Colour Mixing: The Fundamentals of Additive and Subtractive…

What is Colour Mixing?

Colour mixing involves combining different hues to produce new colours. In additive processes, such as with light, primary colours are combined to create white light when all are present together. For subtractive processes, like mixing pigments or dyes, the opposite occurs; primary colours are mixed to produce black or a dark grey when fully combined.

The most common additive primaries are red (R), green (G), and blue (B) - known as RGB - while the subtractive primaries are cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) - known as CMY.

Why Does It Matter?

Understanding colour mixing is crucial in various fields, from digital imaging to painting. In technology, RGB colour models are used in displays and LEDs, while CMY models are fundamental for printing and photography.

The principles of colour mixing also play a significant role in the arts, helping artists achieve desired shades and tones in their work.

live demo · related simulation● LIVE

How Additive and Subtractive Mixing Work

In additive RGB mixing, each primary light source adds to the overall brightness. For example, red light mixed with green creates yellow; all three primaries together produce white.

Subtractive CMY mixing works by absorbing certain wavelengths of light. When cyan, magenta, and yellow pigments are combined, they absorb most visible light, resulting in black.

Real-World Applications

In digital displays, RGB colour mixing is used to create vibrant images on screens. Each pixel contains red, green, and blue subpixels that can be turned on or off to produce a wide range of colours.

For printing, CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) is often used because it more accurately represents the range of human vision compared to RGB.

Frequently asked questions

What are primary colors in additive mixing?

The primary colours for additive mixing, such as with light, are red (R), green (G), and blue (B).

How does subtractive colour mixing work?

Subtractive colour mixing involves pigments or dyes that absorb certain wavelengths of light. When combined, they reflect less light, resulting in darker colours until all primary pigments are mixed to produce black.

Why is RGB used for digital displays but CMYK for printing?

RGB is preferred for digital displays because it can reproduce a wider range of colours. CMYK is used in printing as it better matches the human visual spectrum and provides more accurate colour reproduction.

Can RGB and CMY be mixed to produce all colors?

While both systems can create a wide range of colours, they cannot perfectly replicate each other. RGB is better for digital displays, while CMYK is more suitable for printed materials due to differences in how light and pigments interact.

Try it live

Everything above runs in your browser — open Colour Mixing — Additive RGB & Subtractive CMY and change the parameters while it is running. Nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded, the whole model lives in one tab.

▶ Open Colour Mixing — Additive RGB & Subtractive CMY simulation

Colour Mixing: The Fundamentals of Additive and Subtractive Processes