Technically, no, black and white are not colors; they are shades.
While the perception of whether black and white qualify as colors is subjective and depends on the context, a more technical understanding differentiates between color and shade. According to the provided reference, the distinction arises from how we perceive and create them:
- Some argue white is a color because white light contains all hues of the visible spectrum.
- Others argue black is a color because it can be created by mixing various pigments.
However, fundamentally:
- Black and white augment colors. They serve to modify existing colors. Black darkens a color (creating shades), and white lightens a color (creating tints).
| Feature | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Contains all hues on the visible light spectrum (in white light). | Absence of light; can be created by mixing pigments on paper. |
| Technical Status | Shade | Shade |
| Role | Augments colors by lightening them (creating tints). | Augments colors by darkening them (creating shades). |
In summary, although black and white play important roles in our perception and manipulation of colors, they are more accurately classified as shades than as colors themselves.
