Watercolor Primaries | Red Blue Yellow vs Magenta Cyan Yellow

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This is meant to be a comparison of Red, Blue, and Yellow Vs. Magenta, Cyan, and Yellow as Primary Colors of painting and pigments. I'll share my explanation that will provide a basic understanding of the essentials you need to know to apply to your color mixing.
See my other videos on watercolor, drawing, anatomy, pen and ink drawing tips, tricks, and techniques :-)

[@shadowseer07]

I was so confused about the whole cyan/magenta/yellow thing, and this video cleared everything up for me. I wish you had entire courses, I'd purchase them in a heartbeat

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad I helped...I'll be offering courses soon

[@kaizxca]

SAME!!!! I’ve been studying art through this channel for years

[@TraSea72]

You are the best instructor I've found. After neglecting my desire and practice of drawing for over 55 years, now at age 68, I'm learning so much and soaking it all in like a sponge. Thank you Alfonso and God bless you!

[@rotemben-david8789]

Wow. I have to say that I watched more than a few color theory video trying to make sense of it and your explanation is the best and most detailed I found to date. So thank you for all the effort you invest in helping us people on KZbin be better artists :). Personally your instructions help me a lot!

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

One thing you implied that is not correct (maybe you correct it later, haven't watched the whole thing yet): the primary colors are not inherent in the physics of light. Wavelengths of light have no primary colors. The primaries come from the fact that our cone cells see ranges of colors that center on red, blue, and green. When we see something yellow, it triggers some of our red cone and some of our green cone. Our eyes can't distinguish spectral yellow from a mix of red and green. But in physics, colors DON'T mix. That's all biology. A spectral camera would only see the wavelengths you are starting with. It would never see white, that's a creation in our brains when all three of our cones are fully triggered. It also wouldn't see magenta, that's the color our brains invent when the cones detect red and blue without green. Green is between red and blue on the spectrum, so our brains can't just average red and blue to get the color in the middle since our brains already know our cones aren't detecting green. So our brains invent magenta, which is not on the spectrum (and therefore doesn't appear in the rainbow). Magenta is essentially white light with green subtracted. That's why we have a color wheel even though the spectrum is linear. We invent a color to close that loop. But in animals that have 2 or 4 cone cells, all of that is different. A bird looking at our 3 color televisions with their 4 cone eyes would see the colors as being entirely wrong. They would also see our paintings as significantly different in coloring from what they are used to in nature. It would be like us looking at a painting by someone who is color blind or an old sepia picture.

[@alphonsodunn]

Awesome comment. Have you ever tried mixing these colors?

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

Alphonso Dunn No. I'm not really much into art. I enjoy it for the science and with young kids I get frustrated when they are taught wrong information in school. RYB is so ingrained there's no avoiding it but I do remind them often that not everything they learn in school is accurate and someone telling you something doesn't replace doing real science, even their teachers and, yes, even me. That said, I will do these color mixing experiments with paint with my kids in the next few years. I explain it to them when we go to science museums that have rbg light sources that produce cmy shadows, but they're only 5 so its still a bit over their heads.

[@Smokinbonez]

Alphonso, You gave the right answer, brilliant!

[@fredfullerton4485]

good point -but how does that influence paintig

[@richiejourney1840]

