Color Theory

Split Complementary

a complementary color plus the two colors on either side of its complement on the color wheel

Lightness effect

a mid-value color will appear lighter on dark colors and darker on light colors

Hue

a particular shade of a given color

Gamut

the full range of color a color system can display

Color Proportion

the relationship between colors in an image or design

Which of the following is true about monochromatic color schemes-

there is very little contrast in the colors

Double Complementary

two sets of complementary colors

good job

u done

Triadic color scheme

uses 3 equally spaced colors on the color wheel (triangle)

Double Complementary color Scheme

uses two sets of complementary colors

Color Frequency

using a color more often than others

Why is it important to use the correct color system for your end product?

will result in approximated and limited colors

Orange

• Appetite stimulant • Encourages discussion • Stimulates critical thinking • Most common least favorite color • Fun • Fall • Creativity • Whimsy • Vibrancy • Crassness • Loudness Used for visibility enhancement (such as during hunting or on construction sites) because orange provides a strong contrast between the blues and greens found in nature

RGB

• Are mixed to achieve a full range of colors - colors are adjusted by using a value between 0 and 255 which refers to the light emission which will be displayed in each of the colors • Is best used for digital displays because it is formatted for additive color • Is not recommended for printing purposes

CMYK

(Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, Black) optimized for printing purposes • Is also called 4-color or process color • Is the color system used in digital printing and professional printing • Are mixed to create a full range of colors - colors are adjusted by changing the percentage of each of the four colors - colors are created by printing very small dots on top of each other so the human eye blends the colors together • Is not recommended for designing on a screen because CMYK is configured to the color gamut achievable on print materials which is significantly smaller than the color gamut achievable on digital screens • Is a subtractive color system Most digital printers now have the ability to print even from RGB color spaces, however the printed colors will be converted from the RGB information in the design program to a close CYMK approximation. To ensure the best quality color, designers are always recommended to use the appropriate color system for a more predictable result.

Color System Types

- CMYK - Pantone - RGB - HSB

Color selection should be based on

- contrast - context - spatial effects of color - psychological and cultural significance of color

Color can be developed using

- saturation • mixing saturated and desaturated colors - value • mixing shades and tints - proportion • using difference sizes of color fields - complements • mixing complementary colors - color temperature • mixing warm and cool colors - frequency • using one color more often

Red

-Increased pulse • Increased blood pressure • Increased metabolism • Energy • Passion • Desire • Love • Anger • Heat • Aggression • Danger Most visually dominant of all colors

Shade

Adding black to a color

Tint

Adding white to a color

Color Schemes

Are collections of colors which appear harmonious together Include: - monochromatic - analogous - complementary - split complementary - double complementary - triadic

Black

Boosts self-confidence • Makes other colors appear brighter and more saturated • Night • Death • Authority • Formality • Mystery • Evil • Emptiness In China, black is commonly worn by little boys

Contrast

Can be used to develop aesthetic appeal - is essential in color to ensure color blind individuals can distinguish between colors

White

Can give people headaches because of the brilliance • Light • Purity • Marriage • Innocence • Simplicity • Blankness While it is considered good luck to be married in a white wedding dress in the U.S., it is considered bad luck to wear white on a wedding day in India

secondary color

Color obtained by mixing equal parts of two primary colors.

Gray

Does not evoke strong emotions • Neutrality • Bad weather • Cloudiness • Boredom • Old age Gray is its own complimentary color

Tertiary color

Intermediate color achieved by mixing a secondary color and its neighboring primary color on the color wheel in equal amounts.

Hue, Saturation, Brightness (HSB)

Is a color system based on the color wheel - hue is adjusted using a degree, to refer to a location on the color wheel - saturation is adjusted using a percentage, from 0 percent which is no saturation to 100 percent which is full saturation - brightness refers to the value of the color which is a percentage, at 50 percent the hue does not have any white or black, above 50 percent increases amount of white and below 50 percent increases amount of black in the color • Is commonly used for digital art materials because the color adjustments are more intuitive than with other systems

Pantone Matching System (PMS)

Is a proprietary color system created by the commercial printing company Pantone® • Contains a collection of color specific inks - sometimes called "spot color" • Should not be used for: - printing in full color • color plates would need to be made for each individual color swatches which relate to • Is best used for: - designs which require a specific color match, for example, in logos or brands which require a specific color match • PMS allows designers and printers to ensure certain colors are consistent throughout materials • can be used in addition to the typical CMYK print plates - one or two color print jobs • cheaper than four color printing

Which of the following best represents the phenomenon of a mid value color appearing lighter on dark colors and darker on light colors?

Lightness effect

Primary color

One of three colors that can be used to make any other color.

Which color system represents a collection of color swatches?

Pantone (trademark)

What color system is best for web display?

RGB

Spatial effects of color

Refers to the way color influences where an object appears to be in a scene or design - in the natural world, colors tend to become cooler and desaturated with distance • Includes: - light colors appear larger than dark colors - warm colors appear closer in a design and cool colors fall back - desaturated colors appear to be farther back in a design

Purple

Stimulates imagination • Royalty • Luxury • Sophistication • Mysticism Purple dye was difficult to make, so only royalty could afford purple fabric

Color Temperature

The characteristic of a color which makes it appear either warm or cool in feeling. Red, orange, and yellow are usually considered warm, while colors containing blue are regarded as being cool.

Light colors appear larger than dark colors

True

Warm colors appear closer to the eye in a design

True

Analogous Color Scheme

Uses neighboring colors on the color wheel

Complementary Color Scheme

Uses opposite hues on the color wheel

Triadic

a color scheme involving three equally spaced colors on the color wheel.

Complementary colors ---

appear to vibrate when next to each other, can make text difficult to read, and have high contrast

Complementary

colors located directly opposite one another on the color wheel

Analogous

colors next to eachother

Shift in saturation effect

colors of the same value and hue, will appear darker and less saturated on more saturated backgrounds

Crispening effect

contrast between two values of a hue will appear greater when on a background with a lightness value between the two colors

Monochromatic

having only one color

Color Context

how colors behave in relation to other colors Can influence how a color appears - two or more colors placed next to each other can influence a viewer's perception of one or more of the colors

Value

lightness and darkness of a color

Desaturation

presence of gray in a color

Saturation

purity/intensity of color

Color System Order

spectrum of visible color color film CMYK digital printer RGB

Color Systems

• Are used to configure color according to the color output of a device - most design programs will allow designers to determine the color system which is most effective for a project's final product

Blue

• Calming • Relaxing • Stimulates productivity • Sea • Sky • Peace • Masculinity • Coldness • Depression There are very few blue foods in nature and blue is commonly considered to be unappetizing

Green

• Calming and refreshing • Aids digestion • Reduces stomach aches • Nature • Environmentalism • Fertility • Money • Success • Greed • Envy • Nausea • Poison Easiest color for the eyes to look at

Yellow

• Enhances concentration • Increases anxiety • First color the eye will notice • Joy • Sunshine • Summer • Caution • Jealousy • Cowardice Most fatiguing color for the eye to look at

Additive Color

• begins with black in the absence of color and ends with white when all colors are mixed • more color means a lighter result • light color sources are additive

Subtractive Color

• begins with white when there are no colors and ends with black when all colors are mixed • more color means a darker result • pigment color sources are subtractive