Difference Between Blue and Red

Blue vs Red

Blue and red by definition are two of the three primary colors, alongside yellow. They are called primary colors because all the other pigments aside from these three are produced through combining any of them. But how do these two differ from each other? Let’s see.

Blue

Blue is perceived as the color caused by a light spectrum with a wavelength of about 440 to 490 nanometer. As mentioned above this is one of the three primary colors. When combined with red, it produces the color violet. When combined with yellow, it produces green. Colors are often used in symbolism. Blue is not an exception. Usually this symbolizes cold.

Red

The color red is caused by the longest light wavelengths that our eyes can detect ranging around 630 up to 740 nanometer. Wavelengths longer than won’t be seen by our naked eyes already. As mentioned above when combine with blue this produces a new color violet, and when combined with yellow it produces the color orange. Opposite blue, red is usually referred as the color meaning hot.

Difference between Blue and Red

It is easy to see how these two differs. In symbology alone, these two are like the contradicting poles of a magnet. If blue means cold, red means hot. When a person is sad, they say this person is feeling blue. While during most celebrations like Christmas or New Year, red is the dominant color. A little trivia: There is a country whose flag’s colors has blue on the upper half and red on the lower half. When they declare war, they put it outside down since they believe red means bravery the gesture means they are ready to fight.

Colors play a great role in our daily life. But it is always fun to dig deeper than what our eyes see. Red and blue are colors that has a lot more than just part of the color wheel.