Jacob Turnbaugh I agree that magenta is real for most of us after all...we “see” it...but we “see” things that are illusions as well. Magenta is just considered to be a type of “color blindness” that we all share in common and is just an extra spectral hue mix that our brains translate to what we see as “magenta”-so they say. IF each color is actually associated with wavelengths of light-already proven and can be researched-and no wavelength can be assigned to “magenta” specifically, then “magenta” is not a “real” color with a wavelength all of its own. That’s it. That’s all there is to it. I really don’t care-I see it, replicate it, use it. We “imagine” things that we can not see all of the time so it is not plausible to say that we can not imagine a color. You said, “How do you know what animals see with out having animal eyes? You don’t.” So how can you go on to say, “I can understand color blindness being present in lesser animals but the idea that shrimp see way more colors because they have these extra cones is ridiculous. It doesn’t help an animal to be overwhelmed by tons of colors that are meaningless to it’s survival.” This is a “ridiculous” statement as well. By your own philosophy-How do you know that they are meaningless to them or that they are overwhelmed? How do you know that lesser animals are color blind? Can you see through their eye’s? Do you live and experience their lives? Just ponder on that. So what is the big deal about Magenta for you? Is it that you hold that CYM are the “true primaries” and that everything hangs upon “magenta’s” existence? Well if it is... All this arguing over which “colors” are “primary” is ridiculous. CYM was chosen to “represent” the starting point in subtractive theory because they are “optimal triadic” points in the “spectrum” trying to use some 3 representatives to replicate the 3 LMS cones of the human eye. But it’s the same for every tangential color point on a color wheel in subtractive theory. All color points on the outer wheel and heading toward black are “primary” whether we have the proper paint to represent them at their highest value/chroma or not. It is the very nature of subtractive theory that all starting hue’s be primary so that it will yield the greatest range of color and with only 3 colors...we know that NO 3 COLORS WILL ACCOMPLISH THE ENTIRE COLOR GAMUT ALONE because one look at an actual scientific color map will tell you this and so will your mixing of paints and experience in trying to match every color we see in nature. Don’t let the limited “Triadic Color Theory” limit your knowledge and experience of the entire Color Theory. As an example: It is widely known that R+Y=a lesser O-alway’s-then the Theoretical Starting Orange. It is the same for M+Y=a lesser O-alway’s. Also-in theory and all things equal-the closer two theoretical colors are to each other the higher the value/chroma mix will be obtained and the further apart they are the lower the value/chroma will be. Thus-in theory-R+Y will always make a better (although “imperfect”) O than M+Y mix-in theory. We know that it takes at least 3 paints of a triadic nature to make “representatives” of each hue so long as no two of them are direct mixing opponents but that is for triadic mixing and mixing between 2 colors. We find this to be true in real paint mixing where the mix will be a lesser value/chroma combo than at least one of the starting “primaries”. So you see, RGB, RYB, CYM, etc., are JUST REPRESENTATIONAL TRIADIC “PRIMARIES” THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE “REPRESENTATIVES” IN EACH HUE CATEGORY but we can not mix the Theoretical Starting “Primaries” within each hue. So it is true that a “true primary” can not be mixed from any other hue but each hue has a theoretical primary starting point of such high value/chroma that it can not be mixed. We however, are limited to what we actually have as pigments in mediums and no circular theoretical arguments are going to overcome this issue. It is folly to argue about which 3 colors are the “true primaries” in subtractive paint mixing-they all are in theory and practice. On the other hand...to argue about which paints that we have now will make the best mixes at this time is another thing that is much more beneficial to talk about and no 3 paints alone (if ever) will accomplish every artisans goal. We can’t even actually choose only 3 paints now to teach everything about actual paint mixing theory but all we ever do is harp on 3 unless you are a “Split Primary Theorist” and they (albeit are closer to the truth) still usually only harp on 3-RYB-and it is the same for those holding to CYM. But I get why they do it. They hinge everything on Theoretical RGB assigned to the not completely understood LMS cones of the human eye in the “measurable spectrum” which the RGB is really oR, G (commonly called middle green but only possible in the measured spectrum theory), and bV in the spectrum and we know that we can “see” more than that and it would not matter if we had an isolated unbiased paint-we humans would not “see” it for what it is since we do not “see” in the monochromatic alway’s having the LMS cones stimulated to some proportion-receiving all spectral waves plus others. We need to get over ourselves and come back to earth and just mix the paints for ourselves (make our charts) since it is impossible to exactly predict the color that you will get and it will vary from batch to batch and each type will vary in Hue/Value/Chroma between each manufacturer. I have even heard from those chemists/scientists who mix color from pigments for a living-the theory only gets us so far...we actually have to just go mix it, look at it, and adjust it until we get what we want or are willing to accept as plausible under certain conditions-which-by the way-even the printing industry does and even they have to add colors beyond “CYMK” in there advanced 6 & 7 “primary” systems. Yes, even they use “the best suitable pigments in medium that best fits our needs”. They don’t really care about CYM theory-which they can easily translate to any triadic-Hexachrome-decachrome-etc., theory they want to-they care if the pigment in medium will advance/enhance their printing or not and will jump on ANY next best one that comes along. So should this be for every artist. We may never get any “true primaries” in paint and not every paint may be today’s “best mixing primary” but every paint CAN be “primary”. The question is...will you let it be one? That’s the only question you need to answer besides what mixes you can get from it.

