There are two main color processes: the subtractive color process which involves mixing pigments and dyes to absorb all colors except the desired one, and the additive color process which involves mixing colored lights that combine on a surface. In color systems, primary colors cannot be broken down further and are used to create secondary and tertiary colors. Key, tone, tint, and shade refer to the lightness or darkness of a color.

1. Color Systems

15. SUBTRACTIVE COLOR PROCESSThe mixing of pigments and dyes so that all colors of light except the color are absorbed (subtracted).

17. ADDITIVE COLOR PROCESSThe mixing of colored lights so that they shine on a surface, they combine (add) to make other colors.

20. SUBTRACTIVE COLOR PROCESSThe mixing of pigments and dyes so that all colors of light except the color are absorbed (subtracted).

21. ADDITIVE COLOR PROCESSThe mixing of colored lights so that they shine on a surface, they combine (add) to make other colors.

25. PRIMARY COLORSIn a color system, the basic colors that cannot be broken down into other colors and that can be combined to create other colors.

26. Hue – the color wheel.

28. SECONDARY COLORSThe product of mixing two primary colors.

29. TERTIARY COLORSThe products of mixing a primary and secondary color.

30. Hue – the color wheel.

31. KEYUsed synonymously with value. In a scale of values, high-key colors are lighter than colors in the middle of the scale; low-key colors are darker than the colors in the middle of the scale.

32. High key

33. Low key

34. TONEA color that has gray added to it.

35. TINTA color that has white added to it.

36. SHADEA color that has black added to it.

38. INTENSITY, SATURATIONThe strength or weakness of a color.