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Is cyan a tertiary color?

Is cyan a tertiary color?

Cyan is considered a tertiary color in the RYB (red, yellow, blue) color model. Tertiary colors are made by mixing primary and secondary colors together. In the case of cyan, it is made by mixing the primary color blue with the secondary color green.

What are primary, secondary, and tertiary colors?

Colors can be categorized into three main groups based on how they are created:

  • Primary colors – Red, yellow, and blue. These colors cannot be created by mixing other colors together.
  • Secondary colors – Orange, green, and purple. These colors are created by mixing two primary colors together. For example, red and yellow make orange.
  • Tertiary colors – Made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color. Cyan is made by mixing blue (primary) with green (secondary).

The creation of tertiary colors allows for a wider range of hues to be produced. While there are only 3 primary and 3 secondary colors, there are 6 tertiary colors: red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green (cyan), blue-purple, and red-purple.

How is cyan made?

As mentioned above, cyan is specifically created by mixing the primary color blue with the secondary color green. On the RYB color wheel, cyan sits directly between blue and green.

Here is how to make cyan by mixing paint pigments:

  • Take some blue paint pigment
  • Take some green paint pigment
  • Mix the blue and green pigments together thoroughly
  • The resulting mixed color will be cyan

When mixing light instead of pigments, you can also create cyan by combining green and blue light. This is how cyan is produced on computer displays and TV screens.

Cyan in the RYB and RGB color models

There are two main color models that are used – RYB (red, yellow, blue) and RGB (red, green, blue). Cyan is considered a tertiary color in the RYB model but a primary color in the RGB model.

Here’s a comparison:

Color Model Cyan’s Color Category
RYB (pigment) Tertiary – made by mixing blue and green
RGB (light) Primary – cannot be created by mixing other colors

This difference occurs because the primary colors are different in each model. In RYB, the primaries are red, yellow, and blue. But in RGB, the primaries are red, green, and blue.

So while cyan is a tertiary in RYB, it is a primary in RGB since green and blue are both primary colors in that model.

Properties of cyan

Here are some key properties of cyan color:

  • Cyan sits between green and blue on the color wheel, at a hue angle of 180°
  • In the RGB model, cyan has the hex code #00FFFF
  • Cyan’s RGB values are R: 0, G: 255, B: 255
  • Cyan is the complement of red in the RGB model
  • Cyan pigment absorbs red light and reflects green and blue light
  • Cyan has high brightness and saturation

These properties give cyan a vibrant, electric visual appearance. Cyan has stronger visual presence compared to colors with low saturation.

Uses and associations of cyan

Some common uses and associations for the color cyan are:

  • Often used in graphic design and web design
  • Part of the CMYK color model used in printing
  • Used along with black in monochrome printing
  • Represented by the # symbol in HTML/CSS
  • Commonly used for chroma key compositing in video production
  • Used in product logos and branding
  • Associated with tranquility, calmness, and security in color psychology

Cyan is a versatile color that has many applications thanks to its high visual energy. It stands out against black and white backgrounds.

Cyan in nature and culture

Here are some examples of cyan found in nature and culture:

  • Cyan is sometimes used as an eye color in anime characters
  • The cyanide ion has a cyan color
  • Butterfly wings can have cyan patterns, like the Cyanophrys remus
  • Some birds like kingfishers have cyan feathers
  • Cyan can be seen in sea creatures like reef fish and jellyfish
  • The cyanobacteria in the ocean give it cyan coloring
  • Cyan fluorescent protein is used in biotechnology
  • In Thailand, cyan is a symbolic color of Friday

While not super common in nature, cyan stands out strongly when it does occur. Its brightness draws attention and interest.

Cyan dye and pigments

While cyan can be produced with modern techniques, there have historically been challenges creating stable cyan dyes and pigments.

Some options for cyan coloring include:

  • Phthalocyanine Blue BN pigment, first made in 1935
  • Cyanine blue dye, a synthetic dark cyan dye first made in 1882
  • Prussian blue pigment, used as an early but faded cyan dye
  • Mixing blue and green natural dyes together
  • Dyes from cyan-colored plants like woad and indigo

Modern phthalocyanine and cyanine dyes have made it easier to produce vivid cyan colors that don’t fade over time.

Cyan lighting

Cyan lighting can be produced using LED lights with cyan-colored phosphors or filters. Here are some uses of cyan lighting:

  • Cyan blue grow lights used for growing plants indoors
  • Cyan and blue lighting used in aquariums and fish tanks
  • Cyan stage lighting used in concerts, events, and performances
  • Cyan lighting used to enhance nightclubs and parties
  • Cyan lighting used creatively in architecture and art installations

The vibrant glow of cyan LED lighting can create energetic and futuristic visual effects. It provides cooler, more high-tech lighting compared to warm white light.

Comparable colors to cyan

Some other colors that are similar to or related to cyan include:

  • Turquoise – more greenish than cyan
  • Teal – darker than cyan
  • Aqua – essentially the same as cyan
  • Azure – less saturated than cyan
  • Electric Blue – also highly saturated like cyan
  • Mint – lighter and less saturated
  • Blue-green – desaturated or grayish cyan

While cyan has distinct properties, its general color family includes any vibrant blue-green hues. Changing cyan’s brightness and saturation produces related colors.

Cyan color palettes

Some color palettes that feature cyan as an accent color include:

  • Cyan, orange, white – vibrant, energetic, summery
  • Light blue, cyan, brown – calming, earthy
  • Navy, cyan, maroon – nautical, preppy
  • Black, dark cyan, magenta – modern, sleek
  • Cyan, yellow, gray – retro, artsy

Cyan works well in triadic palettes, paired with its complement red or orange. It also works with analogous cool colors like blues and greens.

Conclusion

In summary, cyan is considered a tertiary color in the RYB color model since it is made by mixing the primary blue and secondary green colors. However, it is a primary color in the RGB model. Cyan sits between green and blue on the color wheel with high visual saturation. It has a vibrant, energetic appearance and is often used in graphic design, video production, and lighting. Cyan can be found in nature in some animals, bacteria, and the ocean, where its brightness stands out. Modern cyan dyes and lighting create the signature cyan glow. Overall, cyan is a fun, bright color that adds visual pop.