Paint colors work by selectively absorbing and reflecting different wavelengths of light. The color we perceive is determined by the wavelengths of light that are reflected back to our eyes. This is a subtractive color process.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
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Pigments absorb light: Paints contain pigments, which are finely ground particles that absorb certain wavelengths of light.
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Reflected light determines the color: The wavelengths of light that are not absorbed by the pigment are reflected. These reflected wavelengths enter our eyes, and our brains interpret them as a specific color.
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Subtractive Color Mixing: When you mix paints, you're combining pigments that absorb different wavelengths. The resulting mixture absorbs more wavelengths than any of the individual pigments alone. Only the wavelengths that all the pigments reflect will be seen. This is why it's called "subtractive" – each pigment subtracts certain colors from the light.
Let's illustrate with an example:
- Blue paint: Contains a pigment that absorbs most wavelengths except those in the blue range. Blue light is reflected, and we see blue.
- Yellow paint: Contains a pigment that absorbs most wavelengths except those in the yellow range. Yellow light is reflected, and we see yellow.
Mixing Blue and Yellow:
When you mix blue and yellow paint, the mixture absorbs most wavelengths except those in the green range (a result of both pigments reflecting that range). Therefore, green light is reflected, and we see green. The blue pigment absorbs the yellow wavelengths, and the yellow pigment absorbs the blue wavelengths. What's left? Predominantly green.
Key Components and Concepts:
- Pigments: The core ingredient determining the color. Pigments can be natural or synthetic.
- Wavelengths of Light: Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, with different wavelengths corresponding to different colors.
- Absorption: The process by which a pigment takes in light energy.
- Reflection: The process by which a pigment bounces light energy back.
- Subtractive Color Model: The color model used for mixing paints, dyes, and inks, where colors are created by subtracting wavelengths of light. (In contrast to additive color mixing used in screens like televisions and computer monitors, which uses red, green, and blue light.)
In summary, paint colors function by absorbing certain wavelengths of light and reflecting others. The reflected wavelengths determine the color we perceive, and mixing paints involves combining pigments that subtractively filter out different parts of the light spectrum.
