Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What do you add to the color wheel to create shades?

1. yellow

2. black

3. red

4. white

The correct answer is: black

To create shades on the color wheel, you add black to a color. This darkening effect results in a deeper, richer version of the original hue, allowing for variations that can be used to convey mood, depth, and dimension in artwork or photography. For instance, if you take a pure color like blue and mix it with black, you’ll achieve a darker blue, which may be referred to as navy. This technique is important for artists and photographers because it helps in creating a balanced composition by providing shadows and contrast. Understanding this concept is fundamental when dealing with color theory, as it gives insight into how colors interact and can be manipulated to achieve desired visual effects.