Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Newton divided colors into how many basic hues?

1. Five

2. Six

3. Seven

4. Eight

The correct answer is: Seven

Newton originally divided the spectrum of visible light into seven basic hues. This classification is rooted in his experiments with prisms and the dispersion of light, where he identified the colors produced when light is refracted. The seven hues he recognized are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. This understanding laid the groundwork for the color wheel that we still refer to today in various fields, including art and photography. The choice of seven hues also draws inspiration from musical scales, as Newton sought to align his findings with the octave system in music, creating a connection between visual and auditory experiences. This linkage highlights the importance of perception in both fields. Other choices, although they represent varying interpretations or simplifications of color theory, do not capture the complete division that Newton specified. The seven hues represent a comprehensive approach to how colors can be represented and understood within the context of light and spectrum.