http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/phrase/3962629/sunflower.jpg

Colour & ImagesCOMPSCI 345 / SOFTENG 350

Jim Warren

Adapted from slides by Safurah Abdul Jalil and Beryl Plimmer

Based on Heim Chapter 9

Learning outcomes

Describe colour properties Value Hue Saturation

Describe and identify colour schemes Monochromatic Analogous & Complimentary Ready made colour schemes

Explain how colour is used for branding

Explain how images contribute to the colour scheme of a UI

Apply colour principles to a UI design

Colour

Colour has three distinct properties:1. Value* - lightness or darkness (luminance)

2. Hue - spectral colour name (blue, red..)

3. Saturation - brightness or dullness

Colours with the same brightness levels can appear lighter or darker than each other

3

Light and dark colours Light and dark colours grayscale

*‘Value’ = lightness, almost same as luminance – see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSL_and_HSV

Colour: Value

‘Value’ is defined as the perceived lightness or darkness of a colour.

Value can be used to increase/decrease Contrast; consider these examples: Low contrast, ‘low key’ Low contrast, ‘high key’* High contrast High contrast (inversed)

Note: greater contrast makes the darker object more dominant. Hence, inverse is

harder to read – should only be used for titles or emphasis

4

* From the ‘key

light’ in film

making, see

http://en.wikip

edia.org/wiki/H

igh-key_lightin

g

Value

Create Movement Objects of the same value create a static design with all

objects equal in visual importance. varying values gives a more dynamic appearance and creates

a 'pecking order'. Some stand out while others recede. Highest contrast is most important

Mix elements of different values to add visual movement to your design or to create a hierarchy of importance.

5

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Colour: Hue

Colours at the lower (i.e. shorter wavelength) end of the spectrum (e.g. blues) are more comfortable to look at

Based on vector value moving from 0 to 360 degrees on a colour wheel

http://www.wou.edu/las/physci/ch462/

tmcolours.htm

http://

realcolourwheel.com/

Colour wheel

The 12 part colour wheel (Johannes Itten) is based on the three primary colours: Red Yellow Blue

Between the three primaries are the

secondary colours: Green Orange Violet

(They are mixtures of the two primaries they sit

between).

The tertiary colours fall between each

primary and secondary. For example: between yellow and orange is yellow

orange between blue and violet is blue violet …and so on. 7

http://inventoropinion.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-want-to

-invent-something-step-9.html

http://www.johnlovett.com/colour.htm

Colour: Saturation

All the colours at the top of the images below are called saturated colours. They contain no black, no white and none of their complimentary or opposite colour.

Intensity of colour in percentage scale: 100 percent is pure colour, 0 percent is black, white or gray

http://www.xaraxone.com/webxealot/

workbook40/page_5.htm

Colour: Saturation

Highly saturated, or pure, colours E.g. brilliant yellows, reds, and greens, …

Advantages: Evoke energy, vividness, brightness, and warmth. They are daring; they have character.

Disadvantages: When overused, they can tire the eyes.

Most UI designers use them sparingly.

Muted colours make up the bulk of most colour palettes Tints: adding white Shades: adding black Tones: adding some of both (i.e. adding grey – most ‘real’

colours!)(see http://www.color-wheel-artist.com/hue.html)

9

+ Making it work with saturation

The green-and-blue Zen Garden design above

gets away with two saturated colours by using

white borders to separate the green and blue

(and by using the white and dark text) .

Even so, you probably wouldn't want to stare at

that green all day long in a desktop application.

Pure Blue with black font…. Not so good!

Computer colour pickers

Windows colour picker As you move the cursor around watch the rgb values

changing White 255,255,255 Black 0,0,0 Red 255,0,0

Note the transparency White background adding white Black background adding black

Colour Schemes: Monochromatic

12

Monochromatic This colour scheme involves the use of only one hue. The hue can vary in value, and black or white may be added to create various shades or tints.

Monochromatic + White Many interfaces are white background and monochromatic elements

Colour Schemes: Monochromatic

Primary colour: blue monochrome

13

Secondary colour: green monochrome

+ Monochrome and White

14

Many interfaces are white background and monochromatic elements

•

And now it is Blue

15

Colour Schemes: Analogous & Complimentary Analogous

Colours that are adjacent on the colour wheel. The hues may vary in value. 

Analogous colour schemes look harmonious

16 http://www.cristinacolli.com/27-examples-of-successful-colour-schemes/

http://www.richardancheta.com/html/

decoration/STAIR-FAUX-FINISH-PAINTING-

DECORATION/stair-faux-finish-painting-

decoration.htm

Analogous and Complimentary (contd.)

Complimentary

Colours that are located opposite on the colour

wheel such as red and green, yellow and purple,

or orange and blue

Complementary colours produce an exciting,

dynamic pattern.

http://www.digitalscrapbooking.co.za/

modules.php?

name=News&file=article&sid=11

http://www.cristinacolli.com/27-examples-of-successful-colour-schemes/

Colour Discord

Monochromatic, analogous, complementary or triadic (120-degree separation) colour schemes are ‘harmonious’

some colour schemes are dissonant (or ‘discordant’).

Discordant colours are visually disturbing - we say they clash. Colours that are widely separated on the colour wheel

(but not complementary or triadic) are discordant.

Discordant colours can be eye-catching and are often used as attention-getting devices in advertising.

18

BUY ME!

Making a Colour scheme

Quite a number of tools have predefined colour schemes Go to the ‘Design’ tab in

Powerpoint

Companies often have an existing colour scheme (look at logos, stationary, brochures)

Colour scheme: Branding

Colour is a crucial element of a brand identity.

‘The National Bank’ brand (and colour scheme)was dropped in 2012

Another – look at WestPac… a bit like Cocacola!

Colour Scheme & Images:

Images are made up of colours

the colours of images you choose can reflect upon the colour scheme of your interface.

Basing colour schemes around photos is a also great technique.

http://vltoday.blogspot.com/

colour Scheme & Images:

colour Scheme & Images:

Colour contrast

Contrast sensitivity decreases significantly with age

Contrast Because black and white have the highest contrast , luminance

(black and white) contrast is more significant than colour contrast One way easy to check your contrast to save an image as grayscale

Colour as code

Sometimes the colours are used as a code to communicate information.

Most well-known is ‘traffic light’ model Not friendly to colour-blind individuals, but

conventional

http://ilign.com/screenshot/executive-dashboard

Outside of ‘digital dashboards’ try not to base you scheme on (presumed) understanding of codes

Summary

Colour is a fundamental element of aesthetics

High contrast is important for readability

Monotone colour schemes are the easiest to ‘get right’

More complex colour schemes can be ‘borrowed’ from colour palettes or company branding

Images are a part of the colour scheme

Use colour as a code sparingly

Learning outcomes

The colour properties V.. H.. S…

Colour schemes M… A… & C…

Colour and branding

Images and the colour scheme of a UI

Design a UI colour scheme (in your assignment)

References

Heim, The Resonant Interface, chapter 9

Further reading: http://daphne.palomar.edu/design/Default.htm http://www.leonardo.info/isast/articles/behrens.html http://www.digital-web.com/articles/

principles_of_design/ http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-marketing/

color-and-branding

28