chapter 7 color

Tertiary Colors

Color created by: Mixing all three primary colors or Mixing two secondary colors or Mixing complementary intermediate colors

Spectrum

the band of individual colors that results when a beam of light is broken into its component wavelengths (hues) - roygbiv

Chromatic value

the relative degree of lightness or darkness demonstrated by a given color

Local/Objective Color

Color as seen in the world Green grass, red barn, etc.

Triadic color scheme

A triadic color scheme uses colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel. Triadic color schemes tend to be quite vibrant, even if you use pale or unsaturated versions of your hues. To use a triadic harmony successfully, the colors should be carefully balanced - let one color dominate and use the two others for accent. Primary, secondary, intermediate triads

Placement

ALTERS INTENSITY placing next to complement extreme contrast makes both color intensities appear to increase.

Plastic colors

Ability to create compositional depth Warm=advance (depending on what color they are next to) Cool=recede Character of effects can be altered by differences in value or color intensity

Analogous color scheme

Analogous color schemes use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. They usually match well and create serene and comfortable designs. Analogous color schemes are often found in nature and are harmonious and pleasing to the eye. Make sure you have enough contrast when choosing an analogous color scheme—or colors will blend together. Choose one color to dominate, a second to support. The third color is used (along with black, white or gray) as an accent.

Simultaneous contrast

Appearance of color varies based on what color it is placed next to When two colors come into direct contact with one another, their similarities decrease and dissimilarities increase. A color always tends to bring out its complement in a neighboring color, our eyes seek a state of balance.

Subjective Color:

Derived from the mind instead of physical reality Reflects personal bias, emotion, & interpretation Inventive or creative

Complementary Colors:

Directly opposite from each other on color wheel High contrast

Color Balance

Harmony achieved when colors have common properties Common hue, intensity, or values Attempts to harmonize should include some variety in order to keep an interesting composition

Additive secondaries

Magenta Yellow Cyan *When primaries and secondaries are added together, these colors produce white

Subtractive Colors

Produced when wavelengths of light are REFLECTED back to the viewer after all other wavelengths are absorbed and/or subtracted Subtractive colors are visible due to surface pigmentation (pigment, paint, ink, etc.) color is experienced through reflected light rather than actual light rays.

Triadic Color System

The Color Wheel: Primary, secondary, and two intermediate triads Triads are equally spaced on the color wheel and form an equilateral triangle The closer colors appear together on color wheel, the closer their relationships are The farther apart, the more contrasting in character

Light: The Source of Color

Weak light obscures color, bright light intensifies it

Chromatic

pertaining to the presence of color

Primary colors

a preliminary hue that cannot be broken down or reduced to component colors. When 2 or more are mixed together, they produce ALL possible colors Red Blue Yellow

Hue

generic name of a color (red, blue, etc.) pure color

shade

hue plus black

tone

hue plus grey

Tint

hue plus white

Outer rings of the color wheel

primary, secondary and intermediate colors at their greatest intensity (Brightness)

Secondary colors

produced by mixing two primary colors in equal proportions Orange Green Violet

Value

relative lightness or darkness of a color

Inner rings

tertiary colors, in this case, a mixture of one primary color and its complement

Physical mixing of color

this is the most efficient way to decrease intensity Mixing complements tends to neutralize them

Additive primaries

Red Blue Green Used in: Television screens Computer screens Stage lighting

Complementary color scheme

The high contrast of complementary colors creates a vibrant look especially when used at full saturation. This color scheme must be managed well so it is not jarring. Complementary color schemes are tricky to use in large doses, but work well when you want something to stand out. Complementary colors are bad for text.

Intensity

The saturation, strength or purity of a hue A vivid color has high intensity A dull color has low intensity *As a color loses intensity, it approaches gray

Split-Complementary color scheme

The split-complementary color scheme is a variation of the complementary color scheme. In addition to the base color, it uses the two colors adjacent to its complement. This color scheme has the same strong visual contrast as the complementary color scheme, but has less tension (more subtle).

Neutralized colors

colors altered by addition of their complement so the original hue is grayed center circle shows complete neutralization

Intermediate colors

created by mixing a primary color with a neighboring secondary color Ex: combining yellow & green will produce yellow-green Sometimes when intermediates are mixed together resulting color is a neutralized gray