National 4/5Graphic Communication

Colour Theory

Graphic Communication

The use of colour plays a massive role in Graphic Communication.

It can be used to convey feelings, to create visual impact and to suggest the use for products.

It can also be used in signs and symbols to convey specific types of information.

Graphic Communication

You will need to know about the colour wheel.

What are primary colours? What are secondary colours? What are tertiary colours? What colours are contrasting? What colours are harmonious? What colours are advancing? What colours are rededing? What colours are warm or cold? What is meant by the terms: tone; tints; and shades?

The Colour Wheel

Primary Colours

The 3 primary colours are

Yellow

Red

Blue

Secondary Colours

The 3 secondary colours are

Orange

Green

Violet

Tertiary Colours

Tertiary colours are obtained when you mix a primary colour with a secondary colour.

The tertiary colours are circled on the colour wheel opposite.

Harmonising Colours

Harmonising colours are beside each other on the colour wheel.

The following colours are harmonious: Yellow & Orange Red & Violet Blue & Green

Contrasting Colours

Contrasting colours are on opposite sides of the colour wheel.

The following colours are contrasting: Yellow & Violet Red & Green Blue & Orange

Advancing Colours

Advancing colours appear to come towards you when you look at them.

Advancing colours are warm colours: red orange yellow

They are all on one half of the colour wheel.

Warm Colours

These colours are used to give a feeling of warmth to a drawing.

They can also be used to show hot things as part of a symbol, like a red dot on a hot water tap.redyelloworange

Receding Colours

Receding colours appear to move into the background when you look at them.

Advancing colours are cold colours: blue green violet

They are all on one half of the colour wheel.

Cold Colours

These colours are used to give a feeling of coldness to a drawing.

They can also be used to show cold things as part of a symbol, like a blue dot on a cold water tap.bluegreenviolet

Tone

The tone of a colour is how strong or weak a colour is.

By applying more coats of a colour its tone can be made stronger.

This can be shown in the tonal bar.

Tint & Shade

Tints and shades are created by adding white or black to a colour.

White is added to a colour to give it a tint. Pale colours tend to be soft.

Black is added to a colour to give it a shade. Dark colours look as though they are heavy.

Feelings & Instruction

Colours are often used to convey feeling or instruction.

This is helpful as it can be used as signs in any language.

The following slides tell us what feelings colours give.

Red

Warm Vibrant Exciting Active Festive Passion

Yellow

Warm Sunny Happy Glowing Easily seen

Blue

Cool Elegant Sophisticated Formal Classy

Green

Cool restful natural calm soothing fresh

Violet

Cool Peaceful Solitary

Orange

Warm Happy Cheerful Energy Refreshing

Greys Natural Restful Calm

Browns Natural Earthly Safe

Elegant Dignified

Reliable Good

Neutral Colours

Black & White

Dramatic elegant opposing contrasting sophisticated