CSA Color Theory & Airbrush Techniques 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the three primary colors in traditional subtractive color theory used for pigment and dye mixing?
- Red, Yellow, Blue (Correct answer)
- Red, Green, Blue
- Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
- Orange, Purple, Green
Correct answer: Red, Yellow, Blue
In traditional subtractive color theory, red, yellow, and blue are the primary colors that cannot be created by mixing other pigments together.
Question 2: What secondary color results from mixing equal parts of red and yellow food coloring?
- Purple
- Orange (Correct answer)
- Green
- Brown
Correct answer: Orange
Mixing equal parts of the primary colors red and yellow produces orange, a secondary color that sits between them on the color wheel.
Question 3: What term describes two colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, creating maximum contrast?
- Analogous
- Monochromatic
- Complementary (Correct answer)
- Triadic
Correct answer: Complementary
Complementary colors are positioned directly across from each other on the color wheel (such as red and green or blue and orange) and produce the strongest contrast when used together.
Question 4: Which airbrush feed system has a color cup mounted on top and is most commonly preferred in cake decorating for control and ease of cleaning?
- Siphon-feed
- Side-feed
- Gravity-feed (Correct answer)
- Pressure-feed
Correct answer: Gravity-feed
Gravity-feed airbrushes use a top-mounted cup where color flows downward by gravity into the mechanism, offering precise control, minimal waste, and easy cleaning between colors.
Question 5: What is the generally recommended distance to hold an airbrush from a fondant cake surface when doing detailed decorative work?
- 1–2 inches
- 3–6 inches (Correct answer)
- 8–12 inches
- 14–18 inches
Correct answer: 3–6 inches
Holding the airbrush 3–6 inches from the fondant surface provides controlled color saturation and definition without causing pooling, oversaturation, or loss of detail.
Question 6: What type of food coloring is specifically formulated with the correct viscosity to flow through an airbrush nozzle without clogging?
- Gel food coloring
- Powdered food coloring
- Airbrush food coloring (Correct answer)
- Oil-based food coloring
Correct answer: Airbrush food coloring
Airbrush food coloring is pre-thinned with alcohol or water to the exact viscosity needed to atomize properly through an airbrush nozzle without clogging or producing uneven spray.
Question 7: What is the most common cause of 'spidering' or feathering when airbrushing on fondant?
- Too much air pressure (Correct answer)
- Holding the airbrush too far away
- The fondant being too cold
- Using water-based coloring
Correct answer: Too much air pressure
Excessive air pressure forces the color outward in irregular, feathery patterns called spidering, disrupting the smooth, controlled spray needed for clean fondant decoration.
CSA Color Theory & Airbrush Techniques 1
What are the three primary colors in traditional subtractive color theory used for pigment and dye mixing?