Additive colors are the result of combining different lights that linearly add up to some new visible color. Subtractive is when colors have to be removed from the result. For example, a digital screen is black when it is not emanating any light but the different colors in the display pixels can be turned on and they add up to the colors we perceive. A white canvas on the other hand reflects all wavelengths and to make certain colors become apparent, specific paint can be applied such that only that color is reflected and the others are absorbed.
jonathanlu31
One thing that helped clear things up for me was that all the colors together for additive colors produces white, but all the colors mixed together for subtractive color produces black. However, for additive colors, the idea of general luminosity/brightness makes sense, but what causes subtractive colors to look lighter? Is it just that some of the paint or ink reflects all light to a certain degree, making it look lighter?
modatberkeley
@jonathanlu31 I think that's correct — lighter subtractive colors reflect more of the other colors. Instead of thinking about reflecting other colors, we can also think of it as absorbing less.
Additive colors are the result of combining different lights that linearly add up to some new visible color. Subtractive is when colors have to be removed from the result. For example, a digital screen is black when it is not emanating any light but the different colors in the display pixels can be turned on and they add up to the colors we perceive. A white canvas on the other hand reflects all wavelengths and to make certain colors become apparent, specific paint can be applied such that only that color is reflected and the others are absorbed.
One thing that helped clear things up for me was that all the colors together for additive colors produces white, but all the colors mixed together for subtractive color produces black. However, for additive colors, the idea of general luminosity/brightness makes sense, but what causes subtractive colors to look lighter? Is it just that some of the paint or ink reflects all light to a certain degree, making it look lighter?
@jonathanlu31 I think that's correct — lighter subtractive colors reflect more of the other colors. Instead of thinking about reflecting other colors, we can also think of it as absorbing less.