How many total primary colors are there in traditional color theory?

In traditional color theory, which primarily refers to the additive and subtractive methods of color mixing, there are three primary colors. These primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. They are considered "primary" because they cannot be created by mixing other colors together; instead, they serve as the foundational colors from which a wide range of other colors can be derived.

When mixed together in various combinations, these primary colors produce secondary colors (such as green, orange, and purple) and tertiary colors. This foundational understanding is crucial in fields such as art, design, and photography, where color mixing is often applied.

The options indicating five, six, or seven primary colors refer to more complex theories or models, such as those used in modern color spaces (like the RGB model) or additional categories in certain artistic processes. However, for traditional color theory that focuses strictly on the basics of color mixing, three is the accurate count of primary colors.