Because concentrations of dye solutions vary, one must experiment to 

 learn the exact proportions needed to obtain specific colors. For example, 

 one drop of blue in a cup of yellow dye solution could result in a satisfactory 

 green. One drop of the same yellow in a cup of the same blue may not 

 make any noticeable change in the appearance of the blue dye. Thus the 

 above chart is only a guide suggesting which hues may be combined to 

 form new hues or to modify existing ones. The individual who mixes dyes 

 will become acquainted with the infinite range of colors possible once he 

 knows the color wheel and the character of his own dyes or pigments. 



Of the neutrals, only black is included on Moses Harris' color wheel. 

 As Harris has indicated, all three primary pigments mixed together will 

 make black. Dyers have known this for centuries; in fact, this combination 

 was used during the 18th and 19th centuries to dye tapestry yarn black at 

 the Gobelins factory in Paris. Dipping wool into a blue vat first, then into 

 a red and a yellow dyebath was very expensive and time-consuming, but 

 the resulting dye was rich and durable. Even more important, yarns dyed 

 black in this way did not require iron mordants that after a few years would 

 corrode the wool fibers. 



White, another of the neutrals, is the absence of colored pigment and 

 can only be achieved in textiles by bleaching. Bleaching is necessary to 

 provide a clean background when dyeing a pure, light color. 



Grays are obtained in several ways. Black and white pigments can be 

 mixed together to make gray; additions of white result in light grays, 

 additions of black darken them. Another way of mixing gray is by combining 

 hues directly opposite each other on the color wheel. Each pair of these 

 complementary hues will make an individual gray. For example, mixtures 

 of red and green, orange and blue, and yellow and purple will produce 

 three noticeably different grays. Grays made by combining complements 

 can also be lightened or darkened by addition of white or black. 



All the hues shown along the outer edge of the color wheel are meant 

 to be at their highest intensity. Because of the age and quality of the colors 

 used by Mr. Harris, several of these hues appear dvilled. Let us assume, 

 however, that they are as bright as the hues in the spectrum. How can one 

 of these colored pigments be neutralized? There are two possibilities: black 

 and white can be added; also, addition of the hue's complement will 

 accomplish the same general effect. Two complements will usually make 

 a "livelier" gray than will a black plus white combination. Regardless of 

 the neutralizing pigment, if the addition is lighter than the original pigment, 

 it will lighten as well as neutralize. If the addition is darker than the original, 

 its effect will be that of darkening and neutralizing. 



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