Abstract: A color changing device provides a continuously variable light color by means of the introduction of dichroic color filters into the light path of an illumination device. In the subtractive color mixing method for mixing of colors in an illumination apparatus according to the invention dichroic filters are provided parallel to each other and transverse to the beam path of the illumination apparatus, wherein the filters can be introduced into the beam path continuously and independently, so that a continuous mixing is achieved. At least four filters are used and wherein in view of the wavelength a broadband high-pass and a broadband low-pass, and two broadband band-stops are used, wherein the transmission regions of the two band-stops partly overlap so that with the filter combinations dominant colors with a high saturation can be generated.