# The red, white and blue color combination. Why is it so common? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936 "2011-05-14T22:30:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/1 "2011-05-14T22:30:04Z")
Red, white and blue is quite common on flags. Navy suits are often worn with a white shirt and a red tie. Red and blue don’t mix though; they are neither analogous nor complementary colors. It’s like matching purple with green or orange with purple. Why is it so common and accepted then? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/2 "2011-05-14T22:40:13Z")
Red stands out, but some people would say that it stands out too much, and a flag that is mostly red would be too gaudy. Navy or royal blue is a bold color, but it isn’t gaudy. And white adds some light tone to the combo. Red, green, and white are also a very popular combo. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/3 "2011-05-14T23:14:30Z")
Red, White, and Blue are the American colors. Obviously they are exceptional! ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/4 "2011-05-14T23:17:20Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Red, White, and Blue are the American colors. Obviously they are exceptional! While it’s obvious you’re being facetious here, it’s worth noting their popularity predated the US. Notably, post-revolution France and the Great Britain used them. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/5 "2011-05-14T23:48:30Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > While it’s obvious you’re being facetious here, it’s worth noting their popularity predated the US. Notably, post-revolution France and the Great Britain used them. You’re right about GB (1707 at least), but umm… the US (1777) had its revolution and flag before France (1791, pre-revolution). Many places, such as Puerto Rico and Liberia, are consciously copying the US. And many more current/former Commonwealth nations use parts of the UK flag. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/6 "2011-05-14T23:53:53Z")
P > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > …a flag that is mostly red would be too gaudy. Is _not!_ ([Link.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Canada.svg)) Plus there’s oodles of RWB tricolours in the Slavic countries, including the flag of Russia! ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/7 "2011-05-15T00:02:08Z")
FWIW, the red, white and blue scheme of the Union Jack has more to do with politics than aesthetic appeal. That combo just happens to be what you get when you combine the Scottish and English flags. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/8 "2011-05-15T00:05:53Z")
Part of it might have to do with the biology of colorblindness. Red and blue are distinct colors to almost everyone. Even for people with a total lack of color vision, white can be distinguished from both blue and red, just because white is so much lighter than blue or red. There might also be some history to it. Blue and red are both colors that people have been able to dye clothing for a long, long time… As a result, blue and red are both relatively traditional colors to wear, along with black or “natural” hues. Some shades of purple and green, by the way, go very well together. Deep purple and forest green were a popular color combination for women in Europe in the 19th century. That color scheme showed up again a year or two ago in the Gap’s line of summer and fall clothing, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/9 "2011-05-15T00:53:51Z")
While there’s no official symbolism behind the colors on the US Flag, apparently there was in the [Great Seal.](http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/IMAGES/US-GreatSeal-Obverse600px.jpg) [from here](http://www.usflag.org/colors.html): > [@Charles Thompson](#): > > “The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.” ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/10 "2011-05-15T01:03:56Z")
With a name like yours, **cmyk** , I was expecting a thorough color analysis! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/11 "2011-05-15T01:12:01Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > With a name like yours, **cmyk** , I was expecting a thorough color analysis! 😉 It’s Saturday, he’s probably off-duty. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/12 "2011-05-15T01:12:40Z")
Flags aren’t made with fashion in mind. They are made to be striking, bold and visible. The strong primary colors of red, blue, yellow and green (along with black and white for definition) do that very well. You can click through the World Flag Database and see very little orange and teal along with a few “off” colors that I don’t even know what to call. Countries probably don’t want to be represented by flags whose colors are difficult to classify (is that light blue or teal on Fiji’s flag?). As for suits, I’ve always hated navy because it’s too dark to be blue but not dark enough to be black. But it’s dark enough that a red “power tie” doesn’t fight it that much. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/13 "2011-05-15T01:12:41Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > With a name like yours, **cmyk** , I was expecting a thorough color analysis! 😉 He’s **cmyk** , not **rwb**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/14 "2011-05-15T06:29:13Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > PIs _not!_ ([Link.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Canada.svg)) > > Plus there’s oodles of RWB tricolours in the Slavic countries, including the flag of Russia! The only way the Canadian flag could be gaudier is if it had gold and not white. No offense. > [@Sunspace](#): > > He’s **cmyk** , not **rwb**. 🙂 Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are the “primary” colors of ink. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/15 "2011-05-15T12:50:45Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are the “primary” colors of ink. But those are used for the “four-colour” printing process, building up other colours from the primaries. In flags, we are generally dealing with “spot” colours using inks or dyes of specifically-chosen colour. Hence, **rwb**. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/16 "2011-05-15T13:25:43Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Red stands out, but some people would say that it stands out too much, and a flag that is mostly red would be too gaudy. Navy or royal blue is a bold color, but it isn’t gaudy. And white adds some light tone to the combo. Red, green, and white are also a very popular combo. [CHINESE FLAG NOT GAUDY! FLAG VERY TASTEFUL!!](http://www.chinese-flag.org/chinese-flag-640.jpg) [And in former Soviet Russia, flag wave you!](http://www.splencner.com/history/Projects/Communism/assets/images/soviet_flag.gif) ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/17 "2011-05-15T13:50:12Z")
In the days before synthetic dyes, madder (which makes red) and indigo (which makes blue) were relatively affordable natural dyes which made clear and durable colors. That would also have been a consideration. You don’t want a flag that fades too quickly in the sun or with colors that run when it rains, and you don’t want the flag budget to bankrupt your army. The same thing probably also helps explain why the combination is so common in clothing - it’s traditional, from the days when red and blue were colors the common folk could afford. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/18 "2011-05-15T16:50:51Z")
The Dutch flag started in the 16th centrury as orange, white, blue. Mid 17th century the orange was replaced by red (vermillion, actually), either because the yellow dies in the orange faded, leaving red - or to make the flag bolder. Regardless, this being the oldest tri-color in continuous use, al the otah haters are just imitators. This color combo pre-dates above mentioned France, Russia, UK and U.S. So then the combo comes from the livery of the Prince of Orange, adjusted to allow for different fading characteristics of various dies, or just because it looks good flying from a ship. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/19 "2011-05-15T17:51:58Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Red and blue don’t mix though; they are neither analogous nor complementary colors. It’s like matching purple with green or orange with purple. There’s no “rule” that only analogous or complementary color schemes can be used. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936/20 "2011-05-15T18:06:20Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > There’s no “rule” that only analogous or complementary color schemes can be used. Sure, there’s no law against it. You only have to fear punishment from the fashion police. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-white-and-blue-color-combination-why-is-it-so-common/581936.md?page=2)