The color mixing method for the RGB color model is additive mixing.
Additive Color Mixing Explained
Additive color mixing is a process that creates colors by combining different wavelengths of light. In the RGB color model, these primary colors are red, green, and blue. It's called "additive" because the light from each color is added together to create a new color. When all three primary colors (red, green, and blue) are added together at full intensity, the result is white light. When all three are absent (intensity of zero), the result is black.
- Starting Point: Additive mixing begins with darkness (black).
- Color Creation: Colors are created by adding varying intensities of red, green, and blue light.
- Full Intensity: When red, green, and blue light are combined at full intensity, they produce white light.
- Applications: Additive color mixing is used in devices like computer monitors, television screens, and smartphones, where pixels emit light to create images.
How it Works
RGB devices use this additive mixing method to display a wide range of colors. Each pixel on a screen contains red, green, and blue subpixels. By controlling the intensity of light emitted by each subpixel, the device can create virtually any color. For example:
- Red Only: Turning on only the red subpixel creates the color red.
- Green Only: Turning on only the green subpixel creates the color green.
- Blue Only: Turning on only the blue subpixel creates the color blue.
- Red + Green: Turning on both the red and green subpixels creates yellow.
- Red + Blue: Turning on both the red and blue subpixels creates magenta.
- Green + Blue: Turning on both the green and blue subpixels creates cyan.
- Red + Green + Blue: Turning on all three subpixels at equal intensity creates white.
Comparison to Subtractive Color Mixing
It's important to distinguish additive color mixing from subtractive color mixing, which is used in printing and painting. Subtractive color mixing (CMYK) starts with white light and subtracts wavelengths using pigments or dyes.
