Yellows

Yellows refers to the family of colors perceived as yellow, corresponding to wavelengths of light roughly between 570 and 590 nanometers. In color models used for digital displays, yellow is produced by combining red and green light; in printing, yellow is a primary subtractive color in the CMYK system.

Historically, yellow pigments have included Naples yellow (lead tin oxide) and orpiment (arsenic sulfide). Over time, more stable and safer pigments such as cadmium yellow and various azo or organic yellows have been developed, though some traditional yellows remain toxic or prone to color changes under light exposure.

Culturally, yellow carries varied meanings. In many Western cultures it conveys warmth, energy, and optimism, but it can also signal caution or cowardice. In parts of Asia, yellow has associations with royalty, earth, or sacred meanings depending on period and context.

Yellow is widely used in art, design, branding, and signaling. It appears in nature in flowers, fruits, and wildlife, and gives high visibility in safety signage and hazard warnings. In art and fashion, yellows range from pale eggshell to bright citrus, each with distinct mood and balance when paired with other colors.