What is a subtractive color?

A subtractive color refers to a color created through the mixing of pigments, such as paints or inks, where the colors subtract from the light that is reflected back to the viewer. In this process, each pigment absorbs certain wavelengths of light and reflects others. For example, mixing yellow and blue paint produces green because the yellow pigment reflects yellow light while absorbing other colors, and the blue pigment reflects blue light while absorbing others as well.

This concept is critical in understanding how artists and designers achieve various colors through physical mediums. The subtractive mixing process is often associated with color models like CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and key/black), which is commonly used in printing. Recognizing how colors combine in a subtractive manner helps artists to anticipate the resulting hues when mixing their paints or inks.

In contrast, other choices do not accurately define the concept of subtractive color. A color that cannot be created by mixing refers more to unique pigments or colors that are observed rather than mixed. A color ranging from green to violet pertains to a specific portion of the color wheel, which does not encompass the broader definition of subtractive colors. Finally, discussing the purity or intensity of color relates more to saturation rather than the process of color creation