How do colours combine?

Colors combine through a process called color mixing, which creates new colors by blending two or more existing ones.

Understanding Color Mixing

The fundamental concept of color mixing involves primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. According to color theory, there are primary colors that act as the foundation from which all other colors are made.

• Primary Colors: These are the base colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors. In traditional art theory, the primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.
• Secondary Colors: These colors are created by mixing two primary colors.
  • Red + Yellow = Orange
  • Blue + Yellow = Green
  • Red + Blue = Purple
• Tertiary Colors: These are achieved by mixing a primary color with a secondary color that is directly next to it on the color wheel.
  • For example: Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet, Red-Violet, Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange

Additive vs. Subtractive Color Mixing

There are two primary ways colors mix:

1. Additive Color Mixing: This method involves mixing light. The primary colors of light are red, green, and blue (RGB). When all three are mixed equally, it creates white light. This is used in screens like TVs and computers.

   • Red + Green = Yellow
   • Green + Blue = Cyan
   • Red + Blue = Magenta
   • Red + Green + Blue = White

2. Subtractive Color Mixing: This involves mixing pigments, such as paints or inks. The primary colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY). When mixed equally, they produce black. This is the mixing method used in printing and art.

   • Cyan + Magenta = Blue
   • Magenta + Yellow = Red
   • Yellow + Cyan = Green
   • Cyan + Magenta + Yellow = Black

Practical Applications of Color Mixing

Color mixing is crucial in various fields:

• Art: Artists use color mixing to create desired hues, shades, and tones for their works.
• Printing: Printers use subtractive color mixing with CMYK inks (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) to reproduce images and text on paper.
• Digital Displays: Screens use additive color mixing with RGB light to show a broad spectrum of colors.
• Interior Design: Color mixing principles are used to create pleasing and harmonious color schemes for homes and buildings.
• Fashion: Designers carefully select and combine colors to produce appealing clothing and accessories.

Tips for Effective Color Mixing:

• Start with small amounts: Begin with tiny amounts of each color to avoid wasting paint or ink.
• Use a color wheel: It helps visualize color relationships and predict results.
• Clean tools: Clean your brushes or palette knives thoroughly before each mix to keep colors pure.
• Experiment: Don't be afraid to experiment with color combinations to find new hues and shades you love.

Color Mixing	Primary Colors	Secondary Colors	Tertiary Colors
Subtractive (Pigments)	Cyan, Magenta, Yellow	Blue, Red, Green	Various mixtures of primary & secondary colors
Additive (Light)	Red, Green, Blue	Yellow, Cyan, Magenta	Various mixtures of primary colors