One of the three primary colors which add together (overlap and mix together adding to one another) starting from darkness to form the visible color spectrum; the three additive primaries are red, green and blue. The additive primary colors are used to create video images on the screen by mixing together the colors of light in specific amounts. When there is no light, there is black or darkness. The additive primaries add colored light to the darkness in proper proportions to create any color. For instance, by adding green, red and blue in equal amounts (maximum amounts of all three colors of light) we can create white.

Video display devices work on the principle of using the three additive primary colors of light to create images in full color. If you look at a CRT front projector you will see the three additive primary colors in the lenses (when the projector is turned on and projecting an image). Any color of light can be created by adding together the three additive primaries.

Additive primary colors deal with colored light reflected off a surface; without the lights there is darkness (the lights add together to form the color spectrum). This contrasts to subtractive primary colors that take away portions of white light to achieve a full color spectrum. In subtractive primary colors there is pure white light as a base. The subtractive primaries (magenta, cyan and yellow) absorb portions of the white light to create colors (subtracting from the full, pure light). Televisions, monitors, spotlights and video displays all use additive primary colors to create full color images.