The first part is right. I am not sure about the second part, though. When you mix all the colors of light you’ll get white. A white sheet of paper “is” white becuase none of the colors got absorbed by the paper and all of the light bounced off to your eyes. When you are looking at a black sheet of paper, you are literarily seeing nothing, as the paper ate all the light.
Hence the saying (that I just made up):
If light hits on white, it comes back to your sight.
But if light hits on black, it doesn’t come back.
Anyhooo… Am I correct in thinking that the primary colors for reflected light are RYB, and the primary colors for non-reflected light are RGB?
Light doesn’t hit on white, Tim. Whatever it hits on has no colour. It’s just that the structure of that object won’t allow it to absorb any of the light. The sum of all light reflecting to your eyes is then white.
And I guess you are right about the reflected light, except for saying the primary colors are RYB. They are not. They are cyan, magenta and yellow.
Light doesn’t hit on white, Tim. Whatever it hits on has no colour. It’s just that the structure of that object won’t allow it to absorb any of the light. The sum of all light reflecting to your eyes is then white.
And I guess you are right about the reflected light, except for saying the primary colors are RYB. They are not. They are cyan, magenta and yellow.
Well my 7th grade art teacher might be surprised about that. (If she’s still alive).
Light doesn’t hit on white, Tim. Whatever it hits on has no colour. It’s just that the structure of that object won’t allow it to absorb any of the light. The sum of all light reflecting to your eyes is then white.
And I guess you are right about the reflected light, except for saying the primary colors are RYB. They are not. They are cyan, magenta and yellow.
Depends upon what color system you are using. In additive color systems, such as my old color enlarger and most computer monitors, the primary colors are red, green and blue; hence the RGB designation. In substractive systems, such as some other old color enlargers and most prepress software, the primary colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow with black added for printing; hence the CMYK designation. Red, yellow and blue, or RYB, are the primary colors in painters’ wheels.
All this applies only to human perception as there are technically no primary colors, merely different wavelengths.
Once again, Darron, RYB are not primary colours. The only reason why they can be used as such in paints is because there is also a white paint, which, technically, is not a colour.
Once again, Darron, RYB are not primary colours. The only reason why they can be used as such in paints is because there is also a white paint, which, technically, is not a colour.
... I am hopefully optimistic that it is possible for rational, moral and ethical people, of good faith and good will, to have a dialogue—the sharing of information and opinions—leading to solutions. What is your opinion?
TimB, in your response you said,
I agree with you on this, although I may not be quite as optimistic as you.
TimB, keep in mind the kind of people of whom I spoke—the kind with whom I love to spend time. They are, as I said, people who are, “rational, moral and ethical people, of good faith and good will”—regardless of the label they may have, or the creed they recite, it is what they are, how they live and what they do that counts.
May I add, that I find that it is kind and gracious optimists who are the kind of people who are good fun to be with—a rare breed, I know.
Me? By the way, as one with a long way to go, I make no claim that I am there, yet. But I choose to use WILLpower—the greatest human strength—to keep working on it. Also, it is my intent so to be and so to do. Having a dialogue with people like you helps keep me focused on the goal and enjoying the pilgrimage.
[ Edited: 10 February 2013 04:51 PM by RevLGKing ]
These red, yellow, blue and similar schemes are merely gimmicks to make it easier to remember. All of the colors in the visible spectum (rainbow) from red to violet are primary. Different pigments do absorb and reflect various sections of the spectrum, and their blend of these determine what we see. Paint companies have spectral analyzers which can examine a sample and spit out a half dozen different pigment blends that will give that color. The computer will also identify which formulations will be lowest cost, have the greatest exterior durability, and which have metamerism (color changes when viewed under different light such as northern exposure noon sunlight and sunset).
Ok, I think I’m almost there. So is this correct?: Mixing all of the colors of filtered light, would result in white, (or maybe, better to say, unfiltered light is white, and filtering separates it into colors). Whereas mixing all the different color sources of reflected light results in black.
Unless you’re mixing paint. Mix all colors and you get mud, not white.
Ok, I think I’m almost there. So is this correct?: Mixing all of the colors of filtered light, would result in white, (or maybe, better to say, unfiltered light is white, and filtering separates it into colors). Whereas mixing all the different color sources of reflected light results in black.
Unless you’re mixing paint. Mix all colors and you get mud, not white.
Tim meant you get white when you mix all light. When all the light gets absorbed, as in black chalkboard, say, no light will be reflected and you’ll see black. He is right, of course.
