Subtractive color is a method of color mixing that occurs when pigments or dyes absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect others. This process is commonly used in printing and painting, where the primary colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow. When combined, these colors can create a wide range of hues by subtracting varying amounts of light. In subtractive color mixing, the more colors you add, the darker the result becomes. For example, mixing all three primary colors together ideally produces black, as they absorb most wavelengths of light. This contrasts with additive color mixing, where colors are created by combining light sources.