Teal is a fascinating color that sits somewhere between green and blue on the color spectrum. With its cool, calming tones, teal has become a popular color in interior design, fashion, and marketing. But is teal actually considered a shade of green or blue? The answer lies in a closer examination of how color is perceived by the human eye and defined scientifically. This article will explore the technical definitions and interpretations of the color teal.
The Origins of Teal
The name “teal” has been used to describe shades of blue-green since the mid-1700s. It comes from the common teal duck, which has striking blue-green feathers on its head and wings. So originally, the word teal referred specifically to the duck’s distinctive coloration. Over time, the word became applied more broadly to similar shades of greenish-blue.
Color Theory Basics
To understand where teal fits in, it helps to review some color theory fundamentals. Sir Isaac Newton was the first to demonstrate that sunlight passing through a prism splits into all the colors of the visible spectrum. He identified seven main colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Later scientists added more divisions, resulting in the continuous spectrum we recognize today.
The Visible Spectrum
The visible spectrum runs from wavelengths of about 380-750 nanometers. The longest wavelengths around 750nm are perceived by our eyes as red. As the wavelengths get shorter, the colors shift through orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and finally violet at around 380nm. Green sits right in the middle of the spectrum at 495–570 nm. Blue light has even shorter wavelengths of around 450–495 nm.
Defining Colors
So green and blue occupy distinct sections of the light spectrum. But there are no definite cutoffs between them. Teal falls somewhere in the zone where the greens and blues overlap. To specify colors more precisely, various color models have been developed that give each hue a numeric code.
RGB Color Model
One common model is RGB, which stands for the amounts of red, green and blue light mixed together. In the RGB system, teal is created by mixing significant amounts of green and blue:
| Color | Red | Green | Blue |
| Teal | 0 | 128 | 128 |
As you can see, teal has no red component, equal parts green and blue, and moderate brightness. Compare this to the RGB values for green and blue:
| Color | Red | Green | Blue |
| Green | 0 | 128 | 0 |
| Blue | 0 | 0 | 255 |
So in the RGB model, teal is definitely a blend of green and blue, but it is not fully one or the other.
RYB Color Model
Another common color model is RYB, which stands for the primary pigment colors red, yellow and blue. In the RYB system, teal contains significant amounts of both blue and green pigments:
| Color | Red | Yellow | Blue |
| Teal | Small | Medium | Large |
For comparison, the RYB mixtures for green and blue are:
| Color | Red | Yellow | Blue |
| Green | Small | Large | Small |
| Blue | Small | Small | Large |
Again, teal lies in between green and blue combinations.
Hue and Chroma
Color can also be quantified using dimensions of hue and chroma. Hue refers to the dominant wavelength or pigment, such as blue or green. Chroma indicates how saturated or vivid the color is. Teal has relatively low chroma compared to fully saturated greens and blues. Its hue straddles the boundary between green and blue.
| Color | Hue | Chroma |
| Teal | Blue-Green | Low |
| Green | Green | High |
| Blue | Blue | High |
So in technical color terms, teal is characterized by having a blue-green hue and low saturation.
Perceptual Differences
Our eyes don’t necessarily perceive colors in the same way the scientific measurements would suggest. Context also affects how we see colors. Teal may appear more greenish next to blues or more bluish when surrounded by greens. The specific shade of teal matters too – darker, duller teals contain more green, while brighter, lighter ones appear more blue. So teal’s appearance can shift around the blue-green boundary.
Traditional Color Classifications
Many color classification systems recognize teal as being a blue-green color related to both blue and green. For example:
– In traditional RYB color theory, teal is considered a tertiary color produced by combining blue and green pigments.
– On the RGB color wheel, teal falls between green and cyan (a bluer shade of blue-green).
– In commercial model palettes like Pantone, teal shades appear in both the blue and green color families.
– Crayola crayons have included a “Teal Blue” color since 1990 that reflects teal’s connection to blue.
So while not definitively one or the other, teal is widely recognized as a blend of blue and green.
Technical Definitions
Getting back to the numbers, some technical guidelines can help classify teal:
– In the RGB model, colors with R, G, and B values equal to or below 128 are considered shades of cyans and blues. Teal fits this definition.
– On the visible spectrum, wavelengths of 491–520 nm are perceived as blues and those from 520–565 nm appear green. Teal’s wavelengths fall around 500-520 nm, nearer the blue side.
– In terms of hue and chroma, colors with a blue-green hue and low chroma are technically classified as blue-greens, not pure greens or blues. Again, teal fits this description.
So by the numbers, teal is closer to blue than green due to its hue, wavelengths and RGB values.
Conclusion
While perceptions of color can be subjective, the technical evidence suggests teal should be primarily considered a shade of blue, albeit one influenced by green. It falls nearer the blue end of the visible spectrum, closer to blue wavelengths, exhibits low chroma and a blue-green hue, and fits the RGB criteria for cyans. However, its obvious green tint means it is not fully blue either. Context also impacts whether teal appears more green or more blue. So in summary, while teal is technically a type of blue, it occupies a flexible position between green and blue that allows it to exhibit qualities of both. The debate around teal’s classification highlights the complexity and subjectivity of color perception.