Amber is a color that falls between yellow and orange on the color spectrum. It is often described as being reddish-yellow or yellowish-orange. So is amber actually closer to red or yellow? The answer lies in examining the properties of light and color.
The Color Spectrum
The visible color spectrum can be represented as a continuous band of colors from violet to red:
| Violet | Blue | Green | Yellow | Orange | Red |
Colors that are next to each other on the spectrum are more closely related than colors further apart. Yellow and orange are adjacent, so they are more similar than yellow and violet which are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
Wavelength of Light
Each color corresponds to a specific wavelength of visible light. Wavelength is measured in nanometers (nm). The full visible spectrum ranges from about 380-750 nm:
| Color | Wavelength (nm) |
| Violet | 380-450 |
| Blue | 450-495 |
| Green | 495-570 |
| Yellow | 570-590 |
| Orange | 590-620 |
| Red | 620-750 |
The wavelength of amber light falls between yellow and orange, at around 585 nm. This is much closer to yellow (~580 nm) than red (~700 nm).
Hue and Wavelength
Hue refers to the dominant wavelength of a color. It represents where the color falls along the visible spectrum. Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. The complement of yellow is violet, while the complement of red is cyan.
Amber has a hue that is closer to yellow than red. If amber were made more reddish, it would shift closer towards its complement, cyan. If it were made more yellowish, it would get closer to violet.
RGB Color Model
The RGB color model uses combinations of red, green, and blue light to create colors. These are the primary colors of light. In the RGB system, amber is made by mixing more green and red light than blue:
| Color | Red | Green | Blue |
| Amber | 255 | 191 | 0 |
Yellow, on the other hand, contains a higher percentage of green and no blue:
| Color | Red | Green | Blue |
| Yellow | 255 | 255 | 0 |
Comparing the RGB values shows that amber has a higher red component than yellow. But both colors lack blue, indicating they are warm colors on the yellow/orange side of the spectrum.
RYB Color Model
The RYB color model uses red, yellow, and blue as the primary colors. It is used in painting and other pigment-based color systems. In the RYB system, orange contains more red pigment, while yellow contains more yellow pigment.
Since amber is made by mixing red and yellow, it inherently contains more yellow pigment than red. This again demonstrates that amber is closer to yellow on the color wheel.
Candle Flame Test
A simple way to judge whether amber is more red or yellow is by comparing it to a candle flame. The hottest part of a candle flame burns blue or white. But the outer portions are yellow grading into orange or amber.
So amber corresponds to the intermediate zone – not as hot as the bright yellow center, but hotter than the cool red edges. This shows its wavelength and hue fall between yellow and red, skewing closer to yellow.
Etymology
The word amber originally referred to the yellowish fossil resin used in jewelry making. It was borrowed in the 14th century from Old French ambre, derived from Arabic anbar.
In contrast, the word orange emerged later, in the 16th century referring to the fruit. Before that, the color was just called “yellow-red”. The amber color was named first and was a distinct concept from orange.
Psychology of Amber
Psychologically, amber is associated with yellow more than red. Red conjures feelings of excitement, passion, or anger. Yellow represents happiness, optimism, and warmth.
Amber is seen as warm, welcoming, and cheerful. But it lacks the intensity of emotions linked to red. So amber’s psychological impact has more similarities with yellow than red.
Uses of Amber
Amber is utilized functionally in ways more akin to yellow than red:
| Amber | Yellow | Red | ||
| – Traffic lights | – Highlighters | – Stop signs | ||
| – Bug/resin jewelry | – Caution signs | – Fire trucks | ||
| – Interior design | – Sunflowers | – Valentines |
Amber and yellow denote intermediate warmth, caution, or interaction. Red commands action, danger, or passion. This shows amber’s temperament is more moderate like yellow.
Amber Minerals
In geology and mineralogy, amber belongs to the same family as yellow minerals like citrine (yellow quartz) rather than red minerals like ruby and garnet.
Yellow-orange stones like amber, citrine, and yellow jasper gain their color from iron impurities. Rubies contain chromium and garnets get their red color from manganese. So amber has more chemical similarities with yellow minerals.
Absorption Spectra
Absorption spectra show how materials interact with wavelengths of visible light. Substances appear colored because they absorb some wavelengths more than others.
Amber resin absorbs blue, violet, and green light, leaving mainly yellow and orange. Compared to red glass which transmits red and absorbs other colors. So amber’s absorption is more closely aligned with transmission of yellow light.
Amber Fossils
Many amber fossils contain inclusions of ancient insects, plants, feathers, or hair. The golden amber hue allows the fine anatomical details of these inclusions to be studied.
A red-tinted resin would obscure many of these pale isolated features. The yellowness provides ideal contrast, like insect samples preserved in yellowish tree sap or formaldehyde.
Conclusion
When analyzed across the light spectrum, color models, etymology, usage, psychology, minerals, and more, amber consistently demonstrates a stronger affinity with yellow than red.
While amber occupies a transitional zone between the two colors, it skews distinctly in the yellow direction, both scientifically and perceptually. So in summary, amber is decidedly more yellow than red.
