Colors are categorized into three main groups: primary, secondary, and tertiary. This system is fundamental to color theory and understanding color mixing.
Primary Colors
Primary colors are the base colors from which all other colors are derived. They cannot be created by mixing other colors together. These are typically:
- Red
- Yellow
- Blue
These colors form the foundation of the color wheel and are crucial for creating a wide range of hues.
Secondary Colors
Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors in equal amounts. The secondary colors are:
- Green (created by mixing blue and yellow)
- Orange (created by mixing yellow and red)
- Purple (created by mixing red and blue)
Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are formed by mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color. This results in a broader range of colors. Examples include:
- Red-Orange (Red + Orange)
- Yellow-Orange (Yellow + Orange)
- Yellow-Green (Yellow + Green)
- Blue-Green (Blue + Green)
- Blue-Violet (Blue + Purple)
- Red-Violet (Red + Purple)
Understanding these color groupings is essential for artists, designers, and anyone working with visual media. The relationships between these color groups dictate how colors interact and create different effects. This system allows for predictable mixing and creates a structure for understanding the vast spectrum of colors.
