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Quizzes > Lifestyle & Hobbies > Arts & Design

Take the Ultimate Colour Theory & Design Quiz

Ready for a colour theory quiz? Dive in and ace this colour wheel test!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for colour theory quiz showing RGB and CMYK swatches and harmony wheel on golden yellow background

This colour theory test helps you check your grasp of RGB, CMYK, temperature, and harmony so you can build cleaner, balanced palettes. Work through fast questions on mixing and pairing; you'll spot gaps and sharpen your eye while you play. Want a visual warm‑up? Try the color wheel test .

Which colors are the primary colors in the additive RGB model?
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Black, White, Gray
Red, Yellow, Blue
Red, Green, Blue
The RGB model is additive, meaning colors are created by adding light. Red, Green, and Blue are the three base colors whose combinations produce other colors in digital displays. This model is distinct from subtractive models used in printing. Learn more at .
What does CMYK stand for in color printing?
Crimson, Maroon, Yellow, Key (Black)
Cobalt, Mauve, Yellow, Khaki
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, White
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black)
CMYK is a subtractive color model used in printing, where C stands for Cyan, M for Magenta, Y for Yellow, and K for Key (Black). The black plate is called Key because it provides detail and contrast. Subtractive mixing removes light, unlike additive RGB. More details at .
On a traditional artists RYB color wheel, which color is complementary to orange?
Green
Blue
Yellow
Red
Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel. In the RYB model, orange and blue are opposites, creating high contrast when paired. This principle helps artists achieve vibrancy and balance. See for more.
Which model is defined by the terms hue, saturation, and value?
HSV
RGB
LAB
CMYK
HSV stands for Hue, Saturation, and Value and describes colors in terms humans understand. Hue refers to the base color, saturation to its intensity, and value to its lightness. Designers often use HSV for color pickers. Details at .
In HTML hex codes, what does #FF0000 represent?
Black
Pure green
Pure blue
Pure red
#FF0000 in hex is maximum red (FF) and zero green and blue. Web colors use hexadecimal pairs for R, G, and B values. This code yields a vivid red on digital screens. More at .
Which color space is designed to be perceptually uniform and device-independent?
CIELAB (L*a*b*)
CMYK
HSV
RGB
CIELAB is defined by the International Commission on Illumination to approximate human vision uniformly. L* indicates lightness, a* greenred, and b* blueyellow. It's device-independent, making it ideal for color management. See .
What does gamut refer to in color reproduction?
A specific shade on the color wheel
The range of colors a device can produce
The brightness level of a color
The warmth or coolness of a hue
A color gamut defines the complete subset of colors that a device or process can display or print. Different devices (monitors, printers) have different gamuts. Gamut limitations cause out-of-range colors to be clipped or mapped. More at .
Which pair of colors is considered analogous on a standard RGB-based wheel?
Blue and Cyan
Red and Green
Yellow and Magenta
Green and Magenta
Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel, sharing a common hue. On an RGB wheel, blue and cyan are adjacent, producing harmonious schemes. Analogous palettes evoke unity and softness. See .
A triadic color scheme uses how many equally spaced hues on the wheel?
Three
Four
Six
Two
Triadic schemes select three hues evenly spaced (120 apart) on the color wheel. This balance provides vibrancy while retaining harmony. Designers use triads to create bold, dynamic palettes. Learn more at .
In CMYK printing, mixing 100% cyan and 100% magenta yields which color?
Red
Purple
Green
Blue
Subtractive color mixing removes wavelengths: cyan absorbs red, magenta absorbs green. Combining them leaves mostly blue light. Printers use this to reproduce blue tones. See .
Why is pure black ink (K) included in CMYK instead of mixing C, M, and Y to create black?
To reduce paper absorbency
To achieve deeper blacks and sharper detail
Because printers cannot mix C, M, and Y
To speed up drying time
Mixing 100% of C, M, and Y yields a muddy dark brown rather than a deep black. Using a dedicated black ink produces richer blacks and better text clarity. It also reduces ink usage and drying issues. More info at .
Which color profile is standard for images displayed on the web?
Adobe RGB
ProPhoto RGB
sRGB
Display P3
sRGB is the default color space for web images because it matches most monitors and browsers. It has a relatively small gamut ensuring consistent display across devices. Using other profiles can lead to color shifts. See .
What does color temperature describe in lighting?
The saturation of projected colors
The brightness level of a light source
The actual heat produced by a bulb
The warmth or coolness of light in kelvins
Color temperature measures a light sources hue on the Kelvin scale, from warm (red/yellow) to cool (blue). It doesnt indicate heat but the appearance of the light. Photographers use it to balance white in images. More at .
How does protanopia affect color perception?
All cones are present but rods dominate vision
Green cones are absent, making greens indistinct
Blue cones are absent, making blues appear greenish
Red cones are absent, making reds appear darker
Protanopia is red-green color blindness caused by absent red photoreceptors. Reds appear darker or shift toward green. Designers test palettes for color-blind accessibility. See .
Why is it necessary to convert RGB images to CMYK before printing?
Because CMYK files load faster
Because printers use a subtractive CMYK process
Because screens use ink-based colors
Because RGB cannot display vivid colors
RGB is an additive model for screens, while printers use subtractive CMYK inks. Without conversion, colors may shift or clip because CMYK has a smaller gamut. Converting ensures predictable print results. Learn more at .
What is metamerism in color theory?
The yellowing of paper with age
A halo of color at object edges caused by diffraction
The ghosting effect in offset printing
A phenomenon where two colors match under one light source but differ under another
Metamerism occurs when two samples appear identical under one illuminant but differ under another due to different spectral reflectances. This matters in textiles, paints, and branding where consistent color matching is critical. Professionals use controlled lighting to prevent metameric failure. More at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Fundamental Colour Models -

