Colors are derived from the spectrum of light and are the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to various forms such as red, green, blue, and yellow. The study of colors is often referred to as chromatics, chromatography, colorimetry, or simply color science. Color and its physical specifications are associated with materials or objects based on their physical properties, such as reflection, light absorption, or emission spectra. Colors can be identified numerically by their coordinates by defining the color space. Colors are often quantified and defined by the degree to which they stimulate the cone cells in the retina to various parts of the spectrum, and a person’s perception of color stems from the varying spectral sensitivity to these cells. However, between the main colors, there are many other shades that are very similar to one another yet with slight differences that are quite challenging to discern. Aqua and teal are two such colors that have caused confusion in many instances with regards to their differences.
Key Takeaways
- Aqua is a greenish-blue color that leans more towards green, while teal is darker and more greenish-blue with a slight grey-metallic tinge.
- Aqua is mostly synonymous with cyan, and teal is a darker cyan.
- Aqua is named after the water, while teal is named after the common teal, a freshwater duck whose eyes are rimmed with this color.
