Pointillism

Pointillism is an optical effect that uses discrete closely spaced dots of color. These dots visually merge at a distance and produce other colors. When the dots are placed on a light background, the background shines through and colors appear lighter than they would be if the same paint colors were actually mixed (paint mixing is a subtractive color process).

Pointillism and Divisionism

Pointillism is often called Divisionism, although the two aren't exactly the same. Pointillism concerns itself more with the brushwork involved in placing the dots on the work. Divisionism focuses more on the technical aspects of color theory and color vision. Divisionism is also called chromoluminarism (color and luminosity).

Pointillist Artists

Georges Seurat
Paul Signac
Henri Edmond Cross
Theo van Rysselberghe
Charles Angrand
Georges Lemmen Art Titles

CMYK Printing Process

Printers often place Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black(Key) dots on a page to produce the effect of a broad range of colors. Look at a picture in a newspaper with a magnifying glass to see the individual dots of color.

RGB Color Technology

Computer monitors and televisions use discrete dots of red, green and blue, in varying intensities, to produce other colors in a broad and vivid spectrum. This type of color mixing is an additive process. Red, green and blue, at full intensity, mix to produce white.