Teal is a rich and beautiful color that falls between green and blue on the color spectrum. It has an interesting history and is part of several major color systems, including RYB (red, yellow, blue), CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), RGB (red, green, blue), and more. In this article, we’ll explore the origins of teal, what color spectrum it belongs to, what color systems include it as a primary or secondary color, what colors are similar to it, and what colors it is commonly paired with in design.
The Origins and History of Teal
The first recorded use of the word “teal” in the English language was in the late 17th century. It was derived from the Middle Dutch word “tiele,” meaning teal-colored or teal-green.
Teal gets its name from the common teal, a member of the duck family with feathers in this blue-green color. The word replaced the earlier English word “tille” that also referenced the common teal duck.
As a color name, teal began to be used in 1917. Its early use was mainly in the context of feathers and plumage, as well as costumes and fashion. By the 1930s, it started being used across design fields like architecture and interiors.
Teal increased in popularity in the 1990s, as there was a resurgence of interest in bold, vibrant colors from the 1960s and 70s. The rise of grunge fashion and athleisure wear also made teal a staple color. Today it is still widely used in fashion, interior design, graphic design, and more.
The Color Spectrum Teal Belongs To
Teal is considered a tertiary color, meaning it is made by combining a primary and secondary color from the RYB or RGB color models. This places teal somewhere between a primary and secondary color on the color spectrum.
On the RYB color spectrum, teal falls between green (a primary) and blue (a secondary):
| Red | Yellow | Orange | Green | Blue | Purple |
In RYB, red, yellow, and blue are the primary colors. Green, orange, and purple are the secondaries. Teal, classified as a tertiary, is a mix of green and blue.
On the RGB color spectrum, teal falls between cyan (a secondary) and green (a primary):
| Red | Orange | Yellow | Green | Cyan | Blue | Purple |
In the RGB model, red, blue, and green are the primaries. Cyan, magenta, and yellow are the secondaries. Teal sits between the primary green and secondary cyan.
So in summary, teal is considered a tertiary color that exists between a primary and secondary color on both the RYB and RGB spectrums. This places it roughly halfway between a primary and secondary color tone.
Color Systems That Include Teal
There are several major color systems that include teal as one of their primary or secondary colors:
RYB (Red, Yellow, Blue)
The RYB system, also known as the traditional artist’s color wheel, has red, yellow, and blue as primary colors. In RYB, teal is considered a tertiary color between green and blue.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
In the CMYK system used for print design and printing, the primaries are cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Teal is created by mixing cyan and green.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
On computer displays and in design programs, RGB color has red, green, and blue as the primary colors. Teal sits between green and cyan here.
Pantone Matching System
The Pantone Matching System is a standardized color catalog used in design and printing. It has over 1,000 colors with assigned numbers and names. Teal can be found in this system as PMS 3282, 328, and 321.
Natural Color System
This is a logical color system sorting colors by visual properties. The NCS places teal between the purer cyan and greener tones. Specific teal colors have designations like 6020-B10G and 6030-B.
Munsell Color System
In Munsell color space, colors are organized by hue, chroma, and value. It has 5 principal hues: red, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Teal sits between the green and blue hue bands.
So in summary, teal is definitely recognized as its own distinct color in major color systems used across design and print industries.
Similar Colors to Teal
There are a few different colors that are similar to teal and sit close to it on the color wheel:
– Cyan
Cyan is the closest primary color to teal. Teal mixes some green in with cyan to tone it down towards a green-blue. Pure cyan is brighter and more intense.
– Turquoise
Turquoise contains a little more green than teal. It is slightly lighter, brighter, and more vibrant.
– Aqua
Aqua is also slightly more green biased than teal. It is crisper and more vibrant as well.
– Seafoam
Seafoam green has more green than teal, giving it a soft muted green-blue color.
-Azure
Azure is lighter and brighter, closer to a pale sky blue. Teal is darker and richer in comparison.
– Teal green
Teal green is the greenest shade of teal, bringing it closer to a blue-green tone.
So while colors like cyan, turquoise, and aqua are close to teal, teal strikes a balance between green and blue that makes it distinctly recognizable from similar shades.
Colors That Go Well With Teal
When using teal as an accent color or putting together teal color schemes, these shades tend to complement it well:
– Neutrals like white, black, gray
Clean neutrals help ground teal’s vibrancy. Crisp black and white pairing especially pops.
– Tan, beige, cream
Earthy neutrals also offset teal nicely while subtlety pulling out its green side.
– Gold, bronze
Warm metallics give teal a luxurious, sophisticated look.
– Coral, peach, pink
Soft orangey pinks make lively complements to teal’s green-blue tones.
– Yellow, lime green
Cheery bright colors create energetic color schemes with teal.
– Purple, plum
Rich jewel tones help balance teal’s intensity.
– Brown, moss green
Earthy greens and browns harmonize with teal’s natural blue-green color.
So whether you opt for crisp neutral pairings, vibrant complements, or soft earthy accents, there are many colors that flatter and highlight teal for all kinds of designs.
Conclusion
In summary, teal is tertiary color that falls between green and blue, blending both for a rich aquatic color. It has a fascinating history stemming from the common teal duck. As a color name, it came into prominence in the early 1900s, especially in fashion.
Teal is considered a unique color in major color systems like RYB, CMYK, RGB, Pantone, NCS, and Munsell. It sits between a primary and secondary color in the spectrum, making it visually distinct from similar shades like cyan, turquoise, and aqua. It also pairs beautifully with a wide range of colors from neutrals to bold brights to earth tones.
With its versatility to go from classic to contemporary, teal continues to be a staple color across design and decor. Its lush green-blue tones give it an endlessly appealing natural beauty.
