Color Theory--Mixing Colors
There are two different ways to mix color: using media such as inks, dyes or paint, and using light sources of different colors. The first is called "subtractive," because the surface reflecting light absorbs the spectrum colors except for the perceived color which it reflects. The second is called "additive," because the light source adds its particular color to the mix. Computer graphics design and stage lighting use additive color mixing. This article addresses subtractive color mixing.
Color Wheel
The first step in understanding color is to study the color wheel. On it, each color and shade of color is defined by its relationship with all the other colors. If the circumference were divided into thirds, you would have blue at the top, yellow at four o'clock, and red at eight o'clock. These are the primary subtractive colors. Between blue and yellow is green, between yellow and red is orange, and between red and blue is purple. These three are called secondary colors.
Hue
Hue is the term that refers to the color's position on the outside of the wheel. If the circle is divided into slices like a pie, each hue occupies an entire slice, from edge to center.
Intensity
Within each slice of this color pie is gradation of intensity. Looking at the circle, you'll see that blue is directly opposite orange. These are "complementary" colors. If you mix orange into blue, you'll find the blue color darkens and becomes grayish. You've changed the intensity. As you get nearer the center of the circle, and equidistant from both blue and orange, the hue is entirely gone and what you see is gray. The same is true of the relationship between red and green, and between yellow and purple.
Value
Value refers to the darkness or lightness of a hue. This is different from intensity, because even a very dark color can still be of very pure hue. When mixing black into a pure color, it becomes a darker value but not less intense, even though both resulting colors might be dark.
Real Paint
In the real world of mixing paints and dyes, nothing is pure. Nearly every blue pigment leans slightly to green or purple, and nearly every red toward either purple or orange. When choosing your colors to mix, keep in mind that, for instance, mixing a slightly greenish blue with red will achieve a less intense purple than you might want.
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