Tertiary colours are colours made by mixing primary and secondary colours together in varied portions. They are an important part of colour theory and are useful for artists, designers, and anyone looking to create appealing colour schemes. In simple terms, tertiary colours help fill in the gaps between the primary and secondary colours on the colour wheel.
Defining Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colours
To understand tertiary colours, it’s helpful to first define primary and secondary colours:
Primary colours are colours that cannot be created by mixing other colours. The primary colours are red, yellow, and blue.
Secondary colours are made by mixing two primary colours equally. The secondary colours are orange, green, and purple.
Tertiary colours are made by mixing one primary colour with one secondary colour in varying proportions. For example:
– Red (primary) + Orange (secondary) = Red-orange
– Yellow (primary) + Orange (secondary) = Yellow-orange
– Yellow (primary) + Green (secondary) = Yellow-green
And so on. This creates a range of blended hues between each primary and secondary colour.
The Colour Wheel
The relationship between primary, secondary and tertiary colours can be visualized on the colour wheel:
| Primary | Red | Yellow | Blue |
| Secondary | Orange | Green | Purple |
| Tertiary | Red-orange, Yellow-orange, Red-purple, Blue-purple | Yellow-green, Yellow-orange, Blue-green | Blue-purple, Blue-green, Red-purple |
On the colour wheel, tertiary colours fill in the spaces between each primary and secondary colour. For example, between red and orange you have red-orange, and between yellow and green you have yellow-green.
This allows for a smooth transition between all the colours on the wheel. The tertiary colours create bridges between the primary and secondary colours.
Creating Tertiary Colours
When mixing to create tertiary colours, one colour is used more dominantly than the other.
For example:
– Red-orange contains more red (primary) than orange (secondary)
– Yellow-green contains more yellow (primary) than green (secondary)
The dominant colour is named first when identifying the tertiary colour.
There are various ratios used to mix tertiary colours. Some common ones are:
– 3 parts primary colour to 1 part secondary colour
– 2 parts primary colour to 1 part secondary colour
– 1 part primary colour to 2 parts secondary colour
Artists may tweak these ratios to create different hues of tertiary colours. The more of the primary colour used, the closer the resulting mix will be to that primary colour. The more secondary colour used, the closer to the secondary colour the mix will be.
Key Properties of Tertiary Colours
Some key properties of tertiary colours include:
– They have lower colour intensity than primary and secondary colours. Tertiary colours are not as saturated.
– They are more muted and subtle than primary and secondary colours.
– They have a low contrast with the colours adjacent to them on the colour wheel. For example, red-orange blends well with red and orange.
– They can add nuance and vibrancy when used alongside more intense primary and secondary colours.
– They help create gradient effects by bridging the gap between other colours.
Uses of Tertiary Colours
Tertiary colours have many practical uses:
Art
– Painters mix tertiary colours to create subtle variations in hue and add visual interest.
– Tertiary coloured paints allow painters to smoothly transition between other paint colours on the canvas.
Design
– Graphic designers use tertiary colours to create appealing, blended colour schemes.
– Adding tertiary colours creates less jarring transitions between colours in logos, websites, etc.
– Tertiary colours work well for backgrounds and fillers.
Decoration
– Interior designers use tertiary colours to decorate homes and offices for a subtle, cohesive look.
– Tertiary wall colours go well with both warm and cool furniture/decor.
Fashion
– Fashion designers include tertiary coloured fabrics in their collections.
– Tertiary dyed clothing appears rich but not overpowering.
Printing
– Printers mix tertiary coloured inks like red-orange and blue-purple to match specific colour shades.
– Tertiary coloured inks help create gradients and depth.
Digital
– Digital artists use tertiary colours to shade and blend when creating digital art.
– Website designers pick tertiary web colours to make appealing sites.
Tertiary Colour Examples
Here are some common tertiary colours and how they are created:
| Tertiary Colour | Made by Mixing |
|---|---|
| Red-orange | Red + Orange |
| Yellow-orange | Yellow + Orange |
| Yellow-green | Yellow + Green |
| Blue-green | Blue + Green |
| Blue-purple | Blue + Purple |
| Red-purple | Red + Purple |
These are just some examples. Many other tertiary colours can be created by varying the ratios of the two mixed colours. This provides artists and designers with a wide spectrum of tertiary hues to work with.
Tertiary vs Intermediate Colours
Some people use the terms tertiary colour and intermediate colour interchangeably. However, there is a difference:
– Tertiary colours are made by mixing one primary colour and one secondary colour.
– Intermediate colours are made by mixing two primary colours, e.g. red + yellow = orange.
So intermediate colours sit between two primary colours, while tertiary colours sit between a primary and secondary colour. Both play a similar role in filling gaps in the colour wheel, but their composition is different.
Complementary Tertiary Colour Harmony
Tertiary colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel are considered to be complementary colours.
Some examples of complementary tertiary colour pairs are:
– Red-orange and blue-green
– Yellow-orange and blue-purple
– Yellow-green and red-purple
These complementary tertiary colour combinations create a harmonious and balanced effect. They have enough contrast without being jarring.
Complementary tertiary colour schemes are frequently used in art, interior design, fashion, and other fields. Subtle variations can be made to the hue, saturation and brightness to achieve the desired look.
Tertiary Colour Schemes
Some examples of effective colour schemes using tertiary colours include:
Analogous – Uses colours adjacent to each other on the colour wheel, e.g. red-orange, red, and red-purple. This creates a cohesive, harmonious look.
Triadic – Uses three colours spaced equally apart on the colour wheel, e.g. yellow-orange, blue-purple, and red-purple. This scheme has good contrast while retaining balance.
Tetradic – Uses four colours arranged into two complementary pairs, e.g. yellow-green and red-purple, plus blue-purple and red-orange. This creates a vibrant, dynamic effect.
Monochromatic – Uses different tints, tones and shades of a single tertiary colour like blue-green. This gives a calm, soothing look.
Artists and designers combine these schemes in endless ways. Tertiary colours give more flexibility when creating colour combinations.
Tertiary Colours in Digital Design
In digital design, tertiary colours are defined using RGB or HEX codes.
For example:
| Tertiary Colour | RGB Code | HEX Code |
|---|---|---|
| Red-orange | R: 242, G: 90, B: 39 | #f25a27 |
| Yellow-green | R: 192, G: 228, B: 15 | #c0e40f |
| Blue-purple | R: 137, G: 108, B: 201 | #896cc9 |
These digital codes allow tertiary colours to be used on websites, apps, software, and other digital media. The colours can be modified by tweaking the RGB or HEX values.
Conclusion
In summary, tertiary colours are made by combining primary and secondary colours. They fill in the gaps between colours on the colour wheel, allowing for nuanced transitions between hues. Tertiary colours add subtlety and vibrancy to art, design, fashion, and many other fields. Their lower colour intensity makes them flexible to work with. Knowing how to mix tertiary colours expands the colour options available, allowing artists and designers to create aesthetically pleasing works.