Page 84 - My FlipBook

of light waves in passing from one niedinm to another varies with the
media and with the angle of incidence. Reflection usually accompanies
refraction, and this phenomenon causes much of the uncertainty of
results in applying colors.
When red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet rays are combined
in proper proportions, white light is formed, but when red, orange, yel-
low, green, blue and violet pigments are properly mixed black is pro-
duced. The first phenomenon is caused by the combining of colored
light by a process of addition of rays, and the second is a result of adding
pigments and subtracting light, for all the rays transmitted are absorbed
or quenched by another pigment.
While all pigments have the power to reflect or transmit light, it is
their power to absorb certain rays that assists in producing color. The
colors of stained glass, porcelain, etc., are examples of this phenomenon.
Such pigments as those used by dyers and painters are but representatives
of colors ; they imperfectly represent the primary colors. There are no
pigments which produce colors that absolutely match the primary—red,
yellow and blue. Red pigments reflect or transmit red, yellow and
orange rays and absorb violet, blue and green rays. Yellow pigments
transmit or reflect red, orange, yellow and green rays and absorb blue and
violet. While blue pigments transmit or reflect green, blue and violet
rays and the remaining rays, red, orange and yellow, are absorbed by
these pigments.
If pigments could be obtained which truly represented each primary
color, the laws of color could be more accurately illustrated : but since
this seems impossible the colorist is beset with many difliculties. Pig-
ments are verv often obtained which nearl}- represent their respective
primaries, but when these are mixed they do not produce a good secondary
color, because of such differences as transparency, opacity, chemical com-
ponents, etc.
One of the most prevalent theories of color
formation from pigments treats red, yellow and blue
Combining Colors.
as the primary colors. According to this theory the
manv colors used by colorists may be made from these three. When
two of tliese primarv colors are combined secondary colors are formed.
Red and yellow, for instance, give orange ; red and blue yield violet : and
yellow and blue produce green. By combining the three primary colors
so that complete absorption of light takes place, black is formed. Those
colors produced by the three primaries are termed tertiary colors. The
third primary color, however, does not produce a new hue, but merely
saddens the other two by forming a certain amount of gray or black in
the combination. They are often termed the dulled or broken tones of

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