Yellow is a primary color in the traditional subtractive color system used in painting, which means it cannot be created by mixing other paint colors. In other words, you cannot make pure yellow paint by mixing other pigments together

. However, in the additive color model (used for light), yellow can be created by combining red and green light in the right proportions. This is because yellow light stimulates both the red and green cones in our eyes

. For example, mixing red and green light sources produces yellow light

. When it comes to paint and pigments:

• Yellow pigments reflect red and green wavelengths and absorb blue light.
• Common yellow pigments include cadmium yellow, hansa yellow, and yellow ochre, which are naturally occurring or synthetic substances

If you want to create different shades or tints of yellow paint, you can mix yellow with other colors like white to lighten it, or add small amounts of orange, brown, or green to darken or adjust the tone

Summary

• Pure yellow paint cannot be made by mixing other paint colors; it is a primary pigment.
• Yellow light can be made by mixing red and green light.
• To get yellow paint, you need yellow pigment.
• Different shades of yellow can be created by mixing yellow with other colors.

This distinction between light and pigment explains why mixing red and green light yields yellow, but mixing red and green paint typically results in brown or gray

. References:

• Yellow is a primary paint color and cannot be made by mixing other paints

• Yellow light is made by mixing red and green light

• Shades of yellow can be made by mixing yellow pigment with other colors