Pääpigmenttejä

Pääpigmenttejä, meaning primary pigments in Finnish, refers to a set of colors that are traditionally considered fundamental in color mixing. In subtractive color systems, commonly used in printing and painting, the primary pigments are typically cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY). When these pigments are mixed together in various combinations and proportions, they can theoretically produce a wide range of other colors, including black. The CMY system is widely used in color printing, where these pigments are applied as inks.

Historically, the concept of primary colors also included red, yellow, and blue (RYB). This model was prevalent in art education for centuries and is still often taught as a foundational concept in early art classes. While RYB primaries can be used to mix many colors, they are less efficient and accurate for creating a full spectrum compared to the CMY primaries, especially in terms of vibrant greens and purples. The difference lies in the way pigments absorb and reflect light.

The choice of primary pigments depends on the context and the desired color gamut. For digital displays and light-based color mixing, the additive primary colors are red, green, and blue (RGB). However, when discussing physical pigments and their mixing properties, the subtractive primaries are the relevant concept. Understanding primary pigments is crucial for artists, designers, and printers to effectively control and reproduce colors.