Tertiary colors are obtained by mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color.
Here's a breakdown of how tertiary colors are created:
-
Definition: Tertiary colors, also sometimes called intermediate colors, sit between primary and secondary colors on the color wheel. They are named by combining the names of the primary and secondary colors that create them.
-
The Process: To make a tertiary color, you mix a primary color (red, yellow, or blue) with a secondary color (green, orange, or purple) that is next to it on the color wheel. The proportions are typically equal parts of each.
-
List of Tertiary Colors:
- Red-Violet (Red + Violet/Purple)
- Red-Orange (Red + Orange)
- Yellow-Orange (Yellow + Orange)
- Yellow-Green (Yellow + Green)
- Blue-Green (Blue + Green)
- Blue-Violet (Blue + Violet/Purple)
-
Another Interpretation: Some color theorists, like Moses Harris and Josef Albers, define tertiary colors differently. They propose they are created by:
- Intermixing pairs of secondary colors (orange-green, green-purple, purple-orange).
- Intermixing complementary colors (colors opposite each other on the color wheel). This creates muted, neutral tertiary colors.
In summary, tertiary colors are generally understood to be made by mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color, though alternative definitions exist involving combinations of secondary or complementary colors.
