The color violet often evokes thoughts of purple and blue hues. But is violet actually a mix of purple and blue? Or is it a distinct color on its own? Let’s take a closer look at the fascinating color violet.
The Origins of Violet
The name “violet” comes from the violet flower, which has been known for its purple-blue color since ancient times. The word violet itself dates back to the late 14th century and is derived from the Old French word violete, which referred to the flower.
In terms of color theory, violet is considered a spectral color, meaning it exists on the visible light spectrum. Sir Isaac Newton was the first to identify violet as a distinct color in the 1660s when he shone white light through a prism and noticed the visible spectrum of colors that emerged.
On the color wheel, violet falls between blue and purple. But its exact hue can vary depending on how the color is created. Artists’ pigments produce more reddish shades of violet, while light sources like computer screens create violets with more blue undertones.
Violet vs. Purple
Violet and purple are often used interchangeably in everyday language. But in color theory, they are considered separate hues with some key differences:
| Violet | Purple |
|---|---|
| Has more blue undertones | Has more red undertones |
| Lower wavelength on visible spectrum | Higher wavelength on visible spectrum |
| Primary color in RGB color model | Secondary color in RYB color model |
As you can see, violet leans more towards the blue side of the color spectrum with a lower light wavelength. Purple has more red in it and sits closer towards the red end. Violet is also considered a primary color in the RGB color model, whereas purple is a secondary color in the RYB color system.
Violet and Blue
Blue and violet can seem very similar to the naked eye. But blue is yet another distinct shade from violet when looking at the color spectrum:
| Violet | Blue |
|---|---|
| Shorter wavelength (~380-450nm) | Longer wavelength (~450-495nm) |
| Located near end of visible spectrum | Located closer to middle of visible spectrum |
| Has hints of red and purple | No red/purple undertones |
The main difference lies in their light wavelengths. Violet has a shorter wavelength that sits at the very end of the visible color spectrum. Blue’s wavelength is longer and resides more in the middle. When comparing the two, violet also contains subtle hints of red and purple, while blue does not.
How Our Eyes Perceive Violet
The human eye contains special photoreceptor cells called cones that allow us to see color. There are three types of cones, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light:
- S cones – sensitive to short blue light wavelengths
- M cones – sensitive to medium green light wavelengths
- L cones – sensitive to long red light wavelengths
When all three cones are stimulated equally, we perceive white light. But when the cones are stimulated unequally, we see different colors. Violet specifically triggers the S cones strongly but only stimulates the L and M cones weakly. This unequal cone stimulation is interpreted by the brain as the color violet.
How Violet is Made
There are a few different ways to make the color violet, depending on the medium:
- On computer screens – Violet is made by combining different amounts of blue and red light. More blue creates lighter violets, while more red makes darker violets.
- Paint & pigments – Mixing blue and red paint will make violet. Purple is also created by mixing red and blue but with more red pigment.
- Light sources – Violet occurs naturally when sunlight passes through a prism. It can also be produced by LED lights that emit light at around 400-450nm wavelengths.
- Plants – The anthocyanin pigments in certain flowers can create violet colors, like in violets, pansies, and irises.
So in summary, violet can be made by combining blue and red light or pigment, with blue as the dominant hue. The more red added, the closer the color shifts towards purple.
Conclusion
While violet and purple are often used interchangeably, they are technically distinct colors in color theory. Violet leans closer to blue, sitting at the end of the visible color spectrum with a shorter wavelength. It also contains subtle hints of red/purple that blue lacks entirely. Purple sits closer to red on the spectrum and lacks violet’s blue undertones. So in short, violet is not strictly purple and blue but rather a unique spectral color that takes hues from both sides of the color wheel.
Violet’s position on the visual spectrum makes it a “border color” – not quite blue or purple, but a bridge between the two. This gives it an attractive, complex quality that has appealed to artists and color enthusiasts throughout history. So the next time you come across the color violet, appreciate its nuances – it truly is a shade all its own.
