Cyan vs. Indigo — What's the Difference?

One of the primary colors in the subtractive color model.

A color on the spectrum between blue and violet.

A greenish-blue color.

A color often used in branding for its sophistication.

A light, refreshing shade often used in design.

Symbolic of intuition and perception in psychology.

The color halfway between green and blue on the RGB color wheel.

A dye originally derived from the indigo plant.

A color that represents water in many cultures.

Represents depth and concentration.

Cyan () is the color between green and blue on the visible spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a predominant wavelength between 490 and 520 nm, between the wavelengths of green and blue.In the subtractive color system, or CMYK color model, which can be overlaid to produce all colors in paint and color printing, cyan is one of the primary colors, along with magenta and yellow.

Indigo is a deep color close to the color wheel blue (a primary color in the RGB color space), as well as to some variants of ultramarine, based on the ancient dye of the same name. The word "indigo" comes from the Latin for Indian as the dye was originally exported to Europe from India.

A greenish-blue colour which is one of the primary subtractive colours, complementary to red.

Any of various shrubs or herbs of the genus Indigofera in the pea family, having pinnately compound leaves and usually red or purple flowers in axillary racemes.

A greenish blue, one of the subtractive primary colors.

A dark blue crystalline compound, C16H10N2O2, that is obtained from these plants or produced synthetically and is widely used as a textile dye. Also called indigotin.

A vibrant pale greenish-blue colour between blue and green in the visible spectrum; the complementary colour of red; the colour obtained by subtracting red from white light.

Any of several related plants, especially those of the genera Amorpha and Baptisia.

Of the colour cyan.

The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between blue and violet, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 420 to 450 nanometers; a dark blue to grayish purple blue.

A blue-green that is one of the primary pigments

A purplish-blue colour

A bluish shade of green

An indigo-colored dye obtained from certain plants (the indigo plant or woad), or a similar synthetic dye.

An indigo plant, such as from species in genera Indigofera, Amorpha (false indigo), Baptisia (wild indigo), and Psorothamnus and Dalea (indigo bush).

Having a deep purplish-blue colour

A kind of deep blue, one of the seven prismatic colors.

A blue dyestuff obtained from several plants belonging to very different genera and orders, such as, the woad, Isatis tinctoria (family Cruciferae), Indigofera suffroticosa, Indigofera tinctoria (family Leguminosae), Indigofera Anil, Nereum tinctorium, Polygonum tinctorium Ait. (family Polygonaceae), etc.; called also natural indigo. It is a dark blue earthy substance, tasteless and odorless, with a copper-violet luster when rubbed. Indigo does not exist in the plants as such, but is obtained by decomposition of the glycoside indican.

Having the color of, pertaining to, or derived from, indigo.

A blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically

Deciduous subshrub of southeastern Asia having pinnate leaves and clusters of red or purple flowers; a source of indigo dye

A blue-violet color

Cyan is commonly used in art and design to represent water or sky and in the printing industry.

Indigo is used in textiles, deep thinking environments, and to convey sophistication in branding.

Cyan is a bright, light blue color that is one of the primary colors in the subtractive color model.

Indigo is a deep, dark blue color that lies between blue and violet on the color spectrum.

Cyan is crucial in the CMYK color model for creating a wide range of colors through mixing.

Cyan is associated with calmness and freshness, whereas indigo symbolizes depth, stability, and intuition.

Cyan is created by mixing green and blue light, while indigo's hue is naturally positioned between blue and violet.

Yes, cyan and indigo can complement each other in design, offering a range from vibrant to deep tones.

In many cultures, indigo is associated with wisdom, integrity, and deep contemplation.

While historically derived from the indigo plant, most indigo dye is now synthetically produced.

The printing and design industries rely heavily on cyan for its vibrancy and versatility.

Yes, cyan is known to have a calming effect, while indigo can stimulate deeper thought and concentration.

Indigo has a long history in fashion, particularly in denim, where it is prized for its deep, rich blue.

Lighting can significantly affect how we perceive cyan and indigo, with brighter light enhancing cyan's vibrancy and dim light deepening indigo's richness.

Many famous artworks use cyan and indigo to evoke specific feelings or highlight contrasts.