Subtractive color
A subtractive color model explains the mixing of paints, dyes, inks, and natural colorants to create a range of colors, where each such color is caused by the mixture absorbing some wavelengths of light and reflecting others. The color that an opaque object appears to have is based on what parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are reflected by it, or by what parts of the spectrum are not absorbed. Subtractive color systems start with white light. Colored inks, paints or films placed between the viewer and the light source or reflective surface (such as white paper) subtract wavelengths from this white, and make a color. Conversely, additive color systems start with no light (black). Light sources add wavelengths to make a color. In either an additive or a subtractive system, three primary colors are needed to match humans’ trichromatic color vision (caused by the three types of cone cells in the eye). In most color printing, the primary ink colors used are cyan, magenta, and yellow.
