Subtractive colour

Subtractive colour mixing occurs when coloured surfaces are illuminated with coloured light. Mixing two of the subtractive primary colours magenta, cyan and yellow, produces the additive primary colours red, green or blue. Warm body colours are emphasised by a warm white colour of light. Cold body colours appear brighter and more saturated under cold neutral colours of white light, especially daylight white.

The appearance of a body colour can seem more saturated and brighter when the lighting on it is of similar colour. Body colours appear less saturated, or darker, when the coloured lighting is dissimilar. The actual appearance of the results of subtractive colour mixing depends on the spectral constitution of the components being mixed.