The Optical Proof: How Digital Pixels and Printing Inks Generate Pure Blue
By James H. Sterling
Different production mediums manipulate distinct properties of physics to trigger the human eye's short-wavelength photoreceptors. The table below details how the primary systems manufacture the color blue.
| Medium / System | Physical Mechanism | Input Formulation | Spectral / Color Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Display (sRGB) | Additive light synthesis | Blue subpixel only (R:0, G:0, B:255) | Hex #0000FF (~465 nm peak) |
| Commercial Press (CMYK) | Subtractive color mixing | 100% Cyan + 70, 80% Magenta | Absorbs 500, 700 nm spectrum |
| Fine Art Pigment | Selective mineral absorption | Synthetic French Ultramarine (PB29) | Polysulfide radical anions (S3⁻) |
| Display P3 Standard | Wide-gamut additive synthesis | Quantum-dot / OLED narrow emitter | xy chromaticity: (0.150, 0.060) |
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
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how to make the color blue
