Original colors, in the context of traditional color theory and the RYB (Red, Yellow, Blue) color model, are the primary colors: red, yellow, and blue.
These colors are not specific hues, but rather represent exemplar colors. They aren't considered to be uniquely pure or proprietary. Instead, they serve as the foundation for creating other colors through mixing.
Understanding Primary Colors
The term "original colors" as it relates to the RYB model, doesn't mean these are the most pure, or that they cannot be found elsewhere in the color spectrum, it means they are colors that historically were thought to be at the heart of other colors.
Key Points About Primary Colors:
- Foundation: Primary colors are the building blocks for all other colors in a specific color model (like RYB).
- Mixing: Other colors are made by combining primary colors. For example, mixing red and yellow makes orange.
- Exemplar Hues: The primary colors represent broad categories of color, not one specific shade or tone of red, yellow, or blue. The chosen examples vary based on the intended use of the model.
Primary Color Systems
While the RYB system is traditionally used, there are other color models that define primary colors differently. For instance:
- RGB (Red, Green, Blue): Used for digital displays and is an additive color model, meaning that colors of light are added together to make other colors, in which black is the absence of any color.
- CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black): Used for printing and is a subtractive color model, where colors are added to white to create a final image and black is a part of the color palette rather than the absence of colors.
Table of Color Models
| Color Model | Primary Colors | Application | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| RYB | Red, Yellow, Blue | Traditional art, color theory | Subtractive, basic model |
| RGB | Red, Green, Blue | Digital displays, screens | Additive, light based |
| CMYK | Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black | Printing, physical reproduction of colors | Subtractive, ink based |
In summary, when referring to "original colors" in the context of traditional color theory and the RYB model, these colors are red, yellow, and blue. They are the starting point for color mixing, and it is from this model that many color terms and descriptions in the modern day were born.
