Secondary colors are a type of color classification, defined this way because they are obtained by mixing primary colors.
Obtaining the secondary colors is characterized by ideally being equal parts red, yellow and/or blue, as the case may be.
How many secondary colors are there?
There are only three secondary colors that exist if we base ourselves on the RYB color model, that is, red, yellow and blue, being orange, green and purple, which are obtained as follows:
- Red + Yellow = Orange
- Yellow + Blue = Green
- Blue + Red = Purple
Are there other secondary colors?
This depends on the . The aforementioned RYB model is the most classic, but in addition to this there are two others, which in turn generate other secondary colors in theory, although they are not indicated as such:
Subtractive color model (CMYK: cyan, magenta and yellow)
- Magenta + Yellow = Red
- Yellow + Cyan = Green
- Cyan + Magenta = Blue
- Magenta + Cyan + Yellow = Black
Additive color model (RGB: red, green and blue)
- Red + Green = Yellow
- Blue + Red = Magenta
- Green + Blue = Cyan
Difference between secondary and tertiary colors
The difference between secondary colors and primary colors is clear, since secondary colors are the result of primary colors. The difference in secondary colors and colors can create doubts.
Secondary colors are produced by combining two parts of a primary color, while tertiary colors are produced by combining primary and secondary colors, or only secondary colors.