Color Theory

Color:

Enhances a message Enlivens a presentation Gives an object visual weight

and emphasisAdds richness and depth to screen

design

Color Can Be Used to:

Distinguish between like and unlike elements on a screen.

Indicate the importance or progression of data by increasing value and saturation level.

Emphasize or draw attention to elements by using lighter or brighter colors.

Set a mood.

Color Can Be Used to:

Distinguish between like and unlike elements on a screen.

Indicate the importance or progression of data by increasing value and saturation level.

Emphasize or draw attention to elements by using lighter or brighter colors.

Set a mood.

Color Tips- DO :

Use color conservatively. Use color to draw attention to

elements. Use a color pallete of 3 to 4 major

colors to establish consistency and a uniform feel to a project.

Be sensitive to cultural biases and associations with some colors.

Color Tips - DON’T :

Sacrifice readability for pleasing color.

Use too many colors in one project. Use red/green combinations.  They

will not be visible to those with red/green color blindness. 

(Note:  You can use these combinations if---when you print in black and white there is a lot of difference between the two colors.  Lots of contrast means that the person with red/green color blindness could still distinguish the different objects/words.)

Primary Colors

In traditional color theory, these are the 3 pigment colors that can not be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are derived from these 3 hues

Secondary Colors

These are the colors formed by mixing the primary colors.

Tertiary Colors

Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green and yellow-green.

These are the colors formed by mixing a primary and a secondary color. That's why the hue is a two word name, such as blue-green, red-violet, and yellow-orange. 

Monochromatic Color Harmony

The monochromatic color scheme uses variations in lightness and saturation of a single color. This scheme looks clean and elegant. Monochromatic colors go well together, producing a soothing effect. The monochromatic scheme is very easy on the eyes, especially with blue or green hues. You can use it to establish an overall mood. The primary color can be integrated with neutral colors such as black, white, or gray. However, it can be difficult, when using this scheme, to highlight the most important elements.

Analogous Color Harmony

Analogous colors are any three colors which are side by side on a 12 part color wheel, such as yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange. Usually one of the three colors predominates.

Complimentary Color Harmony

Complementary colors are any two colors which are directly opposite each other, such as red and green and red-purple and yellow-green. In the illustration above, there are several variations of yellow-green in the leaves and several variations of red-purple in the orchid. These opposing colors create maximum contrast and maximum stability.

Complimentary Color Harmony

How color behaves in relation to other colors and shapes is a complex area of color theory. Compare the contrast effects of different color backgrounds for the same red square.

Complimentary Color Harmony

Red appears more brilliant against a black background and somewhat duller against the white background. In contrast with orange, the red appears lifeless; in contrast with blue-green, it exhibits brilliance. Notice that the red square appears larger on black than on other background colors.

Triadic Color Harmony

The triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel. This scheme is popular among artists because it offers strong visual contrast while retaining balance, and color richness. The triadic scheme is not as contrasting as the complementary scheme, but it looks more balanced and harmonious.

Hue (blue, red, yellow, green, etc)

Value (light/dark)

Chroma (intensity)

THE THREE PROPERTIES OF COLOR

(de-saturated) (saturated)

Tints and Shades

A Shade is where black or a colors opposite color on the color wheel (complimentary) is added to make the color go darker.  

A Tint is the addition of an opaque White to a color.

Different Readings of Same Color

the small purple rectangle on the left appears to have a red-purple tinge when compared to the small purple rectangle on the right. They are actually the same color.