The colour wheel was created by Isaac Newton when he split white light with a prism and then arranged the resulting spectrum into a circle.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Newton's Experiment and the Birth of the Colour Wheel
Isaac Newton is credited with developing the first systematic color theory and representing it with a color wheel. His process involved the following key steps:
- Splitting White Light: Newton passed white light through a prism.
- Creating a Spectrum: The prism refracted the white light, separating it into its constituent colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. This visible spectrum demonstrated that white light is composed of all colors.
- Arranging the Spectrum into a Wheel: Newton took this linear spectrum and wrapped it around itself, forming a circular diagram. This circle visually represented the relationship between different colors and their sequence within the spectrum.
Significance of the Colour Wheel
Newton's color wheel was significant because it:
- Provided a systematic way to understand color relationships.
- Laid the foundation for modern color theory used in art, design, and science.
- Demonstrated that color is an intrinsic property of light, not of objects themselves.
Evolution of the Colour Wheel
While Newton's initial wheel was revolutionary, the color wheel has evolved over time with additions such as:
- Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors: More modern color wheels include primary colors (red, yellow, blue), secondary colors (created by mixing two primary colors), and tertiary colors (created by mixing a primary and secondary color).
- Concepts of Complementary Colors: Colors directly opposite each other on the wheel (like red and green) are considered complementary and create contrast when used together.
