In color theory, what are the primary colors?

The primary colors in traditional color theory are red, blue, and yellow. These colors are termed "primary" because they cannot be created by mixing other colors together; instead, they serve as the foundation for creating a wide range of other colors. By mixing these primary colors in various combinations, you can produce secondary colors and even more complex hues.

For example, when you mix red and blue, you obtain purple; mixing blue and yellow results in green; and red combined with yellow creates orange. This foundational concept is crucial for understanding color mixing, especially in fields like art and design, where color selection plays a vital role in achieving desired aesthetics and effects.

In contrast, the other combinations listed in the question involve colors that either overlap with secondary creations (like green and purple) or are based on the RGB color model (red, green, and blue), which is more applicable to digital displays and light rather than traditional pigment mixing. Thus, recognizing red, blue, and yellow as the primary colors is essential for mastering color theory in various artistic and practical applications.