[@anastasiabusy4474]

Thank you for this video! I was recently working on a painting and I needed a saturated magenta BUT no matter how long I spent and how many variations of different proportions of red and blue I mixed, I COULDN'T CREATE IT! I was sooooo mad! Finally, I had to go to the store and buy a magenta and use that straight from the tube. Now I understand why it was impossible to create it!

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad I could help. I know, many of us had that problem lol

[@ArtAntiDe]

We here in Germany still learn in school (and even in artist training): "red-blue-yellow: you can mix all other color from them" even if it's just wrong. This whole "theory" comes from Johannes Itten from the Bauhaus. It's also not even a "traditional" way. There where many theories before Itten that included Cyan and Magenta. Even Itten himself wrote about them in his earlier texts. But, well, he had a "cult" following and pushed his theory into the official school plan in the 1960's ... *sigh* I'm on a crusade, you see. But there is hope: Some brands finally offer CMY as "official" primaries. It's still hard to buy... eg. CMYK-colored leads for mechanical/clutch pencils.

[@alphonsodunn]

Hmmm cymk pencils

[@Zamirprod]

Wow... You really opened my mind and educated me. I've been an artist for a long time and never thought about colors this way. These thoughts are fresh and refreshing.

[@alphonsodunn]

glad it could help

[@PositivelyNice]

No wonder I could never wrap my mind around Tiffany Blue for decades. And I find it so tough to get Apple Green. Plus, I have always thought that yellow is the "opposite" or blue because my eyes tell me so since I was a child but everybody says it is orange.

[@alphonsodunn]

You were probably right all along

[@nancyhey1012]

Well, I think according to the CMY system, orange 🍊 is a tertiary color, not a secondary color. Probably the same for purple.

[@Mozartminecraft]

@@nancyhey1012that is correct. Orange and violet are tertiary colors

[@daleicious1528]

Like many people in the comments are saying, this is by far the most in depth explanation as to why CMY>RBG, only thing that I thought was silly was continuing to insist Red and Blue are primary, even though you can create them by mixing other colors. Much love, thanks for the knowledge. Edit: I’ve thought about it, and there’s two sets of primaries, just depends on which way the color is approached, Additive or Subtractive. Probs obvious, I’m new to Color Theory.

[@wolfman210]

What he was pointing out is that the crux of CMY vs RYB is whether you see Cyan and Magenta as distinct colors or just as shades of Blue and Red. Even a lot of paints artists use to represent Cyan are labeled as Blue like Cyan Blue and Turquoise Blue.

[@NanosJournaling]

Wow. I simply didn’t understand all the color theory TILL NOW! Thx for the video, it made everything clear! FINALLY!!

[@Kpower]

This literally blows my mind. Color theory is so amazing.

[@alphonsodunn]

+K-power : ) learning does that to us

[@improvementTime10.3.17]

10:20, couldn't create cyan b4, but the reason why most painters use rby is likely due to convenience, many times instead f having to mix and then go down in value later, get the colors for the range you're likely gonna be painting in so you don't need that extra step when mixing

[@improvementTime10.3.17]

3:13 when colors of light combine, they get lighter, because it's additive light, you're shooting actual light out so obviously the brightness' add on to each other to make not just the new color but a brighter ver of it

[@alphonsodunn]

👍

[@improvementTime10.3.17]

Alphonso Dunn just wanted to let you know, these are just my notes, wasn't trying to criticize or add anything, ppl have taken my notes personally sometimes

[@sariaryou2272]

You are such a great teacher Alphonso. It comes across in your videos that you actually care about people and that makes people want to support you. I wish you all happiness in whatever you do.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks so much!

[@OG_Wonder_Woman]

Thank you, you just saved me so much frustration and money! I just started painting and I kept trying to mix cyan and failing. My cheap starter watercolors only had 4 darker blues. Eventually, I got a new color that was close. After this, I noticed I just naturally mix colors using cyan, magenta and yellow much more often than RBY. I'm about to invest in better paints, and I was looking at the Daniel Smith RBY primary set. I understand now I would have been very unhappy with it. I'm better off building my own set with cyan, magenta, yellow, black and white.

