Which colour of light does a magenta pigment absorb?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A circular RYB color wheel divided into twelve segments, showing a progression of colors from red, orange, and yellow to green, blue, and violet. — colour The RYB color model is being illustrated on a color wheel.

In the context of optics, it is a common misconception to label magenta as a shade of red. In reality, magenta is a subtractive primary colour that functions by absorbing specific wavelengths of light.1

A magenta pigment absorbs green light. By absorbing green light while reflecting or transmitting both blue and red light, the pigment appears magenta to the human eye. This process is a fundamental aspect of subtractive colour mixing, where colorants like pigments determine the final perceived colour by removing specific spectral components from white light.1