The Element of Colour

Intro Colour occurs when light in different wavelengths strikes our eyes. Objects have no colour of their own, only the ability to reflect a certain wavelength of light back to our eyes.Colour occurs when light in different wavelengths strikes our eyes. Objects have no colour of their own, only the ability to reflect a certain wavelength of light back to our eyes. As you know, colour can vary in differing circumstances. For example, grass can appear gray in the morning or evening or bright green at noon. Colours appear different depending on whether you view them under incandescent, florescent or natural sunlight.

Intro Colours also change according to their surroundings. You can see this by looking at the colour squares below - the reddish outline box is the same color in all the examples.

Properties of Colour Hue Hue Hue refers to the colour itself. Each different hue is a different reflected wavelength of light. White light broken in a prism has seven hues: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. White light occurs when all the wavelengths are reflected back to your eye, and black light occurs when no light is reflected to your eye. This is the physics of light.

When it comes to using colour in art, things get quite messy. Looking at the colour wheel above, when using colour pigments, the three primary colours used are yellow, blue and red. These three colours are blended together to produce other colours, called secondary colours, such as green, orange and purple. Mix enough colours together, and you get black. Pretty strange, eh?

Properties of Colour Colour Value Color value refers to the lightness or darkness of the hue. Color value refers to the lightness or darkness of the hue. Adding white to a hue produces a high-value color, often called a tint. Adding black to a hue produces a low-value color, often called a shade. Adding white to a hue produces a high-value color, often called a tint. Adding black to a hue produces a low-value color, often called a shade.

Properties of Colour Intensity Intensity, also called chroma or saturation, refers to the brightness of a color. Intensity, also called chroma or saturation, refers to the brightness of a color. A color is at full intensity when not mixed with black or white - a pure hue. A color is at full intensity when not mixed with black or white - a pure hue. You can change the intensity of a color, making it duller or more neutral by adding gray to the color. You can also change the intensity of a color by adding its complement (this is the color found directly opposite on the traditional color wheel). When changing colors this way, the color produced is called a tone. You can change the intensity of a color, making it duller or more neutral by adding gray to the color. You can also change the intensity of a color by adding its complement (this is the color found directly opposite on the traditional color wheel). When changing colors this way, the color produced is called a tone.

When you mix complementary colors together, you produce a dull tone. However, when you put complementary colors side by side, you increase their intensity. This effect is called simultaneous contrast - each color simultaneously intensifies the visual brightness of the other color. When you mix complementary colors together, you produce a dull tone. However, when you put complementary colors side by side, you increase their intensity. This effect is called simultaneous contrast - each color simultaneously intensifies the visual brightness of the other color.

Properties of Colour Optical Colour Mixing When small dots of color are placed adjacent to each other, your eye will combine the colors into a blended color. This is the principle used when printing color in magazines. When small dots of color are placed adjacent to each other, your eye will combine the colors into a blended color. This is the principle used when printing color in magazines. Dots of cyan, magenta, yellow and black are distributed in a pattern on the paper, and depending on the quantity of a certain dot, you will see a specific color on the page. Dots of cyan, magenta, yellow and black are distributed in a pattern on the paper, and depending on the quantity of a certain dot, you will see a specific color on the page.

Paul Signac used a technique called pointillism that involved creating art using the combination of dots to form images. Paul Signac used a technique called pointillism that involved creating art using the combination of dots to form images.

Properties of Colour Colour and Space Certain colors have an advancing or receding quality, based on how our eye has to adjust to see them. Certain colors have an advancing or receding quality, based on how our eye has to adjust to see them. Warm colors such as red, orange or yellow seem to come forward while cool colors such as blue and green seem to recede slightly. Warm colors such as red, orange or yellow seem to come forward while cool colors such as blue and green seem to recede slightly.

In the atmosphere, distant objects appear bluish and the further away an object appears, the less colorful and distinct it becomes. Artists use this to give an illusion of depth, by using more neutral and grayish colors in the background. In the atmosphere, distant objects appear bluish and the further away an object appears, the less colorful and distinct it becomes. Artists use this to give an illusion of depth, by using more neutral and grayish colors in the background.

Color Schemes Monochromatic This color scheme involves the use of only one hue. The hue can vary in value, and black or white may be added to create various shades or tints.

Color Schemes Analogous Analogous This color scheme involves the use of colors that are located adjacent on the color wheel. The hues may vary in value. The color scheme for this site is analogous, with the colors varying only slightly from each other.

Color Schemes Complementary Complementary This color scheme involves the use of colors that are located opposite on the color wheel such as red and green, yellow and purple, or orange and blue. Complementary colors produce a very exciting, dynamic pattern. This color scheme involves the use of colors that are located opposite on the color wheel such as red and green, yellow and purple, or orange and blue. Complementary colors produce a very exciting, dynamic pattern.

Color Schemes Triadic This color scheme involves the use of colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel. The primary colors of yellow, red and blue could be used together in a color scheme to produce a lively result. This color scheme involves the use of colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel. The primary colors of yellow, red and blue could be used together in a color scheme to produce a lively result.

Colour Discord While monochromatic, analogous, complementary or triadic color schemes are considered to be harmonious, there are some color schemes considered dissonant. Discordant colors are visually disturbing - we say they clash. Colors that are widely separated on the color wheel (but not complementary or triadic) are considered to be discordant. Discordant colors can be eye- catching and are often used for attention-getting devices in advertising. While monochromatic, analogous, complementary or triadic color schemes are considered to be harmonious, there are some color schemes considered dissonant. Discordant colors are visually disturbing - we say they clash. Colors that are widely separated on the color wheel (but not complementary or triadic) are considered to be discordant. Discordant colors can be eye- catching and are often used for attention-getting devices in advertising.

Colour Temperature All colours are categorized as warm or cool colours (black, white and grey are neither—they are considered “neutral”). Warm colours are those associated with fire (yellow, orange and red) Cool colours are those associated with water (green, blue and purple)

Warm colours tend to come forward in a picture while cool colours tend to recede