Primaarvärve

Primaarvärve, often translated as primary colors, are a set of colors that can be mixed together to create a range of other colors, but cannot be created by mixing other colors. The specific set of primary colors depends on the color model being used.

In the subtractive color model, commonly used in printing and painting, the primary colors are typically red, yellow, and blue (RYB). When these colors are mixed, they absorb certain wavelengths of light. For example, mixing yellow and blue results in green because yellow absorbs blue and red light, and blue absorbs red and green light, leaving only green to be reflected. Mixing all three subtractive primaries in equal proportions theoretically results in black, though in practice it often produces a dark muddy brown.

In the additive color model, used for light, such as on computer screens and televisions, the primary colors are red, green, and blue (RGB). These colors are added together to produce other colors. For instance, mixing red and green light creates yellow light. Combining red, green, and blue light in equal, maximum intensity results in white light.

Another set of primary colors used in printing is cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY), often with the addition of black (K) to form CMYK. This system is a more precise subtractive model than RYB and is widely used in professional printing to achieve a broader spectrum of colors and purer blacks. The choice of primary colors is fundamental to understanding color theory and its applications in art, design, and technology.