All About Color; The Primary Colors; Additive And Subtractive Primary Colors - Canon imageRUNNER C3220 Copying Manual

All About Color

This section explains the basics of the three primary colors, the three color
attributes, and the technique of color printing.

The Primary Colors

Additive Primary Colors Subtractive Primary Colors

Additive and Subtractive Primary Colors

There are three additive primary colors and three subtractive primary colors. The
additive primary colors consist of red, green, and blue, which are spectrum colors.
An equal combination of all three colors results in a clear color (white light). As
indicated in this example, combining all three additive primary colors in different
proportions to make different colors is defined as the method of additive color
synthesis. Color CRT monitors use the three additive primary colors to express
various colors using this method.
The subtractive primary colors consist of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y),
which are used in paints, dyes, and color toner inks. The combination of all three
subtractive primary colors to demonstrate variations in the reflection and absorption
of light is defined as the method of subtractive color synthesis. Equal combination
of all three subtractive primary colors results in no reflection of light, commonly
known as black (K). Materials processed by color printing, such as posters and
pamphlets, express a variety of colors using this method.
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