-ktiv, -ktēv also -ktəv adjective
1. : tending to subtract : constituting or involving subtraction
a subtractive error in spelling
a subtractive correction
2. : formed by absorption of light passing through component colorants in turn — see subtractive primary
3.
a. : being or relating to a process of reducing each of the densities of a photographic image by an approximately constant amount
b. : of or relating to the controlled mixing or superposition of several colored substances (as dyes or pigments) that selectively absorb and transmit or reflect light to form a colored positive photographic image
a subtractive process
— compare additive 5
• sub·trac·tive·ly -ktə̇vlē, -li adverb