Color Theory

double-split complementary color scheme

4 colors that include the colors on each side of a color and its complement

desaturated color

A color of lowered intensity or purity because it has been muted, tinted, shaded or toned.

muted color

A color of lowered intensity or purity, usually because it has been mixed with its complement.

split-complementary color scheme

A color scheme that uses a key color with the two colors that lie on either side of its complement. Example: red with yellow-green and blue-green.

analogous split-complementary color scheme

A color scheme that uses a predominantly analogous palette, but includes accents using the two colors that lie on either side of the complement of the key color. Example: blue analogous palette with red-orange and yellow-orange accents.

complementary color scheme

A color scheme that uses colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Example: yellow and violet.

analogous color scheme

A color scheme that uses hues next to each other on the color wheel. Example: red, red-violet and red-orange.

monochromatic colors

A color scheme that uses only one color with tints, shades and tones of that color.

shade

A hue + black.

tone

A hue + gray.

tint

A hue + white.

contrast

A principle of art, contrast refers to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark values, warm vs. cool colors, large vs. small shapes, organic vs. geometric shapes, rough vs. smooth textures, isolated vs. grouped objects, etc.)

highlight

An area of lightest value in a design, in an image or on an object. (2)

midtone

An area of medium brightness, between the shadow value and the highlight highlight. (3)

Color

An element of art made up of three properties: hue, value, and intensity. It is used to generate emotions, define importance, create visual interest and more.

landscape format

An image frame that is oriented horizontally.

portrait format

An image frame that is oriented vertically.

secondary colors

Colors (orange, green, violet) made by mixing equal parts of two primary colors together.

tertiary colors

Colors located between primary and secondary colors on the color wheel, created by mixing any adjacent primary and secondary color. Examples: red-orange, yellow-green, blue-violet.

analogous colors

Colors that are adjacent on the color wheel. These colors will have a similar temperature and hue.

warm colors

Colors that are on one side of the color wheel that elicit a feeling of warmth, associated with the sun and fire in nature, active, advancing, for example, red, orange and yellow.

cool colors

Colors that elicit a feeling of coolness, associated with the sky, air, water or grass in nature, calm, receding, for example, blue, green, purple.

complementary colors

Colors which appear opposite each other on the color wheel. These colors complete each other on the color spectrum.

Process colors

Colors you create (and eventually print) by mixing varying percentages of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) inks

value

Relative lightness or darkness of a color as measured on a scale from black to white.

bilateral symmetry

Symmetry around a central axis so that one side of the object is the mirror image of the other side. Also called "mirror symmetry."

value pattern

The arrangement, variation and contrast of light and dark values in an

primary colors

The basic colors (red, yellow, blue) that cannot be created by combining other colors and from which all other colors can be made.

focal point

The center of interest in an image or design created by using color, contrast, proportion, etc.

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.

local color value

The color value of an object seen in neutral light.

key color

The dominant color in a color scheme. (In Van Gogh's Starry Night, blue.)

negative space

The part of an image which appears to recede or forms the background.

positive space

The part of an image which occupied by the figure or subject.

symmetry

The property of equal parts repeated around a point or an axis.

saturation

The purity or intensity of a color.

texture

The qualities and appearance of the surface of an object or plane in an image or design. Examples: smooth, rough, cracked, etc.

hue variation

The range of colors used in an image or design.

saturation variation

The range of saturated and desaturated colors used in an image or design.

rhythm

The repetition of shapes, values, colors, etc., to create a sense of movement and visual interest.

atmospheric perspective

The sense of depth created by using desaturated colors, lower contrast and less detail in objects that are further away.

light source

The source of light that creates highlights and determines shadow.

color harmony

The use of a cohesive and pleasing combination of colors in a design or image.

color unity

The use of a cohesive combination colors in a design or image created by repetition and harmony in a color palette.

Repetition

To repeat a shape, value, color, etc.

CMYK

a subtractive color model consisting of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black used for printing

RGB

an additive color model consiting of red, green, and blue used for computer and television screens

Spot colors

any color generated by an ink that is printed using a single run

hue

color

Pantone

specific colored inks used for printing that help achieve custom colors such as metalic inks that CMYK cannot reproduce

True Black

the black that is produced by a 100% black value

Rich black

the black that is produced when overlapping different values of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black