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Spectrum Colors (RGB)
© 1996 by Betsy Szymanski
 A computer creates color using light rather than
pigments. Three different colored lights are used : red (R), green (G), and blue (B).
These are the 3 primary spectrum colors. The secondary colors are yellow, cyan (rhymes
with Siam), and magenta. When the 3 lights are all on at once, the result is white.
Each of the three lights are represented by a number from 0 to 255. 0 means that the light
is not on at all. 255 means that the light is on at its brightest. The numbers for each of
the colors are shown separated by dashes, in the order Red, Green, and Blue, as in 0-0-0.
The color 0-0-0 is black, since none of the lights are on. The color 255-255-255 is white,
since all lights are on at their brightest. When all 3 numbers are the same, as in
64-64-64, the color is gray, and the larger the numbers the lighter the gray.
You can create a color by setting the RGB numbers according to the color's hue, value, and
saturation. Hue is another word for a color, like red or green. Value says whether a color
is light or dark. Saturation says whether a color is pure or grayed.
Here are the RGB settings for the pure hues in the 12 color wheel.
To change a color's value, raise or lower the RGB numbers. Raise
the numbers to make the color lighter. Lower the numbers to make the color darker. Raise
or lower each of the numbers in equal steps.
 To change the saturation, move the
RGB numbers closer together or farther apart. To make the color grayer, move the numbers
closer together. To make the color purer, move the numbers farther apart. Move each number
in equal steps.
To make brown or beige, start with orange and make it grayer. For
all browns, there is always more red than green and more green than blue (R > G >
B).
Every computer monitor is different. The same RGB settings will produce a slightly
different color on different monitors. Also, you will find that colors appear darker and
grayer when they are printed than they do on the screen.
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1997