2. Essentials
Light is made of all colors (Sir Isaac Newton put white light through a prism
= colors)
Color is a property of light.
Objects have no color of their own, they just reflect a particular wavelength
from the color spectrum. (For example a blue object absorbs all of the
wavelengths, EXCEPT the blue ones, thus the blue ones are reflected
back to our eyes).
Black absorbs all the wave lengths of the color spectrum.
White reflects all the wave lengths of the color spectrum.
3. Color Wheel
The most common organization for the
relationship of the basic colors is the color
wheel. (Wheel system dates from the 18th
century.)
• 3 Primary Colors : Red, Yellow and Blue
• 3 Secondary Colors : mixtures of the
primary colors. Orange, Green and Violet
• 6 Tertiary Colors - mixtures of a primary and
a secondary color.
4. Color Interaction
Colors change with their context.
Amounts and repetition are also critical
factors.
Here green looks different “woven” through
black or white.
5. Color Discord and Vibrating Colors
Unexpected Combinations
Color Discord – the opposite of color
harmony.
Can be visually disturbing.
They do not balance each other nor do
they have affinity for each other.
Mild discord can be exciting or stimulating.
6. Planning Color Schemes
lnteriors, posters, and packaging
are the most common deliberate
use of color schemes….other areas
may be more intuitive.
Knowing these harmonies can help
all artists and designers
consciously plan the visual effects
they want a finished work to have.
7. Properties of Color: Value
Value - Lightness or darkness of the hue
Tint - adding white to a hue = high value
color
Shade - adding black to a hue = low value
color
Most people can distinguish at least 40 tints
and shades of any color
Value scales for blue, gray, and
yellow with equal visual steps.
8. Changing Color Value
When working with paint you can thin a color by adding medium.
The more transparent a color is, the lighter it’s value placed over white.
You can also alter the value by mixing hues together.
Value, just like color, is changed by its surroundings.
