Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Which of the following is not one of the three primary colors?

1. Red

2. Green

3. Yellow

4. Blue

The correct answer is: Yellow

The concept of primary colors varies depending on the color model being used, such as additive (light) or subtractive (pigment) models. In the additive color model (RGB), the primary colors are red, green, and blue. In this model, colors are created by combining light, and any color can be made by mixing these three together in various ways. On the other hand, the subtractive color model, commonly used in painting and printing (such as the CMYK model), has primary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow. In this context, yellow is considered a primary color. However, the most common primary colors taught in the context of art and design often refer to the traditional primary color theory based on red, yellow, and blue (RYB). In this specific framework, red and blue are considered primary, and yellow is as well. Therefore, the correct answer highlights yellow as not being one of the primary colors specifically in relation to the RGB color model, which is fundamental in many digital applications today. Understanding these color models is essential in photography and design, as they govern how colors interact and can be reproduced in various mediums.