    Grasp the differences between RGB and CMYK colour systems and when to use each model in your design projects.

  2. Differentiate Warm and Cool Hues -

    Recognize how temperature affects mood and perception by identifying warm, cool, and neutral colours on the colour wheel.

  3. Identify Key Colour Harmony Schemes -

    Learn to pinpoint complementary, analogous, and triadic colour combinations to create balanced and visually appealing designs.

  4. Apply Colour Theory Principles -

    Use your newfound knowledge to select and adjust colour palettes that enhance readability, contrast, and overall aesthetic impact.

  5. Evaluate Colour Combinations for Impact -

    Assess the emotional and psychological effects of different colour pairings to communicate your design's intended message effectively.

  6. Refine Your Colour Decision-Making -

    Build confidence in choosing and refining colour schemes through practical quiz challenges that mirror real-world design scenarios.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Additive RGB Colour Model -

    Prep for your colour theory test by remembering that red, green and blue light mix additively: R + G = yellow, G + B = cyan, B + R = magenta and full intensity (255,255,255) yields white. A handy mnemonic is "Additive Ascent" to recall adding light brightens the image on screens.

  2. Subtractive CMYK Mixing for Print -

    In CMYK, inks subtract light: combining cyan, magenta and yellow ideally gives black, but real-world printing uses black (K) to deepen shadows and improve contrast. Remember "CMY Sucks light, K Keeps it dark" when facing a colour theory quiz question on print workflows.

  3. Fundamentals of the Colour Wheel -

    A standard 12-step colour wheel organizes primaries (red, yellow, blue), secondaries and tertiaries in a circle; this is the core of any colour wheel test or understanding colour design challenge. Use "Roy G. Biv" or the Arabic numerals around the wheel to quickly identify hue positions in triadic or tetradic schemes.

  4. Core Colour Harmony Schemes -

    Master complementary (opposite), analogous (neighbouring) and triadic (evenly spaced) schemes with the "CAT" mnemonic to boost your score in a colour theory quiz. For example, pairing blue and orange creates high contrast, while green, yellow-green and yellow align for a soothing analogous palette.

  5. Warm vs. Cool Colour Temperature -

    Recognize that reds, oranges and yellows feel warm (they "advance" visually), whereas blues, greens and violets feel cool (they "recede"), a key insight in any colour temperature quiz. A quick tip: "Warm Stops, Cool Flows" to remember how temperature guides viewer focus in layouts.

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