TERTIARY COLORS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW ARE THEY FORMED - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The tertiary or intermediate colors are those that are achieved by combining the primary tones with the secondary ones that are right next to them on the chromatic circle. This circle, also known as the color wheel, represents in an orderly way the primary tones and the colors that are derived from them.

Although there is a convention related to the main tertiary colors that exist, these tones - also called intermediates - are considered to be almost infinite. The variations are very abundant and are subject to the amount of tone that is mixed in each case.

The greenish-yellow color is a tertiary shade present in limes. Source: pixabay.com

Tertiary tones are considered to be one of the most present in nature, therefore it is possible to constantly perceive them in different environments, both natural and artificial.

Some of these tones have also been taken as representations of important institutions in today's societies; such is the case of the Catholic Church, which uses the tertiary blue-purple tone in the clothing of its representatives.

Intermediate colors are always born from the combination of secondary and primary tones, but since the proportions can be variable, the results are extremely diverse. The six shades that we will describe below arise from a combination of equal parts of the tones that give them life.

What are the tertiary colors?

As we have explained previously, naming all the tertiary colors is a practically impossible task, since the feasible combinations give rise to very varied shades among themselves, even if it is due to imperceptible differences.

However, through time a general convention has been reached, through which a quantity of six tertiary colors is considered. These are precisely what have a greater presence in the natural context.

Green yellow

The first of these colors is yellow green, also called pistachio green, lime or greenish yellow. As one of its names indicates, it is the one found in limes. It has a high intensity and is very present in nature.

Orange Red

The second shade is an orange red, also called orange red, reddish orange, or brick red. In nature it is present in tomatoes and in artificial areas it can be seen in the bricks of buildings.

Blue green

Green blue is the third of the tertiary shades. It is also known as turquoise blue, greenish blue or teal and can be seen on some beaches that have white sand and whose waters are shallow.

Some people know it as teal green and it is also present in a certain type of macaw.

yellow orange

The fourth shade is yellow-orange, which is also known as amber, yellow-orange, or yellow-orange. It is a warm color that is found in egg yolks and squash, among many other natural elements.

Red violet

The fifth tertiary color is violet red, which is also known as purplish red or purplish red. This color is quite intense and is present in nature in purple onion, plums and hydrangea plants.

Blue violet

Finally, the sixth tertiary color is violet blue, also called purplish blue or purple blue. Many flowers in nature have this shade; examples of this are geraniums and African violet.

This color is also found in many fruits, such as grapes or Chinese berries. Likewise, this tone has been used by the Catholic Church to distinguish its representatives.

How are tertiary colors formed?

As previously mentioned, tertiary tones are the product of the mixture between primary and secondary colors, but we are not talking about just any combination; it must be a specific mix.

It is worth noting that there is a rule that is followed when generating these colors: the combinations must be carried out between a primary and a secondary color that are located next to each other within the chromatic circle.

In order to fully understand this concept, it is necessary to know what the color wheel is, what its characteristics are and what it is for in the practical sphere.

Chromatic circle

The chromatic circle is a color wheel in which the primary, secondary and tertiary tones appear in an orderly way.

Some color circles may have a gradient in the tone transitions, while others are more fragmented and have solid stripes of color. In general, they usually include from 12 to 48 different tones.

The function of the color wheel is to allow a broad visualization through which it is possible to determine what are the relationships of harmony and contrast that can be generated between the colors that exist in nature. In this way, you have a clearer idea of ​​many of the combinations that may exist.

Formation of tertiary tones

Once the color wheel is understood, it is possible to better understand which shades are combined to give rise to tertiary colors. Next we will describe the combinations that generate the six most important intermediate colors:

Green yellow

Greenish yellow is born from the combination of yellow and green.

Orange Red

The reddish orange is generated as a result of mixing the red and orange tones.

Blue green

The greenish blue or turquoise blue arises from combining the colors green and blue.

yellow orange

Also called yellowish orange, this tone is created as a result of the mixture of orange and yellow tones.

Red violet

Purple-red is generated by mixing the colors purple or purple and red.

Blue violet

Purplish blue arises when purple or violet and blue tones are combined.

Important considerations

The colors that we have mentioned in this list are generated by combining equal parts of each of the tones from which they originate.

As we have said before, there can be many variations from these colors, since just a small increase or decrease in the intensity of one or another tone is enough for a specific type of color to be generated.

The differences between the tones are very small; For this reason, tertiary colors are considered to be practically inexhaustible because they allow many diversifications.

References

1. "Intermediate color" in Wikipedia. Retrieved on November 26, 2019 from Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
2. "Violet (color)" in Wikipedia. Retrieved on November 26, 2019 from Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
3. Lasso, S. "Primary, secondary and tertiary colors" in About in Spanish. Retrieved on November 26, 2019 from About in Spanish: aboutesespanol.com
4. Marder, L. "Tertiary Colors and Color Mixing" in Live about. Retrieved on November 26, 2019 from Live about: liveabout.com
5. "Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colors" on PBS. Retrieved on November 26, 2019 from PBS: pbs.org
6. "Tertiary color" at Merriam-Webter. Retrieved on November 26, 2019 from Merriam-Webter: merriam-webster.com