Subtrakcyjny

Subtrakcyjny is an adjective used in Polish to describe processes that subtract or remove portions of a whole, rather than adding to it. The term is common in technical and scientific contexts and is often contrasted with additive. Etymologically it derives from Latin subtractivus and has entered Polish through scientific usage and international terminology.

In color theory and imaging, subtrakcyjny refers to the subtractive color model, which governs how pigments or dyes interact with light. In this model, colors are produced by removing (substracting) portions of the visible spectrum from white light. Subtractive primaries are cyan, magenta, and yellow; when combined, they absorb more light and produce increasingly dark colors. Black is typically added in printing to deepen tones and expand the color range, giving CMYK as the practical color system for color printing. Subtractive mixing differs from additive mixing, where colors are created by adding light.

Outside color science, subtractive methods are also used in photography, film, and visual design through pigments, inks, or filters that remove certain wavelengths. Subtractive techniques are fundamental in printing processes, color separation, and color management, where accurate reproduction depends on predictable absorption properties of materials.

Limitations of subtractive systems arise from the imperfect, non-ideal behavior of real pigments, which can lead to deviations in color reproduction and a restricted color gamut compared with idealized models. Understanding subtractive processes is essential for disciplines dealing with pigments, coatings, printing, and the rendering of color in physical media. See also additive color, CMYK, and color theory.