[rhoda_penmark]

“Here I thought “white” IS a color as is black, red, tan, etc.”

Technically, white is defined as “the absence of color”.

[bgill]

I’m a peachy color.

[LIConFem]

"Technically, white is defined as “the absence of color”.

Nope. Technically, white is all colors (all frequencies of light -- like sunlight). Black is defined as the absence of color.

[needmorePaine]

Technically, white is defined as “the absence of color”.

I thought black was the absence of color and white was a combination of the colors of the spectrum.

[wrench]

“Technically, white is defined as “the absence of color”.”

Unless you are talking about light, then it is the combination of all colors.

[wjr123]

No, Dave. White is polychromatic — e.g. a mixture of frequencies in additive or reflected light.

Absolute black is the lack of reflected frequencies. Common black (what you actually see) is actually some frequencies in the darker regions being reflected — not a lack of all frequencies as in absolute black.

[wjr123]

No, Dave. White is polychromatic — e.g. a mixture of frequencies in additive or reflected light.

Absolute black is the lack of reflected frequencies. Common black (what you actually see) is actually some frequencies in the darker regions being reflected — not a lack of all frequencies as in absolute black.

[Svartalfiar]

“Here I thought “white” IS a color as is black, red, tan, etc.”

Technically, white is defined as “the absence of color”.

Nope. Technically, white is all colors (all frequencies of light -- like sunlight). Black is defined as the absence of color.

Actually "white" is the presence of all colors. Except, apparently, to black racists.

Actually, you're all wrong/correct. It depends on if you're using additive or subtractive color addition.

If you're adding, you would have a situation like shining lights or your computer monitor. The different frequencies of light add together to make mixed colors. Red + Blue + Green = White. In this case, black is the absence of color, and white is full colors.

When it comes to printing or similar stuff, you would use subtractive color addition. In this case, each color you add is removing color reflectivity from the surface. Cyan + Yellow + Magenta = Black. So now white is the absence of color, and black is a mix of all colors. (Side note, usually you see this as CYMK. K is black ink, because in real life the inks used for the other three only add to a dark gray, not actual black. So for printing purposes a forth ink [black] is used for better color in print.)