The Difference between Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colours

• The colour wheel is divided into twelve (12) colours split into three (3) colour sections, which are the primary, secondary and tertiary colour.
• The arrangement of colours of the colour wheel compares to the wavelengths of light as first shown in the original colour circle of Isaac Newton.

Original Colour Wheel by Isaac Newton

Modern Colour Wheel

Primary Colours

• There three (3) primary colours in all which are blue, red and yellow.
• These are colours which can be mixed to create all the other colours.
• Mixing all three (3) primary colours, it will produce a black colour.

Primary colours in a colour wheel

Secondary Colours

• Mixing two (2) primary colours together, a secondary colour will be created.
• Secondary Colours consist of green, violet or purple and orange.
• Mixing yellow and red together, an orange colour will be created.
• Mixing yellow and blue together, a green colour will be created.
• Mixing blue and red together, a violet (purple) colour will be created.

Secondary colours in a colour wheel

Tertiary Colours

• These colours are created by mixing near primary and secondary colours.
• The six (6) tertiary/intermediate colour are yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, red-violet, red-orange and yellow-orange.
• The names for the secondary colours begin with the primary colour and then the secondary colour.
• Pantone colors are commonly used in industries and used in a form of palette. 
• It is used in standardizing colors in the CMYK process using certain type of numbers.
• These are used to keep that certain type of color.

Tertiary Colours in a colour wheel

Smith, K. (2008). Color Relationships: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Hues - Sensational Color. [online] Sensational Color. Available at: http://www.sensationalcolor.com/understanding-color/theory/color-relationships-primary-secondary-tertiary-hues-1842#.V_f0Euh96Uk [Accessed 7 Oct. 2016].