Red is the first colour of the rainbow, putting itself next to orange, and on the opposite side as purple.
Red is one of the primary colours, along with blue and yellow, meaning it can be mixed with other colours to form new ones. It mixes with yellow to form orange, and blue to form purple.
The colour red naturally derives itself in several different ways - blood is red due to hemoglobin, the planet Mars is red due to a natural pigment called red ochre, and leaves turn red due to pigments called anthocyanins.
| Colour | Colour Name | Pigments Mixed |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Red | |
| Vermillion | Red, white | |
| Scarlet | Red, orange | |
| Crimson | Red, brown, orange | |
| Maroon | Red, brown |
Orange is the second colour of the rainbow, placing it between red and yellow. It can be mixed using these colours. It is, however, complementary instead of primary, meaning it cannot be mixed in the same ways as red, blue, and yellow to create other colours.
The colour orange can be found in the fruit by the same name, the spice and dye known as Saffron, carrots, and apricots. It is also known as the colour most associated with fun and energy, as well as danger, in Europe and the United States.
Yellow is the third colour of the rainbow, placing it between orange and green. It is a primary colour, and can be mixed with red to make orange, and blue to make green.
In North America and Europe, the colour yellow is mostly associated with things like spontaneity and happiness, as well as less positive things like jealousy and greed.
It can be found naturally in many flowers, birds, and insects.
| Colour | Colour Name | Pigments Mixed |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Yellow | |
| Cream | Yellow, white | |
| Lemon Chiffon | Yellow, white | |
| Medallion | Yellow, brown | |
| Dijon | Yellow, red, black |