pääväreihin

Pääväreihin, in Finnish, refers to primary colors. These are a set of colors from which all other colors can be created by mixing them. The specific set of primary colors used depends on the context, such as additive color mixing or subtractive color mixing.

In additive color mixing, which is used in light, such as on computer screens and televisions, the primary colors are red, green, and blue (RGB). When these colors of light are combined in different proportions, they can produce a wide spectrum of colors, including white when all three are mixed together at full intensity.

In subtractive color mixing, which is used with pigments and dyes, like in printing and painting, the primary colors are typically cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY). These colors are called subtractive because they work by absorbing certain wavelengths of light and reflecting others. For example, cyan absorbs red light and reflects green and blue. When mixed, these colors create other colors. Black is often included as a fourth primary color (CMYK) in printing to achieve deeper blacks and reduce the amount of ink used.

Historically, in art education, the primary colors were often considered red, yellow, and blue (RYB). While this set is useful for basic color mixing in painting, it is not as comprehensive as the CMY model for producing all colors accurately. The concept of primary colors is fundamental to understanding color theory and its applications in various fields.