Summer has taught creative writing and sciences at the college level. She holds an MFA in Creative writing and a B.A.S. in English and Nutrition
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Color additive theory is a fundamental component of color theory and must be understood by students and professionals in the art, digital, and design fields. In short, the theory examines how the most common colors, red, blue, and green are mixed together and perceived by the human eye. In this lesson, we will go over an in-depth definition of color additive theory to gain a solid understanding of its importance in those fields.
Color additive theory is defined as how colors are made by mixing the primary colors red, green, and blue, and how those mixed colors perceived.
Wait a second, aren't the primary colors red, blue, and yellow? Yes, they are, but in color additive theory, the primary colors are red, blue, and green because those colors are found in the color photoreceptors of the human eye. The color additive theory, which is often credited to James Clerk Maxwell, is based off the Young-Helmholtz Theory of trichromatic vision. Around 1850, Maxwell proved the Young-Helmholtz Theory and the color additive theory was born.
White light is the combination of red, blue, and green wavelengths known as bands. When equal parts of red, blue, and green bands are added to one another, white light is created. That is the basis of additive color.
When all three additive colors are removed, black is perceived. On the other hand, when different primary additive colors are combined, brighter colors are created. Let's take a look at what happens when these primary colors are combined.
The combination of any two additive primary colors together results in a new, brighter secondary color. The secondary colors are cyan, yellow, and magenta. The acronym 'CMY' refers to these secondary colors in the art and digital fields.
Here is how it works:
Since color operates on a continuum, new shades of these colors can be created when unequal amounts of each primary color are combined. Ultimately, the visible light spectrum can be created solely through the use of blue, red, and green.
The color additive theory becomes complicated due to degrees of color that can be created from the primary colors. Artists and designers use terminology to describe color. Let's go over the main terms that you may encounter when discussing color:
The color additive theory is important in all fields that deal with the visual perception and mixing of colors. The primary additive colors are red, green, and blue because the human eye has photoreceptors that take in those colors. Using these three colors, all other colors, including white and black, can be seen and made. Various combinations of these colors results in secondary additive colors: cyan, magenta, and yellow. Now that you have learned about color additive theory, what do you think happens when you add equal amounts of the secondary additive colors together?
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Interior Design Basics & Principles10 chapters | 149 lessons
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