Contrast of hue uses undiluted colors in full intensity; yellow/red/blue is the maximum instance

Contrast of hue is the simplest contrast: at least two or three clearly differentiated, undiluted hues placed side by side. No mixing with white, black, or complementary is required. The strongest instance is the primary triad yellow/red/blue; secondaries (orange/violet/green) give a weaker version; tertiaries weaker still. The contrast weakens as the hues approach each other on the color circle. Separating hues with black or white lines strengthens their individual character by suppressing mutual interaction. Adding or varying brilliances and proportions opens infinite expressive variations — the same three hues can express joviality, grief, or cosmic universality depending on quantity and placement. Practically: this is the first contrast to understand because it requires no gray-mixing, only selection of unmodified hues.

Examples

In Hydra: three oscillators each in a primary color, combined. In GLSL: if (uv.x < 0.33) col = vec3(1,1,0); else if (uv.x < 0.66) col = vec3(1,0,0); else col = vec3(0,0,1); — the maximum hue contrast band.

Assessment

Produce a composition using contrast of hue only (no white, black, or gray mixtures); identify why folk art embroidery characteristically uses hue contrast; rank the expressiveness of three given triads by their distance from the primary trio.