Definition of "subtractive" []

• Producing or involving subtraction. (adjective)
• Of or being a color produced by light passing through or reflecting off a colorant, such as a filter or pigment, that absorbs certain wavelengths and transmits or reflects others. See Table at color. (adjective)
• Of or being any of the subtractive colors cyan, magenta, or yellow. (adjective)
• Of or being a photographic process that produces a positive image by superposing or mixing substances that selectively absorb colored light. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Whereas with pigment adding primaries together have the opposite effect, that is why it is referred to as subtractive color and light is referred to as additive color."
• "This might also be called a subtractive model, and Wittgenstein captures this perfectly with a question:"
• "These are called subtractive colours, which are comprised of the wheel that we're likely all used to (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple)."