Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "launi na asali" yana nufin kowane daga cikin launuka goma sha biyu waɗanda aka ɗauka a matsayin mafi tsarki kuma mafi mahimmancin launuka akan ƙafafun launi. Waɗannan launuka sun haɗa da ja, orange, rawaya, kore, shuɗi, shuɗi, ruwan kasa, launin toka, baki, fari, da ruwan hoda. Za a iya haɗa launuka na asali tare don ƙirƙirar nau'i mai yawa na tsaka-tsakin launuka da inuwa. Hakanan za'a iya amfani da kalmar "launi na asali" dalla-dalla don komawa ga kowane launi mai sauƙi, bayyananne, ko kuma mara ado.