Eli5: Why is it easier to darken white paint than it is to lighten dark paint?

Question

I remember in elementary school that I was mixing paints and to make grey, and I found that a small quantity of black darkens white super easily whereas even a 50-50 split of black and white leaves an almost black color. Is black paint more potent? Is there some kind of complicated color theory?

In: Other

Answer 1

It’s called the “cornsweet illusion”
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.star1045.com.au/best-of-the-web/optical-illusion-will-melt-your-brain/%3famp

The 50/50 mix appeared closer to black because it was contrasted against white paper (or the white dish you were mixing it in).

If you were painting on black paper, the opposite would happen and the 50/50 mix would appear a very light grey.