Which set is considered subtractive color primaries?

• A. Red, Green, and Blue
• B. Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow
• C. Yellow, Magenta, and Cyan
• D. Blue, Red, and Green

Answer: (B)

Subtractive color primaries come from pigments and printing inks, where colors are created by removing (subtracting) portions of light from white. Each pigment absorbs certain wavelengths, so layering them removes more light and shifts the reflected color. Cyan ink absorbs red light, magenta ink absorbs green, and yellow ink absorbs blue. Using these inks together lets printers reproduce a wide range of colors, and when all three are present, the result tends toward black. This system is distinct from additive primaries, which rely on light itself and use red, green, and blue to create colors on screens. So the set of cyan, magenta, and yellow represents subtractive primaries, with the other options aligning to additive primaries or simply listing the same trio in a different order.