[jfitzpat]

Footer4321 and Soundlight hit the biggie, additive vs. subtractive. However, it is actually a surprisingly complex subject. For example, in practice, RGB fixtures and CMY fixtures will not have identical palettes.

If you are interested, Kurt Nassau has written some technical texts that are (I think) surprisingly readable. For example, THE PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF COLOR: THE FIFTEEN CAUSES OF COLOR is just plain interesting (after you read it, you'll find yourself thinking about the color science of everything you see).

The 'Bible' in Color is Stiles and Wyszecki's COLOR SCIENCE. But while it is an excellent reference, you certainly wouldn't take it to the beach for a little light reading.

A bunch of the patents by the Moving fixture and LED fixture companies are also pretty interesting.

-jjf