Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

The color wheel consists of three main sections: primary, secondary, and what?

1. complementary

2. tertiary

3. quaternary

4. neutral

The correct answer is: tertiary

The color wheel is a fundamental tool in understanding color relationships and mixing. It is divided into three main sections: primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Primary colors, which are red, blue, and yellow, cannot be created by mixing other colors together. Secondary colors are formed by mixing two primary colors, resulting in green, orange, and purple. Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color with a secondary color, which leads to hues like red-orange, yellow-green, blue-purple, etc. These colors provide a richer palette and enhance the complexity of color mixing. This progression from primary to secondary to tertiary showcases the relationships and interactions within the color spectrum, helping photographers and artists make informed decisions about color use in their work.