Chapter 3

Neutral Gray

a mixture of black and white in various ratio's.

Color play a role in the whole or part of a space

1. Setting the mood or establishing ambiance 2. Manipulating volume or dimension 3. Unifying disparate components 4. Defining or partitioning units 5. Emphasizing or diverting attention.

High key color range

A choice of hues in the high value range

Low key color range

A choice of hues in the low value range

Accent Color Scheme

A color scheme built on a related contrasting or achromatic scheme. It may involve introducing an accent color or a neutral to offset an established scheme and make it less predictable; introducing a hue in a monochromatic scheme; introducing a color into an achromatic scheme ; or adding a small amount of a complement to an analogous or monochromatic scheme.

Achromatic Color Scheme

A color scheme composed of white, black and gray, with no hue. One that is related included a series of group that are close in value, one that is contrasting is composed of only black & white or grays of very different values.

Direct complementary scheme

A color scheme consisting of two hues that appear in direct opposition on the 12 hue color wheel. ex; red-green

Triadic Color scheme

A color scheme created by the use of hues that are equidistant from one another on the color wheel forming a triangle which all three sides are equidistant. ex: red, blue, yellow

Monochromatic color scheme

A color scheme derived from the use of one hue. It may include different values and chroma to avoid monotony

Double Complimentary Scheme

A color scheme that used two pair of complementary colors such as red/green and violet/yellow

Neutralization

A color that has been reduced in intensity by mixing in a neutral hue or by mixing it with its complement.

Brown

A general term describing a hue that may include a mixture of hues between red and yellow that is of medium to low lightness and of moderate to low saturation also referred to as: Neutral

Color Blindness/Color Deficiency

A genetic condition, more common in men than women in which the cone receptors are diminished causing the person to have difficulty distinguishing between red and green - both resemble gray

Cool Gray

A gray that has some blue or violet mixed in

Warm Gray

A gray that has some yellow and red mixed in.

Shade

A lower value of a hue created by adding black, developing a darker version

Iridescence

A lustrous effect of light and color mixing, resulting in a rainbow-like array of colors. May be created when natural or artificial light refracts off a surface that is slick, either as a natural condition or in a manufactured product designed to cast that effect.

Wavelength

A method of measuring light in which bands of light are measured in pulsations or electromagnetic energy.

Greige

A mixture of the ranges of brown with gray having a higher value than taupe

Taupe

A mixture of the ranges of brown with gray, having a lower value than greige.

Tone

A muted version(lower chroma) of a hue, created by adding gray or a hues complement.

Chromatherapy

A therapeutic technique based on the healing properties of color

Tint

A variation of a hue created when white is added, this heightening the value, creating a lighter version.

Tetrad color scheme

A variation of the double complementary color scheme. It also uses 4 hues but the hues are equidistant from each other on the color wheel, geometrically forming a square.

Analogous color scheme

An approach to color harmony that combines hues adjacent to each other on the color wheel . It can be further specified as a range of adjacent hues that remain in one temperature zone.

Complementary Color Scheme

An arrangement of color that creates a type of contrasting harmony by using complementary colors or a combination of warm & cool hues.

Importance of Color

Color is one of the most basic, powerful design tools. Color may play many roles within the composition including: setting a mood or establishing ambiance, manipulating volume or dimension, unifying disparate components, defining or partitioning units and emphasizing or diverting attention.

Physiological affects of color

Concerned with the human perception of matter. Considers the function of the brain and the eye. For humans to recognize color three components are necessary; light, vision, and perception.

Perception of Color

Cones receive light for daytime and rods for nighttime sending signals to the brain via the optic nerve translates into how we see color. Perception is developmental and changes through the normal aging process.

The science of Color

How color affects the human mind, body and spirit. Physics, chemistry, physiology and psychology are the traditional branches of western science that theorize about color

Application of Color Theory

Know your clients associations with color Are there any special considerations Know the purpose of the space and activities How much time will be spent in the space The effect of the color and light Appreciation for flexibility of the space Character of the space Any historical references to be reinforced.

Fusion/Optical Mixing

Occurs when two contrasting colors in small quantities are placed side by side because they cannot be perceived separately as two distinct hues, they appear to mix and therefore neutralize

Nanometer

One billionth of a meter. wave lengths of light are measured in nanometers.

Additive color

Originating from light (red,green,blue)

Feng Shui

The art of placement or arrangement of objects withing a space to create a flow of positive energy and achieve harmony.

Psychology or emotion of color

The branch of science that studies the mind and behavior. Emotional response may be triggered by memories of actual events and the individuals perception of those events. The meaning of color to individuals.

Luminosity

The inherent ability of a hue to reflect light, yellow is the most luminous, violet the least

After Image - Successive Contrast

The phenomenon wherby the perception of color is altered when colors are viewed in sequence rather than simultaneously or side by side .

Color Wheel

The reshaping of the rainbow of colors into a circular pattern - provides a useful tool to organize color.

Simultaneous contrast

The way in which colors influence each other, by attributes of hue, value and chroma, when placed next to each other or simultaneously viewed.

Split Complementary Scheme

Three hues are used in a split complementary scheme, softening the effect of contrast. The choices form a triangle on the color wheel. ex; red, yg, bg

Advancing and receding color

When warm hues appear to advance or seem closer tot he viewer and cool colors recede or move farther away from the viewer

Related color scheme

a color scheme derived by focusing on unifying or similar attributes of the selections. It is considered more calming and stable than a contrasting color scheme.

Vibrating Color

a phenomenon that occurs when strong contrasting colors with high saturation are juxtaposed. They eye does not adequately focus o the two, causing the edges of each hue to blur and shift. Most apparent in bold striped patterns, particularly in small spaces.

Contrasting color scheme

an arrangement of colors derived by focusing on the differences among the selection of hues. It is considered more dynamic and active than a related color scheme

Subtractive color

reflected from a surface or object colored by dyes or pigments