Does the color pink really even exist? *Brain explodes* at controversy
pam kueber - Updated: March 18, 2012
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
There seems to be a small tempest in a pink teapot going on in the scientific community, about whether the color pink really truly exists. Thanks to reader Heidi who tuned me into this pink panic. The controversy seems to involve a lot of talk about wavelengths and frequencies and gamma rays, etc. I got lost real quick. However, the whole basis for the discussion all seems to be ridiculous, because it is built on the premise that pink is a combination of red and violet. But that’s not pink. That’s, like, fuchsia. Pink is red + white. Like, I take a pot of red paint, I add white, and I get pink. Who’s the dummy? Who’s the smarty? And what if smarty had a party and no one came? Even if the video-scientists are *right* by the way, they point out that their pink “replaces all the hidden grandeur” of the gamma rays etc. that we cannot see. That sounds pretty good to we protectors of the pink. In any case, I have hijacked this opportunity start to leave comments on all the stories — NPR… Scientific American… Time Magazine… — to Save the Pink Bathrooms. Amuck with the esoteric, on to the practical: Pink is a lovely color for a bathroom.
Thanks, trying to fit pink into the color wheel has always been a puzzle for me. I was beginning to think it might be one of those ‘created’ colors like mauve, beige, or taupe.
drbeanie2000says
Yes, pigment, vs paint. Like, in paint, white is the absence of color (pigment), and black is all colors (pigments). In light, white is all colors of light and black = no colors. That is why when you split “white light” with a prism, you get a rainbow. The prism makes the white light components go through the glass differently. Blended, the rainbow makes “white.”
cheryl msays
Slightly off topic from “pink”, but the new color Le Creuset has just rolled ouot for their enameled cast iron cookware is a shade of blue they are calling “Marseille”, that is very in line with your Retro color of the year…
pam kuebersays
Very cool! I think someone else sent me this too. I was JUST planning my next “new in blue” story — will add this! thank you!!!
Melaniesays
I’m trying to see pink on my daughter’s house. I think she’d just as soon pink didn’t actually exist. LOL! Maybe I’ll tell her we need to paint the trim light red and see if that changes her mind. 🙂
Hugh says
Thanks, trying to fit pink into the color wheel has always been a puzzle for me. I was beginning to think it might be one of those ‘created’ colors like mauve, beige, or taupe.
drbeanie2000 says
Yes, pigment, vs paint. Like, in paint, white is the absence of color (pigment), and black is all colors (pigments). In light, white is all colors of light and black = no colors. That is why when you split “white light” with a prism, you get a rainbow. The prism makes the white light components go through the glass differently. Blended, the rainbow makes “white.”
cheryl m says
Slightly off topic from “pink”, but the new color Le Creuset has just rolled ouot for their enameled cast iron cookware is a shade of blue they are calling “Marseille”, that is very in line with your Retro color of the year…
pam kueber says
Very cool! I think someone else sent me this too. I was JUST planning my next “new in blue” story — will add this! thank you!!!
Melanie says
I’m trying to see pink on my daughter’s house. I think she’d just as soon pink didn’t actually exist. LOL! Maybe I’ll tell her we need to paint the trim light red and see if that changes her mind. 🙂