Author Question: How do colors differ when viewed under incandescent light and fluorescent ... (Read 19 times)

Brittanyd9008 · **on:** Jul 28, 2018

How do colors differ when viewed under incandescent light and fluorescent light?

Question 2

If the primary colors of the subtractive theory are cyan, magenta, and yellow, why are the colors in the artist's subtractive theory red, blue, and yellow?

ju · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 28, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Because incandescent light contains a higher ratio of reds and oranges, these colors
predominate when seen under this type of light. Most objects have a warm
coloration when seen under incandescent light. Fluorescent light often contains
higher ratios of blue and green; a cooler appearance is observed because of the
domination of these shorter wavelength colors. Modern cool white fluorescent
lamps do not produce this effect as much as older or less expensive fluorescent lamps
do. The newer tubes have been carefully color-corrected by adjusting the phosphors
found on the inside of the tube to give off light that more closely approximates
noontime sunlight and is thus closer to incandescent light.

Answer to Question 2

Pigments of cyan and magenta are not found naturally and are not easy to
manufacture. However, red and blue pigments are readily available. This means that
red and blue have been used traditionally by artists as their primary colors. A wider
range of colors could be mixed by painters if cyan, magenta, and yellow were used,
but the availability of pigment had led to the continued use of red, blue, and yellow
as the primary colors in the artist's subtractive theory.