[@michelj.gaudet5048]

I love the thought regarding what the ‘proper’ definition of BLACK is... black is, simply, THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT. I would spend HOURS in the darkroom just ‘playing’ with my color filters, watching the hues changing as I either fooled with the acetate filters, but having much more fun with my dichroic head, turning the dials and watching the colors change. Oh; I am a retired70 years “Old-fart” who paid bills with photography. I like YOUR ‘slant’ of thinking about SATURATION... nothing really new, so-to-speak, but a bit different in thinking perhaps. Main ‘importance’ is being able to share, in an UNDERSTANDABLE WAY; ya did good, young man. Keep-on keeping on, son.

[@SepulvedaBoulevard]

Fantastic explanation! You closed a gap in my understanding of color theory. I glazed magenta over a glaze of prussian blue and I couldn't understand why the chroma exploded like nothing I'd ever seen, like to burn through the canvas. Now I get it 😀

[@alphonsodunn]

👍👍👍

[@KoriandrOfTheStars]

How do you _not_ have more subscribers? This is a great video, combining my two favourite subjects: Art & Science! I've never had theory explained to me this way before and now I understand it practically _perfectly_ . Muchas gracias, Alphonso! Sidebar: We're still waiting on that watercolour/color theory book. Lol.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks much. And it will come, dont worry : )

[@bobbrawley9439]

Alphonso Dunn do you have a video that identifies manufactused colors as substitutes for yellow cyan and magenta?

[@KoAlaZzP]

Koriand'r Of The Stars m

[@ladyjane6735]

I like the information but it's hard for me to listen to his channel because the audio hurts my ears. I don't know the audio sounds scratchy.

[@saimaster1554]

Koriand'r Of The Stars your from dashies channel

[@georgebotelho288]

You're always on point with the relevant details. Art is communication, and you are one of the most thorough and articulate sources the internet has to offer.

[@DarcyWhyte]

I'm happy to see that people are finally starting to figure out how useless red/yellow/blue is. I've been flogging this for years with this article I wrote: inventorartist.com/primary-colors/

[@alphonsodunn]

They are useful

[@DarcyWhyte]

@@alphonsodunn I worded badly. I mean they are not the primaries

[@SebastianTinajero]

I love learning about color theory I could listen to this all day

[@alphonsodunn]

: )

[@lewissilk9366]

this was so helpful thankyou, never understood the theory behind this before now

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad I could help : )

[@thismoment57]

Superbly explained! Thank you so much!

[@MarinaMichaels]

Excellent explanation--the best I've seen. Thanks!

[@byrondw1456]

i had someone be really really mad to me that i said the primaries are not red blue and yellow but magenta cyan and (lemon) yellow. She said i was using the light, additive system and that you cannot make a real red or ultramarine with "my primaries" but I knew I was right cause i've done it! I even started to doubt myself so I did research (she said i had to do research) well i did, and still am right. now i undertand why i was right. the gaslighting was real, thanks dude

[@star3875]

Best explanation ever on my search and study on color mixing with inks and acrylics.

[@justinepress2118]

That is a brilliantly succinct explanation of something I thought I couldn't understand. Thank you!

[@P3rformula]

You always make top grade videos. Good job.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thank you 👍🏾

[@PuppetMaster8707]

I've recently made myself a VERY small primary pallet so this was definitely a VERY helpful video thank you so much Alphonso sir

[@improvementTime10.3.17]

Pigments behave in the same way, but since they're the result of white light bouncing off and so,e being absorbed = subtractive light, they get darker when mixing = you gotta start off with brighter primary colors

[@DrHenna-vc9xp]

I am mindblown by the skill you have in explaining what could be so complex. Thanks so much for this. And I would certainly be interested in an online course on watercolors by you.

[@vinc885]

Red isn't really a subtractive primary, it can be mixed with primary yellow and magenta. The blue usually used in this trend isn't correct either, you get it using cyan and magenta. RGB- red green and blue are addative colours of the light, they combine to make white. With pigments of that colour you would get a muddy brown to an off black. The best results for colour mixing in art is with MYC- magenta, yellow and cyan, those are the secondary colours of the light spectrum. They are used in printing. You can get a decent black with them, although I always suggest keeping black paint, because pigments aren't perfect. White is necessary, because you can't get lighter without it when mixing pigments, that only works with light. For more vibrant colours use MYC.

