Understanding the difference between violet and purple is the first step to understanding the true structure of the color scheme. Violet and purple are two different colors taught to children from the beginning.
However, make sure you note some key differences on these colors as they can help you determine the color difference between one and the other.’
Understanding the difference between violet and purple is the first step to understanding the wavelengths of colors in the visible spectrum. So, violet and purple are two different colors that are taught to students from the beginning of learning.
The main and fundamental difference in the understanding of these two colors is that violet is a true color that usually manifests itself in nature due to its presence in the electromagnetic spectrum. The range or wavelength that we can call it is actually between 380 nm and 450 nm.
Purple is the unnatural combination of red and blue that causes its creation. Violet, on the other hand, can be produced with the help of a prism.
When white light passes through a prism, we know that white light will be split into seven different colors (commonly known as VIBGYOR). The division of white light into seven different wavelengths is known as dispersion. The diffusion will help distinguish between violet and purple.
Famous Colours
Of all the violets and purples in the ancient world, the most famous was the Tyrian purple. It was made from a species of sea snail known as Murex which was later found around the Mediterranean Sea.
In western Polynesia we find that the islanders developed a purple similar to the Tyrian purple of marine animals. Even in Central America we can observe that the inhabitants made a dye from a different sea snail then purple which was found on the coast of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
The Mayans often used the dyes to dye clothing for religious ceremonies while the Aztecs used it in mental iconography in which it represented royalty.
The main difference in understanding these two colors is that violet is a true color that stands out in nature due to its presence in the electromagnetic spectrum. Purple has a wavelength between 380 nm and 450 nm.
Purple is the unnatural combination of red and blue that causes its creation. Violet, on the other hand, can be produced with the help of a prism in which white light passes through it and its colors differ. Understanding the dispersion of a glass prism can be useful in understanding the difference between two colors.
Difference between Violet and Purple
| Violet | Purple |
| Violet is a spectral colour occurring in our visible spectrum | Purple is not a spectral colour |
| It is a natural colour that is observable in nature | It is a man-made colour made by a combination of 2 colours |
| Violet was understood as a fundamental colour in Newton’s colour wheel | Purple was not accepted by Newton in his colour wheel |
| Violet contains a single shade | Purple has numerous shades to it |
| Violet is not as distinct as purple | Purple has a very bold and distinct colour |
