Exploring the various color wheel models helps you better understand how colours combine, how they are perceived visually, and the emotional effect they can have.
Today there are several color wheel models in use, each built on a particular colour model.
Comparing the most popular color wheel models
One of the most widely used is the RYB colour model. RYB stands for red, yellow, and blue — the three primary colours in this system. The RGB and CMYK models came later and are now widely used in digital contexts.
CMYK is used primarily in print, as it is based on the principles of ink-on-paper reproduction and has a more limited colour space. RGB is used in electronics, digital devices, and graphic design, since it works by mixing light waves of red, green, and blue.
One of the best-known color wheel models built on the RYB colour model is the color wheel developed by Johannes Itten.
Itten's color wheel contains 12 colours. He called the colours sitting directly opposite each other on the wheel complementary colours, and considered them the most harmonious pairing of all.
A mathematical model of the color wheel
When working with the color wheel, it is important to ground your approach in a mathematical model — one where colour is described through objective, measurable relationships. This is what ultimately determines the nature of the contrast and whether true colour harmony is achieved.
Traditional color wheel models are largely built on intuitive interpretations of colour combinations. A proprietary color wheel model differs in that it is constructed on mathematical principles rather than subjective judgement.
A mathematical model is a system in which colour parameters and the relationships between them are expressed in quantitative terms. This approach makes it possible to describe colour relationships with greater precision and to reduce the influence of subjective perception.