Interesting Color Theory
I was surprised to find that there are two schools of color theory:
1. CMYK: The physical coloring of objects--in this system, the colors you add to the palette CANCEL from reflected white light, and the three primary colors mixed in a ratio of 4:2:1 equal black. This is interesting as a painter.
2. RGB: The images projected in film or on a screen--filtered white light wavelengths ADDED TO the void of black, and the primary colors mixed equal white. This is interesting as a photographer.
The result of this CMYK theory combined with the transparency of acrylic paints are some unexpected phenomenon:
For example, I paint a flowing robe Brilliant Red.
If I wanted to use a lighter Red to highlight the outer edges of the robe, I don't just add white (as I thought you would). I add a little Orange--the next color up on the color wheel going toward Yellow. Maybe a little white too. This makes the outer edges of the robe appear as if they are lit by sunlight--or whatever lightsource is there.
1. CMYK: The physical coloring of objects--in this system, the colors you add to the palette CANCEL from reflected white light, and the three primary colors mixed in a ratio of 4:2:1 equal black. This is interesting as a painter.
2. RGB: The images projected in film or on a screen--filtered white light wavelengths ADDED TO the void of black, and the primary colors mixed equal white. This is interesting as a photographer.
The result of this CMYK theory combined with the transparency of acrylic paints are some unexpected phenomenon:
For example, I paint a flowing robe Brilliant Red.
If I want to use a darker Red to shade the folds of the robe, I don't add black to the Brilliant Red (as I thought you would). I add a little Green--opposite Red on the color wheel. This makes it look like natural shadows.
If you do use just Black and White, you will just mute and desaturate the colors.
Fascinating.