[@daynamcmillan1397]

ordered the book. I can't wait to get it. Thank you SO much for the teaching.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks so much for supporting it!

[@improvementTime10.3.17]

9:43 with cyan magenta and yellow larger gamut of color, most saturation and value ranges

[@daikayll1897]

Yeeeeaaaaahh ! Lovely job. Great explanation Alphonso, thanx. That has just added a lot of light to what was a little mirky a world for me as an artist. It was the energy v matter that drove it home, nice one.

[@alphonsodunn]

+Dai Kayll glad I could add some clarity. Color theory can get muddy

[@tnjp5]

This is a really great video........you are a totally amazing teacher!!!

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks so much : )

[@lynettec4417]

Yes! Just what I needed to understand how different colors work together. I can't thank you enough! You have said it in words I understand

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad I could help: )

[@xargothunter5746]

Best EVER explanation of the difference between additive and subtractive colour mixing. I finally get it. I only understood subtractive, or at least how to use it. Thank you.

[@alphonsodunn]

Subtractive is whats practical for painting

[@CROSSTATT]

I appreciate you talking about color theory.

[@KommissarKrieg]

Just want to say thank you for all these videos! I hope to buy your book as soon as I can afford it, inktober had taught me how much I'd benefit from a good ink drawing resource.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks for even planning to support it. And youre very welcome : )

[@markdonovan1540]

Thank you Alphonso, that's the most complete and insightful explanation about colours I've ever heard. I've come to realise some of these points myself over the last few months of painting with watercolours. If only I had watched your video before I bought 50 different watercolours over the last 2 years. I'll gradually use them all and settle on a smaller quantity but better quality paints, so I can do more mixing. I recently came across a quote by Pablo Picasso: "They'll sell you thousands of greens. Veronese Green, emerald green, cadmium green and any sort of green you like, but particular green, never" Time to use the knowledge you have illuminated here to do more mixing. One think I've not yet worked out is how to develop a consistent way of mixing a particular colour. How do you know how much of each paint to mix? How much effect do the staining and granulation properties have on the mixing process? So far, I've been finding out a little by trial and error, but I'm wasting paint too!

[@RoroRoro-bf3qm]

I love the way you demonstrate the colors thank you

[@josephsookraj5582]

Thanks for enlightenment !Appreciate this beauty in nature we enjoy.

[@wolfman210]

Personally, I say objectively there's actually 4 primaries Red,Green,Blue and Yellow. Because RGB is the way our eyes see color so they by definition are the "primary" way we perceive color and Yellow is the only color that's universally agreed upon as being a subtractive primary. Like you said the crux of the RYB vs CMY argument seems to be whether you see Cyan and Magenta as distinct colors or just different shades of Blue and Red. Personally, I do think Cyan and Magenta are distinct since they are created by mixing light, so I think CMY is more accurate over RYB since as you said pigment mixing works backwards compared to light mixing. I see Magenta as a color that's closer to Purple than Red * some have actually argued that what we define as Purple is actually Magenta and the issue there is that when a lot of people say Purple they're actually describing Violet which is the basis over another argument over whether Purple as a color actually exists as well because while Magenta has no wavelength on the spectrum Violet does * but admittedly Cyan is tricker to define even other artists I've watched on youtube who swear by CMY over RYB have used paint labeled blue to represent Cyan like Turquoise Blue.

[@ozi__izo]

Are you still thinking about making that follow up video on why colors get muddy when you mix them ? that would be so so SO helpful 🙏🙏🙏

[@alphonsodunn]

Yup its coming

[@madhatterscrafts1233]

I bought your first book I think it needs a companion. This subject has confused me no end thanks for uploading

[@alphonsodunn]

Here www.amazon.com/Pen-Ink-Drawing-Workbook-2/dp/0997046503/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1549063345&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=pen+and+ink&dpPl=1&dpID=51qxrammCBL&ref=plSrch

[@susanc1792]

love this video. super informative and really helped me with choosing a palette.

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad you found it helpful

[@saloon_goon]

Wait I'll be back. Gotta watch part 1 again.

[@alphonsodunn]

lol

[@sariaryou2272]

lol, I did that too.

[@Miksu84]

Great, thanks so much! Always look forward to your next video... as someone else said it would be amazing to hear you talk about putting color theory into practice with skin tones for example.

