Primary colors are specific colors that can be mixed together and generate an extensive range of other colors. There are only three primary colors: red, blue and yellow. Primary colors are colors in their own right; they cannot be created by the mixing of colors.
Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors together. There are three secondary colors: green, orange and violet (also referred to as purple). On a basic color wheel, the secondary colors are placed between the two primary colors that are mixed together to create them.
Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color and an adjacent secondary color. There are six tertiary colors: red-violet, blue-violet, yellow-orange, red-orange, blue-green and yellow-green.