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Additive and subtractive color systems
Color devices used in desktop publishing and printing
simulate
the range of visible colors
using a set of primary colors that are combined to create other colors. There are two methods
for creating a range of colors from a set of primary colors. Computer monitors and scanners
are based on the
additive color model
. Printing technologies, including the Color Server and
offset presses, are based on the
subtractive color model
.
Additive (RGB) color
Color devices that use the additive color model create a range of colors by combining varying
amounts of red, green, and blue light. These colors are called the
additive primaries
(illustrated in the following figure). White is created by adding the maximum amount of red,
green, and blue light available. Black occurs wherever all three colors are absent. Grays are
created by adding equal amounts of all three color together. Combining varying amounts of
any two of the additive primaries creates a third, saturated hue.
