark areas in CMY only tended to look a bit muddy/brownish rather than black. Black isn’t really a primary colour. Technically speaking it’s not even a colour, but a lack of colour.
Note: Although I use the term “mixing” rather freely above, it’s also quite important to note that CMYK/process printing involves no real mixing of inks as such. Rather, colour “mixes” are achieved by overprinting four halftone screens on top of each other, one for each colour – essentially creating the illusion of different colours being “mixed”. When viewed under a magnifying glass, dots of solid CMYK ink can easily be seen in a full colour print. By comparison, paints or spot colour inks are physically mixed together before they are applied.
Primary Colors, Secondary and Tertiary Explained
Primary colors are everywhere when we take the time to notice. So are Secondary and Tertiary colors. As a creative person, you are likely inspired by the colors you see in the world. Without a doubt you might be moved to capture the brilliance in a painting.
But as mentioned in another post, artists work with pigments which are Subtractive Color. As a result we often end up with muddy colors that don’t look anything like we envisioned.
For instance you may want to paint the delicious-looking strawberries above. However, it’s not enough to just use red paint. You know this of course. However, the trouble begins when you mix in other pigments. Instead of luscious reds, you may get frustrated because the results are sometimes drab, dirty colors instead.
Obviously, you want to mix yummy-looking colors that almost look good enough to eat. Therefore, you must understand the root of every paint pigment you use.
Primary Colors are Called That for a Reason
First and foremost, the Primary Colors, Yellow, Red and Blue, are at the top of any color structure. That’s because you can think of the three Primaries as the original parents of all the future generations of colors.
In Theory, Primary Colors are the root of every other color.
So in other words, you could conceivably mix gazillions of colors with only three pure Primar y pigments of Yellow, Red and Blue. Of course that’s what they teach us in school. However, as I wrote in a previous Color Wheel post, color is not an exact science.
The problem is paint pigment never works like that in real life. For instance, if you mix Cadmium Red + Ultramarine Blue, you’ll likely be sadly disappointed. If you were expecting a deep rich Violet (Purple), the resulting Brown will be a total surprise.
To understand why, we need to look at paint pigments. A Primary Yellow, Red or Blue paint color usually refers to a paint that contains only one pigment. They are unmixed pigments that can’t be created by mixing other colors.
Paint is manufactured with organic, mineral and chemical pigments. As a result, there are many different pure Yellow, Red and Blue pigment paints available.
In our example above, Cadmium Red is a warm pure hue, leaning toward Orange . Blue and Orange are Complementary Colors. Brown is the neutralized result we get from mixing Complementary colors. In this case it’s pure Blue + pure Orangey/Red. This result is only great if you actually want a rich Brown.
In this example, if you want to mix a rich Purple instead, use a cool pure Red such as Quinacridone Red. That’s because this pure pigment leans away from Orange and mixes harmoniously with the cool pure Blue.
In the realm of art and color theory, understanding the complexities of pigments goes hand in hand with exploring the world of creativity. When delving into the world of painting, aspiring artists often seek resources to expand their knowledge. Finding valuable books for cheap can be an endeavor worth embarking upon. These resources provide insights into the nuances of color mixing, helping artists grasp the intricacies that extend beyond the traditional primary color model. While the concept of Primary Colors – Yellow, Red, and Blue – serves as a foundational understanding, real-world pigment interactions demonstrate that achieving desired hues can be both surprising and challenging. As artists experiment with combinations like Cadmium Red and Ultramarine Blue, they uncover the unexpected transformations that occur due to the unique properties of different pigments. Exploring affordable books can be a valuable way to uncover techniques that guide artists in navigating the dynamic world of colors, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of mixing and blending.
Painting Tips for Primary Colors
* On the whole, my advice would be to have six Primary Colors in your paint kit.
* These would include Yellow, Red and Blue that lean toward the warm side. And in addition it will be helpful to have another set of Yellow, Red and Blue that lean toward the cool side of the color wheel. Just remember to make sure they are unmixed, pure pigments.
Color Temperature
The colors on the red side of the wheel are warm; the green side of the wheel has the cooler colors. These color temperature designations are absolute. More subtle color temperature relationships are relative, meaning that each color on the warm side of the wheel can be known as cool, and colors on the cools side of the wheel can be known as warm depending on the relationship to their neighboring color. Colors from the same hue, for instance red, can also be warmer or cooler than one another.
Color temperatures affect us both psychologically and perceptually by helping us determine how objects appear positioned.
- Warm colors include red, orange, and yellow, and variations of those three colors.
- Red and yellow are both primary colors, with orange falling in the middle.
- Warm colors appear closer to the observer.
- Cool colors include green, blue, and purple, and variations of those three colors.
- Blue is the only primary color within the cool spectrum.
- Greens take on some of the attributes of yellow, and purple takes on some of the attributes of red.
- They are often more subdued than warm colors.
- Cool colors appear farther from the observer.
Neutrals
Neutral colors include black, white, gray, tans, and browns. They’re commonly combined with brighter accent colors but they can also be used on their own in designs. The meanings and impressions of neutral colors depend more so upon the colors around them.
There are two models for colors. They have different purposes and different attributes. They are as follows:
- CMYK Color Models: Stands for cyan, magenta, and yellow. It applies to painting and printing. The CMYK model is a subtractive model, meaning that colors are created through absorbing wavelengths of visible light. The wavelengths of light that don’t get absorbed are reflected, and that reflected light ends up being the color we see.
- RGB Color Models: RGB stands for red, green, and blue. It applies to computers, televisions, and electronics. The RGB model is an additive model, meaning that colors are created through light waves that are added together in particular combinations in order to produce colors.
Hex Codes
To name colors in web design, teams use hexadecimal code. All hexadecimal codes:
- Start with a hash mark (#)
- Consist of three pairs of characters sequenced together (totaling of six characters), with each pair controlling one of the primary additive colors (red, green, blue)
- Those six characters following the hash mark consist of ten numerals (0-9) and/ or six letters (a-f)
It is easy to identify patterns in the hex codes some colors; see SmashingMagazine’s great chart at the right for this. Some things to know include:
- 00 is a lack of primary
- ff is the primary at full strength
To find additive colors, start with black and change each pair to ff:
- #000000 is black (no primaries)
- #ff0000 is the brightest red
- #00ff00 is the brightest green
- #0000ff is the brightest blue
To find subtractive colors, start with white and change each pair to 00:
- #ffffff is white (all primaries
- #00ffff is the brightest cyan
- #ff00ff is the brightest magenta
- #ffff00 is the brightest yellow
It is also possible to abbreviate some hex numbers. For instance, #fae expands to #ffaaee and #09b expands to #0099bb.
