Color Theory Presentation for Art I - CHS.

1. The Element ofColor
Art I

2. Color
 Color immediately attracts attention. It is one of the first things
we see.
 Very young children will group objects by color instead of size or
shape.
 An interior designer may use rose-red walls to increase emotional
warmth or use blue walls in a daycare to encourage calm.
 BrightYellow and Magenta may make an poster more eye-catching
with contrast.
 Color is a very complex but powerful Element of Art & Design .

3. Color theory
 Color theory is the art and science of color interaction and
effects.
 In The Art of Color, Johannes Itten lists the following approaches to
color theory.
 Physics
 Chemistry
 Physiology
 Psychology

4. Approaches to
ColorTheory
 The physicist studies electromagnetic wavelength in order to
measure and classify color.
 The chemist works with the molecular structure of dyes and
pigments, and seeks to produced highly permanent colors and
excellent paint consistency.
 The physiologist investigates the effects of color and light on our
eyes and brain
 The psychologist studies the expressive effect of color on our
mind and spirit.
 .

5. Artist
Application of
Color
 The artist needs to take all of the approaches into consideration
when using color.
 Like the physicist, the artist uses color wavelengths to create
various effects
 Like the chemist, the artist must be aware of the safety and
permanence of dyes and pigments.
 When using color to create the illusion of space, the artist puts into
practice theories developed by physiologist.
 Communication and Expression are strongly affected by the
psychological effects of color

6. The Psychology
ofColor in Logo
Design
Infographic by LogoCompany

7. ColorSystems
The two major color systems we use are:
 Additive Colors (RGB)
 Created using beams of light
 Subtractive colors (RYB)
 Created when white light is reflected off a
pigmented or dyed surface

8. Additive color
 Additive Colors are created using beams of
light.
 The primaries of Additive Color are
Red, Green, and Blue.
 Green + Blue = Cyan
 Red + Green =Yellow
 Blue + Red = Magenta
 Red + Green + Blue = White
 The colors you see on a computer, television
screen, and projection are created by light.
 Used by Lighting
Designers,Videographers, andWebsite
Artists.

9. PrimaryColors of Light
Mixing
BokoPhysics

10. Subtractive
color (RGB)
 Subtractive Color is created when white
light is reflected off a pigmented or dyed
surface.
 The primaries of subtractive color are
Red, Yellow and Blue.
 A Red surface absorbsYellow and Blue Light
and reflects Red.
 AYellow surface absorbs Red and Blue Light
and reflectsYellow.
 A Blue surface absorbs Red andYellow Light
and reflects Blue.
 AWhite surface reflects all light.
 A Black surface absorbs all light.

11. Subtractive
color (RGB)
 Used by Painters, Printmakers, and Illustrators in various media –
acrylic paint, oil paint, pastels, ink, etc.
 Each pigment or dye used to make these materials are unique.
 Can be transparent or opaque – will affect blending and layering
 Adding color overtones and values will increase varieties of color.
 ColorOvertones are a secondary hue bias in the primary color.
 For example, Alizarin Crimson is a red with violet overtones, while
scarlet is a Red with orange overtones.
 Achromatic elements, such as Black andWhite, (non-colors) add
value to colors.

12. Process colors
(CMYK)
 Process colors are a subtractive color system that we use in
print media.
 The Primaries of Process colors are Cyan (Blue), Magenta
(Red), Yellow, and Black
 The process color system is typically used for mass production.
 Each color is laid down on the paper through a separate roller.
 The final image is created as the colors overlap.
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

13. Color
Separationin
CMYK Printing
Dots of cyan, magenta, yellow, and
black are layered to create a full
color image.

14. Color
interaction
 Color interaction is the way colors influence one another.
 Colors are never seen in isolation. Depending on the associations
we have with a color, lighting, and the surrounding colors, our
perception of the color is affected.
 A blue sheet of paper may remind us of the sky or the ocean.
 Incandescent lighting may create a warm orange glow.
 A blue sheet of Paper next to an orange sheet seem more vivid.
 Simultaneous contrast refers to how the perception of a color is
altered by a surrounding color.

15. Exampleof
Simultaneous
Contrast
Each Pair of Boxes have the same
color in the center, but the colors
appear different due to the
surrounding colors.

16. Defining colors
(onthe colorwheel)
 Hue is the name of a color, determined by its wavelength.
 This excludes non-color (black/white)
 In the Johannes Itten ColorWheel (for subtractive colors)
 Primary colors are Red,Yellow, and Blue
 They cannot be created by mixing.
 Secondary Colors are Orange, Green, andViolet
 They are created by mixing two primary colors.
 Tertiary Colors are Red-Violet, Red-Orange,Yellow-Orange,Yellow
Green, Blue-green, and blue-violet
 They are created by mixing a primary color and a secondary color that
are next to each other on the color wheel.
 The names are a combination of both colors.
 The Primary color’s name always comes first!

17. The 12Step
IttenColor
Wheel
Primaries (inner triangle)
Secondary (out triangles)
Tertiaries are located between the
Primaries and Secondaries on the
wheel.

18. Color
Temperature
 Color temperature is the heat a color generates, physically and
psychologically
 Usually divided intoWarm colors and Cool colors.
 Warm Colors – Red-Violet, Red, Orange,Yellow
 Cool Colors – Green, Blue, Purple
 Value – relative lightness and darkness of a color

19. Value
 Value – relative lightness and darkness of a color
 Tint: Hue +White
 Tone: Hue + Grey
 Shade: Hue + Black

20. Intensity
 Intensity, Saturation, & Chroma all refer to color purity and affects
how bright the colors are.
 The intensity of the color will decline as more colors are mixed.
 The primary colors are the usually the most intense.
 Mixing opposite colors will make a color more dull.
 High intensity colors are used to maximize impact and are best
used when combined with low-intensity colors.