If the goal is to mix wide of print

If the goal is to mix wide of printing colours a range from a small number of basic hues (say three), colours that absorb only one primary colour must be identified. You will recall that the secondary colours-cyan, magenta, and yellow are each achieved by absorbing (subtracting) just one primary colour from white light. Similarly, mixing two secondary colours will absorb (subtract) two transmitted colours and leave the third. Thus, mixing cyan pigment with yellow pigment would produce green; mixing cyan with magenta would produce blue; and mixing magenta and yellow would produce red. All printing devices can therefore use cyan, magenta, and yellow as printing primary colours.