Can you imagine a world in black and white? It's difficult, right? Everything that surrounds us has color, and when you go out for a walk on a mountain or on a beach, you realize the great variety of tones that there are, many of them Tertiary colors.
A painter, whenever he wants to make a work of art, must use a series of techniques that are represented by handling and combining colors. And by the way, identifying and recognizing colors is a very interesting branch. So is How tertiary colors are discovered.
What are tertiary colors?
Tertiary colors are the result of mixing a primary color with a secondary colorMixtures like these give rise to intermediate colours full of nuances. These include violet-red, orange-yellow, greenish-blue, greenish-yellow, orange-red or violet-blue, among others.
To better understand this concept, it is essential that we review What are the primary and secondary colors?, since tertiary colors are born from their combination.
Colores primarios
Primary colors are those that They cannot be formed by mixing other colors. These are the basis for all other colours in the colour wheel. They are therefore fundamental colours and cannot be reproduced by mixing.
Interestingly, there is no single theory about what the primary colors are. Depending on the model used, the primary colors can vary. The main color models are:
- RGB model (of English NETWORK, green y Blue): red, green and blue. Used in electronic displays, this model is based on mixing light.
- CMY model (of English cyan, magenta, yellow): cyan, magenta and yellow. This is the model used in printing.
- RYB model (of English NETWORK, yellow y Blue): red, yellow and blue. It is known as the traditional model of painting and art.
- Psychological primary color: focused on how we perceive colors, where the primary colors are red, yellow and blue.
One of the most surprising curiosities is that If the three primary colors are mixed in equal proportions, the color black is obtained. in the subtractive model (used in printing arts).
Secondary colours
Secondary colors are obtained by mixing two primary colors in equal parts.These colors are considered complementary to the primary colors and form the second phase in the creation of the chromatic circle.
The secondary colors, depending on the model used, are as follows:
- RGB model: cyan, magenta, and yellow.
- CMY model: orange, green and purple.
By mixing these secondary colors with their respective primaries, tertiary colors are obtained.
Tertiary colors: definition and formation
Tertiary colors, as mentioned above, are the result of mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color on the color wheel. They are intermediate colors that provide a wide variety of shades and tones and are fundamental in nature and art. These colors are, for the most part, those we find when observing natural environments.
Some examples of combinations that produce tertiary colors are:
- Yellow + green = pistachio green
- Yellow + orange = egg yellow
- Magenta + orange = red
- Magenta + violet = purple
- Cyan + violet = indigo
- Cyan + green = turquoise blue
It is important to note that tertiary colors they are practically infinite, since small adjustments in the proportions of mixed colours can generate countless shades. This is essential in the fields of painting, graphic design and fashion.
What is the color wheel?
El chromatic circle is an essential tool for understanding the relationships between colors. It is a Graphic representation of colors arranged in a circle, where the primary, secondary and tertiary colors are distributed in equidistant positions.
This circle remains a crucial reference for artists, designers and decorators. There are different versions of the colour wheel, among which we find:
- Traditional Color Wheel: Popularized in 1810 by Goethe in his work Color Theory, includes six colors: yellow, orange, red, violet, blue and green.
- Natural Color Circle: It represents the colors obtained from natural light, normally structured in 12 opposing colors.
The color wheel is used to create color harmonies, as it allows you to select combinations that work well together, such as complementary or analogous colors. It is an essential guide when creating balanced color palettes.
Variations and use of tertiary colors
In addition to the basic tertiary color combinations, variations of these colors depend on factors such as the amount of each color used. In practice, tertiary colors are essential for creating smooth transitions between vibrant hues and for adding depth and realism to works of art.
For example, in art and design, tertiary colours are often used to soften harsh contrasts between primary or secondary colours. In interior decoration, they are used to give naturalness to environments.
In advertising and marketing, they are used to evoke specific emotions. Proper use of tertiary colors can help create a warm, fresh, or professional atmosphere, depending on the purpose of the project.
So, if you like painting or experimenting, don't hesitate to mix colors and continue learning about color theory. The possibilities are almost endless!