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Graphic Communications
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Printed Color
Creating colors can be accomplished using
either additive color formation or subtractive color
formation. Additive color formation is based
on mixing primary colors of light; subtractive
color formation is based on mixing colorants.
Colorants are chemical substances that give color
to such materials as ink, paint, crayons, and chalk.
Colorants that dissolve in liquids are called dyes.
Colorants that do not dissolve but spread as tiny
solid particles through liquids or other substances,
such as ink, are called pigments.
In today’s world of digital hardware and
software, color remains a hot topic of discussion.
Modern technology enables a more accurate and
consistent reproduction and definition of color than
ever before.
Additive and Subtractive
Color Formation
In additive color formation, the primary colors
of light (red, green, blue) combine to form other
colors. Red, green, and blue are called the additive
primary colors and are usually referred to as RGB.
The human vision system, which is sensitive to red,
green, and blue light, uses additive color mixing.
Television sets and computer monitors create
images in a full range of colors by combining dots of
red, green, and blue light.
In subtractive color formation, color is seen
by reflected light. Each of the subtractive primary
colors—cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY)—
absorbs (subtracts) other colors from the white light
and reflects only its own. For example, a spot of
cyan printed on a page absorbs red wavelengths
of light, and reflects back only blue and green
wavelengths that form the color cyan. A spot printed
with black ink (or a black spot made by combining
equal parts of cyan, magenta, and yellow) absorbs
all the wavelengths and does not reflect any color.
In the same way, a white paper surface reflects all
the wavelengths, producing white light. Colorants of
the subtractive primaries can be mixed together in
equal proportions to form the additive primaries.
In process color printing, where only
subtractive primary colors and black are used, the
same principle applies. However, colors are mixed
©George Deal
Figure 11-21. Pantone® offers printers, designers, and color professionals a variety of materials for choosing and using the
Pantone colors.
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