[@alphonsodunn]

Most definitely

[@likoplays]

Still love your book - I always come back to it when I struggle with my ink drawings

[@alphonsodunn]

: )

[@MissRuthina]

Have you finished this series??? I couldn't find the next video?!!!!! This content is so juicy.

[@spoddie]

Thank you , I'm starting out with painting and you resolved my confusion. I couldn't understand the difference between my scientific understanding of color and the RBY painting primaries.

[@DeeDigs]

Great video, I'm starting to understand color theory , thanks !!!

[@alphonsodunn]

Very welcome : )

[@kiren3168]

thank you for allof your videos my friend :) finally an artist that fits my standard

[@venichord1744]

Very good explanation another good way to understand it is to look at a printer cartridge they are made up of Cyan, magenta, and yellow. There's is also a black as well but that's more for type which in printer code it's referred to as K for key. Completely agree with everything you said great video

[@alphonsodunn]

good point

[@richiejourney1840]

Jordan Bajcar sorry. Printers do not actually use Cyan and Magenta. They do however use a greenish blue and a violetish red along with a greenish yellow. Better printers use even more “primaries”.

[@jamessmith65536]

@@richiejourney1840 Yes, printers do not exactly cyan and magenta inks. Cyan is azure (halfway between cyan and blue) and magenta is rose (halfway between magenta and red) so that's why it is biased to still show that they still use RYB. Real CMY looks like this: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/CMY_ideal_version.svg Not this: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/CMYK_subtractive_color_mixing.svg

[@pata633]

Your videos are always very interesting and I have learnt much, which wasn't difficult as I knew nothing about drawing before I started watching your videos :) It's been 6 months now and I've made great progress, with your booki as well, so first thank you! Often when I finish a drawing, something's wrong but I don't know what exaclty: shading ? values ? texture ? depth ? .. I was wondering if you could do a video in which you take random drawings from amateurs and show where the mistake is. With just a few seconds by drawing to point out the big mistake, could you explain what is inaccurate and how to correct it ? I am sure many beginners's mistakes are common to many people. Again thank you for your great and easy-to-get lessons !

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks so much. Yes, I will definitely be doing critiques soon

[@judithtordoir7067]

Your teaching videos are absolutely amazing!!!!! You explain so well and I finally can understand the importance of understanding the color spectrum!!!! Finally I can help develop my artistic talents and you explain it all so flawlessly!!! You make it so easy to understand the science behind the color spectrum and and therefore to apply it without fear!!!! Why did I not see this vid earlier!!!! God bless you truly!!!! Big hugs with soooo much appreciation!!!! Will definitely buy your drawing books!!!

[@alphonsodunn]

+Judith Tordoir thanks so much. Glad I could help

[@bonniefowler5013]

Yay, I finally understand the theory behind the colour wheel.

[@kalimatayyeba7746]

Very illustrated way of introducing colors

[@moupatte]

Usually I get easily bored or found it hard to continue watching. But you keep me focus and interested. Great content. I love phtalo

[@alphonsodunn]

: )

[@Lostpanda123]

As always, great content.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks

[@RutherfordBcrazy]

your blowing my mind bro 5 stars

[@Parapresdokian]

Dood this video is simply dope.

[@NoissyChaos]

My Drawing skills are good but whenever I fill it with color it looked very creepy and bad because I never understood color mix.thanks for vid.

[@alphonsodunn]

No worries : )

[@richardpieterse2371]

hey Alphonso could you make a video on your past sketch books and your own favorite drawings??. Also appreciate your videos

[@blue_name_warrior]

Combining subtractive colors doesn't get "deeper", rather obtain the average of their brightness, and maybe get unsaturated. That's why CMYK need K (black).

[@henrytang2203]

Great explanation, I only learn about the CYMK system in university. They taught me the 'wrong' primary colours for all of K-12

[@Wickedcorrupt]

Fabulous!!!

[@matthewnggametime2537]

Thx for helping me about when mixing light colour and paint colour even you help me whats is a primary colour.

[@shaolindreams]

Ahhhhh nice one.. cleared up why pigments getting darker when you add them.. Thanks that was one piece of the puzzle that was missing for me :)

[@alphonsodunn]

+shaolindreams 🙂 glad it helped

[@sososick1135]

What an awesome video! I am new to mixing colors and was wanting to order some liquid watercolors and had no clue where to begin and this helped a ton!

