一个减色法模型解释了涂料，染料，墨水和天然色素的混合物产生的颜色，每个颜色会减去（即吸收）某些波长的光并向其他反射。表面所显示的颜色取决于它反映在电磁波谱的颜色。

下面的流程图，是一个例子一步一步地说明一个过程。

为了充分了解过程，它应使用红色，绿色和蓝色来证明有多黑。

A subtractive color model explains the mixing of a limited set of dyes, inks, paint pigments or natural colorants to create a wider range of colors, each the result of partially or completely subtracting (that is, absorbing) some wavelengths of light and not others. The color that a surface displays depends on which parts of the visible spectrum are not absorbed and therefore remain visible.