Color Theory 2: Paint/Pigment Primary Colors. The Truth!!!

[microdesigns2000]

I worked hard in the third grade to write my first book report about the primary colors. In fact I was writing about RGB (primary additive). The teacher marked my grade down to a B because my report was "wrong". I didn't try in school again until I was a senior. I was so disappointed with the teacher's Ignorance.

[5150KDA]

Why does the cyan you use look blue when you do the sample and then change to cyan when you show the colors labeled at the end? Also, kinda looks like you used acrylics for the first sample and watercolor for the second. I know the theory is theoretically not supposed to care about the medium but I know they mix differently anyway because of the white pigments added to acrylic. Thanks for the video and insight! I am going to mess around with this!

[jaredx2]

@5150KDA The only Cyan Magenta and Yellow I could find for true mixing was gouache paints also things got lighter when they dried and I white balanced the scans better than the video.

[SabretoothSnowMan]

They should never teach at school that red, yellow and blue are all the primary colors the way that they do. It is a lie, and should not be taught.

[drax325]

what pigment did you use

[goldchops]

Absolutely agree with the video. I'm an Art teacher and am always amazed why it is not accepted in the Art world that CYM are the tru primary colours. The printers have been on to it for years. Why is everybody so reluctant to see the light. Keep up the good work. Well done.

[supajuxt]

those got poseted in the wrong order , read the second first and the first second

[supajuxt]

what you have demonstrated is subtractive color (check wikipedia) and alternativly lookup additive color. these are color palates that have been dirived from the visible light color spectrum.  when your teacher taught you the RYB model is because its easy and you were probably in grade one and couldnt comprehend high school level light spectrum teachings.the CYMK model is correct as well, but in a totally different way. you just missunderstood what your teacher was trying to teach you.

[supajuxt]

your teacher is right, and you are right. there are two sets of primarys used for different applications. the RYB model is used in color THEORY, for such applications as decorating, makeup, painting, etc. to find which colors compliment other colors etc.  and yes those colors can also be mixed to make secondary colors. but that is different than what you are demonstrating.

[jaredx2]

OK - just so you know - I do know the difference between additive and subtractive color theory (and I my sources do go beyond wikipedia on this). But they are not two different color theories - they are two sides of the same color theory - that theory is called color theory - or in light of the RYB model - we should call it scientific color theory.

The RYB model is historic or pre-scientific and is only accurate as in that we use and and promote it as accurate... (more in a moment)

[jaredx2]

What my teacher taught me - may be in common use - but that does not make it accurate. More importantly they don't teach it for the reasons of simplicity - its is taught that way because of ignorance and 400 years of the common use of RYB. If you teach someone the scientific primaries for pigment - CMY (K is not part of the model that is just a printing simplification) then they learn CMY. Purple is just as hard a word as Magenta. (more in a moment)

[jaredx2]

I am an Art Teacher. The common use of RYB does not make it correct. RYB is only stylistically or sociologically correct (due to 400 years of us) but not physiologically or psychology or best yet scientifically accurate. I do not deny its existence but truth is truth - as has been well established for some time - there is but one color theory - and its called color theory. People just like to ignore it instead of facing it head on. Many people are shocked when you mix magenta and yellow and

[jaredx2]

get red. But look those are the facts. Sociologically you are right - but this isn't language which we can adapt based on usage. Sure our color styles have evolved based on RYB but again deep down we have to face the fact that the compliment of yellow is not purple but blue. Thanks for listening :)

[aaron12345432]

what colors did you use for magenta, yellow, and cyan in this vid?

[jaredx2]

So I went to the store to get a good C, M, and Y and they sold me Gouache paints which were VERY expensive for 5 little tubes. When I opened it up it says: So, you are doing a color mixing demo... I kid you not!

[hutch11111]

this just rattled my world more than a little. i use color theory almost every day in my work and never understood the difference between what i do and what printers use (majenta and cyan)--to think of red and blue as secondary colors is going to haunt me. its interesting to watch a 3 minute video that can change the way you see the world, and could alter the way i have worked for 15 years. thank you

[buyayanPHILIPPINES]

tnx men

^^

[jaredx2]

Not my theory! :) Its just scientific the rules of light and paint. All I was doing was demonstrating it as clearly as I could. Thanks!

[divinesystems]

exelent vid did you come up with this theory ? my studies revolve around balance of opposites i was looking in to colours and hit a brick wall with the physical paint primarys this post has helped me alot thanks !

[maggoli67]

Aha! I thought there was something behind my paint-mixing problems. Thanks.