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad it helped : )

[@Narsuitus]

Humans see lights with wave lengths that range from 380nm to 750nm. Rainbows and prisms separate visible light as follows: 625-750nm - Red 590-625nm - Orange 565-590nm - Yellow 500-565nm - Green 485-500nm - Cyan 450-485nm - Blue 380-450nm - Violet Humans have red, green, and blue cones in their retina that help them see colors.

[@PrincessCross1]

Thank you!!!

[@privateprivate1865]

If you cover up your true colors.. with pigments, youll get darker.. When you show your true transparent colors.. youll get brighter. Light

[@Smokinbonez]

I have never seen a subject so hard for most people to understand as this one. Even the so called science oriented people get it wrong or confuse this subject and even painters have a hard time getting it? Every KZbin place I go to, the confusion is there. The people start calling each other names after just a few comments into the subject of color. It looks like the UN trying to bring peace to the middle east and we know how that is going. I studied this subject for years more than 12 and I can tell you he is absolutely correct in what he is saying. He is not the only person on KZbin saying this so it's not a big secret. Paint companies like it that way so they can sell you more paint because you do not know this and how to mix colors correctly from scratch. Every full color picture that you see in a magazine that is produced from the 4 color process you can do the same thing with CYM and black and white. If ever you have seen the DIC numbers that is used in printing they work just like the frequency numbers in nano-meters that light uses. I don't mind backing this fellow up because in the name of art it must be known--the truth is the truth. If you have any questions I will answer them the best I can If Alphonso doesn't mind.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks much! Answer away. I dont mind at all : )

[@aronkeller3811]

Looking at it with red on top and blue and green on the sides to make an evenly spaded 3 or primary light in between you see cyan magenta and yellow primary pigment or color

[@alphonsodunn]

Hmm

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

To mix cyan or magenta with what they teach in schools, you need to add white paint... which includes magenta and cyan already, and then you are adding other colors to try to absorb the other colors. So if you add blue and green and white, that's blue (which absorbs green and red) and green (which absorbs red and blue). So you're absorbing a lot of red and a little blue and a little green, so you get a desaturated version of the color you get by mixing blue and green light (which is cyan). Then you add white which reflects everything to try to approximate proper saturation, but it isn't the same as if you had just used pure cyan, absrobing only red and reflecting all the blue and green.

[@michellestaneart6570]

Dude! Where have you been all my life?!

[@clshaw01]

Light bulb moment! A-ha!!! Thanks for taking your time to explain this in depth. Knowing the science helps me make much more sense out of what's happening in the mixes! I'm curious what your base palette contains. I'm assuming the traditional 6 (2 each of the primaries, warm/cool), but wondering if you veer a bit off center from the traditional pigment choices.

[@alphonsodunn]

I actually more than 2 primaries. And actually it does get to be even more than just having a primary on either side. You start thinking of other qualities as well, like value, transparency, etc. and so on. I will elaborate more in upcoming videos. So to answer your question yes I do have more than 2 of each primary

[@peggydid]

@@alphonsodunn I *love* that vid of the triple primary color wheel! And now you've snuk in a few more! Ha! I can't wait to get my tubes in the mail! Thanks for helping me make an informed choice! Peggy

[@janc734]

AMAZING! Thank you so much

[@fruitypebbles803]

Amazing! 👏👏👏

[@AyaSmith]

Love your videos!

[@Treellet2056]

Hello Alphonso, particularly well explained, I liked this a lot, for many different reasons. Firstly I suppose, because it seems we may share some philosophical (Cartesian dualism) views, that affect all aspects of life...though to be clear, I am not the scientist you are. Secondly, my approach to the use particular of watercolour, has always been to try to use single-pigment colours, rather than mix...I like to let them blend naturally on the surface, this sometimes has unpredictable results, and now I understand that more. Perhaps, you might like to test a recent discovery I picked-up from Peter Sheeler, the watercolour Davy's Grey...if you lay it down first, then follow with any of the primaries or secondaries, it has a wonderful and surprising effect! This video is one for my playlist, yes...good one Alphonso!

