Glossary for Geospatial Science

additive color:  Colors perceived by the human eye that are created by mixing different colors of light, or visible radiation are produced in an additive manner.  The colors of the images produced on a color display screen or by a color projection onto a white screen are examples of additive color.  When all wavelengths, or colors, of visible light are mixed, white light is produced.  That all visible colors are present in white light is easily demonstrated using a prism, which separates white light into the spectrum of colors of which it is composed.  White light can also be produced by mixing complementary colors.  Absence of radiation or relatively low radiation at all wavelengths of human visual sensitivity will yield black.  A predominance of radiation in a particular range of wavelengths will yield a color whose intensity is proportional to the level of radiation.  (See also: subtractive color)