written by
Michael Davidson, Kenneth R. Spring, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, and Robert Sutter
published by
the Olympus America, Inc. and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
This web-based tutorial provides an overview of the primary additive colors of light (red, green, and blue) and how they combine to produce the three complementary colors (yellow, cyan, and magenta). It includes four Java-based simulations that illustrate color addition and subtraction, color separation, and filtering. Teachers will benefit from the comprehensive background information, and students can experiment with the simulations to understand the nature of color perception.
This item is part of a larger collection of materials on optics and microscopy developed by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Florida State University.
This resource is part of 2 Physics Front Topical Units.
Topic: Nature and Behavior of Light Unit Title: Visible Light and Color
Students often misunderstand their studies of color perception because they know the primary colors as "red, yellow, and blue." However, the human eye contains cone cell receptors that are trained to respond to wavelengths of light in three regions: red, green, and blue. This is why we refer to "RGB" as the primary colors of light. This tutorial is a wonderful background resource to help teachers understand the principles behind RGB color perception and how these combine to create the complementary colors of light: cyan, yellow, and magenta. The four Java simulations are great fun, and can be used by your students as well.
Topic: Nature and Behavior of Light Unit Title: Visible Light and Color
To fully understand color perception, students need to shift gears from the traditional color wheel model they learned in grade school. This is a fun, high-quality tutorial that explains why the RGB primary colors of light (red, green, blue) are different from the primary colors of pigment and paint. It's because the photoreceptors in our eyes respond to wavelengths in certain regions: red, green, and blue. These colors then combine to form the complementary colors of light: cyan, magenta, and yellow. Your students will enjoy the four Java simulations that accompany the tutorial.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=6952">Davidson, M, K. Spring, M. Parry-Hill, and R. Sutter. Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Primary Colors. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., February 9, 2008.</a>
M. Davidson, K. Spring, M. Parry-Hill, and R. Sutter, (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 2002), WWW Document, (https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/primaryhome.html).
M. Davidson, K. Spring, M. Parry-Hill, and R. Sutter, Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Primary Colors (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 2002), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/primaryhome.html>.
Davidson, M., Spring, K., Parry-Hill, M., & Sutter, R. (2008, February 9). Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Primary Colors. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from Olympus America, Inc.: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/primaryhome.html
Davidson, M, K. Spring, M. Parry-Hill, and R. Sutter. Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Primary Colors. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., February 9, 2008. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/primaryhome.html (accessed 3 April 2025).
Davidson, Michael, Kenneth R. Spring, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, and Robert Sutter. Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Primary Colors. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., 2002. 9 Feb. 2008. 3 Apr. 2025 <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/primaryhome.html>.
@misc{
Author = "Michael Davidson and Kenneth R. Spring and Matthew J. Parry-Hill and Robert Sutter",
Title = {Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Primary Colors},
Publisher = {Olympus America, Inc.},
Volume = {2025},
Number = {3 April 2025},
Month = {February 9, 2008},
Year = {2002}
}
%A Michael Davidson %A Kenneth R. Spring %A Matthew J. Parry-Hill %A Robert Sutter %T Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Primary Colors %D February 9, 2008 %I Olympus America, Inc. %C Center Valley %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/primaryhome.html %O text/html
%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %A Spring, Kenneth R. %A Parry-Hill, Matthew J. %A Sutter, Robert %D February 9, 2008 %T Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Primary Colors %I Olympus America, Inc. %V 2025 %N 3 April 2025 %8 February 9, 2008 %9 text/html %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/primaryhome.html
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This is a Java simulation that allows users to mix the three primary colors of light (red, green, and blue) and see the resulting product of the mixtures.
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