Color subtraction notes

1. Color Subtraction Notes

The reason you see an object a certain color is because you see that color light or a combination of lights
coming from that object. It will reflect certain colors and absorb the others. For example, a red object
looks red because it reflects red and absorbs green and blue. A magenta object looks magenta because it
reflects red and blue and absorbs green.








What color does a red object look with a magenta light shined on it?
Red reflects red and absorbs green and blue. Magenta light is made up
of red and blue light. So the red object will reflect the red light and
absorb the blue. Because the red light gets to you eye you see it as
RED.



What color does a cyan object look with a magenta light shined on it?
Cyan reflects green and blue and absorbs red. So the object will absorb the
red from the magenta and reflect the blue so the object will looks BLUE.





What color does a yellow object with red light shined on it?
Yellow reflects green and red and absorbs blue. So the yellow object
will reflect the red light shined on it, so it will look RED.



What color does a blue object look with a yellow light shined on it?
Blue objects reflect blue light and absorb red and green. Yellow light consists of red and green light.
The red and green will get absorbed and nothing will get reflected so it
will look BLACK.



NOTHING

2. Mixing Paint/Printing
Primary Colors of Subtraction
Magenta reflects red and blue and absorbs green
Yellow reflects red and green and absorbs blue
Cyan reflects green and blue and absorbs red

What color do you get if you mix cyan and yellow?
Cyan is going to reflect blue and green and absorb red.
Yellow is going to reflect red and greenand absorb blue.
The only color that does not get absorbed is green so you just made GREEN


The only color not cancelled is GREEN




What color do you get if you mix green and magenta?
Green is going to reflect green and absorb red and blue.
Magenta is going to reflect red and blue and absorb green.
All colors get absorbed so you are left with BLACK.
cyan yellow
G
B
G

R