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Colors
By: Jade V. Villareal
To understand color…
we first need to understand light
Light is everywhere in our world. We need it to see: it carries
information from the world to our eyes and brains.
Light Waves
Waves have high and low points, and the distance between one of those highs and lows and the next is called a wavelength.
Visible spectrum—colors of the rainbow known as ROY G. BIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet)
How are light and color related?
Light travels in the form of waves
White Light or the light from the sun, is made of colors and colors are different types of light recognized by their own wavelengths
Since light travels, what can happen?
Light Transfer
Reflect Absorb Transmit
Do objects “have” color?
Color Models
300 BC: Aristotle
1600s: Aguilonius (SJ)
1660: Newton
Color Mixing: Additive vs Subtractive
A range of colors can be reproduced by one of two complimentary approaches: Additive color Subtractive color
Additive colors: combine light sources, starting with darkness (black) beams of light or dots of light on monitor
screens Additive primary colors are red (R), green
(G), and blue (B) Adding red and green makes yellow (R + G =
Y); Similarly, G + B = C and R + B = M. Adding all three additive primaries in roughly
equal amounts creates gray or white light.
Subtractive colors: objects that transmit or reflect light (ex: film or prints) Typically illuminated by white light Primary colors: cyan (C), Magenta (M), yellow
(Y) Each subtractive primary removes one of the
additive primary colors from the reflected or transmitted image.
Color Models
RGB
CMY (K)
HSV
HSL
RGB
Red, Green, Blue Additive primary colors Used for monitor screens and most image file
formats
CMY(K)
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow Subtractive primary colors Used in inks for printing with black (K) added
because CYM pigments and inks rarely give deep, rich black tones by themselves (they tend to make a muddy brown).
Important to the prepress (printing) industry
HSV
Hue, saturation, value Hue—perceived as color Saturation—100% is a pure color, 0% is a
shade of gray Value—related to brightness
HSL
Hue, Saturation, Lightness Saturation is similar for dark colors but quite
different for light colors.
Color Theories
Color theories create a logical structure for color. Color Wheel Color Harmony Color Context
Color Wheel
Sir Isaac Newton developed the first circular diagram of colors in 1666
Categories of Color based on the Color Wheel
Primary Colors
Secondary Colors
Tertiary Colors
Primary Colors
Red, Yellow and Blue 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
Green, Orange, Purple Colors formed by
mixing the primary colors
Tertiary Colors
Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, yellow-green Colors formed by
mixing a primary and a secondary color
Color Harmony
Harmony—pleasing arrangement of parts Delivers visual interest and a sense of order
Formulas for Color Harmony
1. A color scheme based on analogous colors Analogous colors are any three colors which
are side by side on a 12 part color wheel Example: yellow-green, yellow, yellow-orange
Formulas for Color Harmony
2. A color scheme based on complimentary colors Any two colors which are directly opposite each
other Creates maximum contrast and maximum
stability
Formulas for Color Harmony
3. A color scheme based on nature Provides a perfect departure point for color
harmony
Color Context
How color behaves in relation to other colors and shapes
The relationship of values, saturations and the warmth or coolness of respective hues can cause noticeable differences in our perception of color.
Compare the contrast effects of different color backgrounds for the
same red square.
More about colors…
The Meaning of Color
Warm Colors
Includes red, orange, yellow and variations of those three colors
Used to reflect passion, happiness, enthusiasm and energy
Red (Primary Color)
A very hot color
Associated with fire, violence, warfare
love and passion
Anger but also with importance (red carpet)
Danger (stop light, warning labels)
Red (Primary Color)
In China, prosperity and happiness, good luck
In other eastern cultures, red is worn by brides on wedding days
In South Africa, it is mourning
In design, it is a powerful accent color
Orange (Secondary Color)
Very vibrant and energetic color
Associated with the earth and autumn
Represents change and movement
Health and vitality
In designs, orange commands attention without being as overpowering as red
More friendly, inviting and less in-your-face
Yellow (Primary Color)
Brightest and most energizing among the warm colors
Happiness, sunshine
Also associated with deceit, cowardice
Hope but also with danger
Yellow (Primary Color)
In Egypt bright yellow is happiness and cheerfulness Softer yellow is used as a gender-neutral color
for babies and young children Dark yellow and gold-hues yellow look antique
and used in designs where a sense of permanence is designed
Cool Colors
include green, blue, and purple, are often more subdued than warm colors
colors of night, of water, of nature, and are usually calming, relaxing, and somewhat reserved
Green (Secondary Color)
Very down-to-earth color
Represents new beginning and growth
Also envy or jealousy and a lack of experience
In design, it can have a balancing and harmonizing effect, and is very stable
Appropriate for designs related to wealth, stability, renewal, and nature
Blue (Primary Color)
Associated with sadness, calmness and responsibility
Light blues are refreshing and friendly
Dark blues are strong and reliable
Also associated with peace and has some spiritual connotations in some cultures
Purple (Secondary Color)
Associated with royalty, creativity and imagination
In Thailand, purple is the color for mourning of widows
In design, dark purples give a sense of wealth and luxury
Light purples are associated with spring and romance
Neutrals
Serve as the backdrop in design
Combined with brighter colors
Black
Strongest of the neutral colors
Associated with power, elegance and formality
Also, with evil, death and mystery
In design, black is commonly used for typography and other functional parts, because of it’s neutrality.
White
At the opposite end of the spectrum from black
Also works well with just about any other color
Associated with goodness and health care
In design, it is a neutral backdrop that lets other colors in a design have a larger voice
Conveys cleanliness and simplicity, popular in minimalist designs
Gray
Is at the cool end of the color spectrum
Considered moody and depressing
conservative and formal but also modern
A color of mourning
A sophisticated color, used in corporate designs
References:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/28/color-theory-for-designers-part-1-the-meaning-of-color/
http://www.normankoren.com/light_color.html
http://www.fi.edu/color/
http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-color-theory
And some lecture notes from Fr. Charlie Cenzon of ADMU