[@alphonsodunn]

Interesting. I'll definitely try that

[@alonsoLujan]

Amazing tutorial and insight. Thanks for explaining it so well. Is there a part 3 to this series? You make mention of it but I didn’t find it in your videos. Would Love to hear you talking about why mixes get muddy. Thanks!!

[@fruitypebbles803]

He talked about that a little bit in part one of this video series on color theory.

[@gardeniainbloom812]

Elegant explanation. Many thanks.

[@0rignallity601]

question, so is CMY darker and less saturated in reference to printing and digital art? because people who paint on paper or canvases like to use CMY because to them its actually more vibrant. I'm not saying your video is wrong i just want to red from your perspective.

[@ginettemelody1035]

Excellent. Thank you. Blessings

[@jirathanyaporn3611]

Thank you for teaching it. And I know that writing was me because I was just learning to write English. ขอบคุณครับ ( thank you )

[@alphonsodunn]

Very welcome : )

[@jirathanyaporn3611]

Alphonso Dunn 😊

[@fifi8926]

Hi! I just came across your video, and it so helpful and informative! I've always wondered why cyan and magenta were chosen over red and blue. This cleared up my confusion, and you explained in a way that someone who doesn't have a background or experience in art and colour theory (like me) can understand. Thank you making this video 😊

[@alphonsodunn]

You are very welcome

[@staceybrister]

Hello, I want to thank you for making and sharing another excellent lesson with us! I love your teaching style, it's so perfect for me. I really enjoy your videos... they make me feel inspired. I love how much I am learning from you from just a small number of videos; and I'm so happy to know that you have many more! I subscribed and signed up for notifications as I was watching my very first one. I also already have your book in my amazon cart. I don't have the money just yet, but I will, and I'm quite excited about owning a copy of your book! I don't know if you teach different things in your book than what you share here, but you know how it's a whole different thing to own and have access to an actual paper book. It's just so different than digital media. I love and appreciate both, and I appreciate you!

[@pedrodavila8927]

Muy importante entre esos 3 colores cian magenta y amarillo antes trabaje en máquinas de imprimir fotos cuando se imprimía con rollos de películas negativos y se utilizaba esos tres filtros por lo cual cuando lo contraio de esos filtros daban otros colores es decir lo contrario de magenta entra verde....contrario de cian ..rojo..contrario de amarillo entra el azul... Y conociendo uno los negativos de filmina o celuloide ya que no deja de estar con los ojos bien abiertos para comprender y entender la impresión de calidad en colores de negativo a positivo en papel Lo cual también No deja de ser importante en trabajos serigrafico

[@vdavi12]

Does that next video ever come?

[@cshula1]

Thank you for this lesson. I understand better now. 👍👍

[@alphonsodunn]

yayyy Glad I could help

[@cathrynclark5287]

Excellent video...

[@diazconias]

So, a practical question; I'm going to travel without destination, and I have limited space. I don't know how to paint yet, but I wanna learn in my travels. The question, is convinient to just by big tubes of Cyan, Ma, Ye and white than all the other colours?

[@duarteshelia]

Love this thanks for explaining it so well.

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad it helped : )

[@crystalmoreno6747]

Wait I’m confused… 3:00 colors of light combine they move towards creating white (blue, red, green) … but then 9:20 each mixture gets darker (blue, red, yellow)…. Where did the green come from in the first example isn’t it supposed to be yellow… I guess colors of light are different than primary colors lol I confused myself but I’m about to rewatch to understand better

[@o0TraceuR0o]

hey man, you're a great teacher, always saying the essential without beating around the bush, if you could do a tutorial on how to shade correctly two black or dark overlapping areas

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks. Two black or black overlay areas?

[@o0TraceuR0o]

black overlay areas... let's say i got two butterfly wings one over another or two insect antennas or whatever the case may be, how do i differentiate the perspective of those two objects and set them appart using light (was thinking of getting a fine nib white marker and maybe do a little white stipleing beetween the two or is that incorrect?)

[@s0nic864]

I actually mixed blue yellow and red light together and I used glow stick light and used the liquid inside and got black so black is like all cool colors cause blue and yellow make green and blue and red make magenta or purple

[@ethanalgicosathlonchannel1110]

Blue and yellow don’t make green, they make a very dark green or sometimes grey

[@ArtasiaLand]

Very well explained! Thank you so much