Color Theory

What is color?

Color is the aspect of things that is caused by differing qualities of light being reflected or emitted by them. When light shines on an object some colors bounce off the object and others are absorbed by it. Our eyes only see the colors that are bounced off or reflected.

Color Perception –

Color Schemes

Red, blue and yellow are primary colors.

Complementary colors are any two colors opposite each other on the wheel. For example, blue and orange, or red and green.

Split complementary colors use three colors. The scheme takes one color and matches it with the two colors adjacent to its complementary color. For example, blue, yellow-orange and red-orange.

Monochromatic color schemes are derived from a single base hue and extended using its shades, tones and tints.

Achromatic means literally “without color”

An achromatic color is a one that lacks hues such as white, grey and black, and a chromatic color is a color which has even the slightest amount of hue.

Analogous colors are any three colors next to each other on the wheel. For example, orange, yellow-orange, and yellow.

Analogous color schemes are often found in nature and are harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic colors are any three colors that are equally apart on the color wheel. For example, red, yellow and blue.

Tetradic or double complementary colors uses four colors together, in the form of two sets of complementary colors. For example, blue and orange is paired with yellow and violet.

Tetradic or double complementary colors uses four colors together, in the form of two sets of complementary colors. For example, blue and orange is paired with yellow and violet.

Additive color

Additive color mixing: adding red to green yields yellow; adding all three primary colors together yields white.

Additive color is light created by mixing together light of two or more different colors. Red, green, and blue are the additive primary colors normally used in additive color systems such as projectors and computer terminals.

Subtractive color

Subtractive color mixing: adding magenta to yellow yields red; adding all three primary colors together yields black.

Subtractive coloring uses dyes, inks, pigments, or filters to absorb some wavelengths of light and not others.

Components of the Scheme

Hue: Pure Colors.

Shade: a color made darker by adding black.

Tint: a color made lighter by adding white.

Value, brightness, lightness, or luminosity: how light or dark a color is.