What are subtractive
primary colors?

As a child we all mixed paint to make other colors. This mixing of pigment is called subtractive color because each time pigments are added to each other the mixed color is less pure than the colors used to create it. When we mix paints we are using the subtractive mixing color paradigm.

The subtractive primary colors are red, yellow and blue. When we mix these subtractive primaries together we get the secondary colors.

The secondary colors are:

• green (from mixing blue and yellow)
• purple (from mixing red and blue)
• orange (from mixing red and yellow)

Tertiary colors are the result of blending primary and secondary colors, for example:

• red-orange
• orange-yellow
• yellow-green
• green-blue
• blue-violet
• violet-red

CYMK is an acronym that is "short for Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black, and pronounced as separate letters. CMYK is a color model in which all colors are described as a mixture of these four process colors." -- Webopedia

CYMK is a subtractive mixing color paradigm that is computer based.

To the left is an illustration of a CYMK color wheel, which is another example of subtractive primaries.

Computer designs that will eventually be printed on paper should be designed in CYMK mode because the mixing of ink is done using the subtractive mixing color paradigm. Web interfaces should be designed in RGB mode because they will be displayed on RGB monitors. You can choose either RGB or CYMK mode using graphic software programs like Photoshop or Illustrator.

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Contact Dr. Mary Nicholson at mjnich@bloomu.edu