Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Hues are made up of how many colors on the color wheel?

1. 6

2. 10

3. 12

4. 14

The correct answer is: 12

Hues on the color wheel are typically represented by 12 distinct colors. These hues include the primary colors (red, blue, yellow), the secondary colors (green, orange, purple), and the intermediate or tertiary colors, which are created by mixing primary and secondary colors. This structure allows for a comprehensive understanding of color relationships and harmonies in art and design. The 12 hues form the foundation of color theory, enabling photographers and artists to create visually engaging compositions by understanding how different colors interact with each other. The use of a 12-color wheel helps in identifying complementary colors, analogous colors, and various schemes that contribute to aesthetic balance and visual appeal. A fewer number of colors, such as six or ten, would not encapsulate the full spectrum of color relationships, while a larger number, like fourteen, complicates the basic framework established by traditional color theory. Therefore, recognizing that 12 hues provide a complete and functional understanding of colors is essential for effective application in photography and other visual arts.