Color theory

Let’s warm up !

Let’s start with some basics

There are two color systems

Additive Subtractive red + green + blue = white magenta + yellow + cyan = black

Additive Subtractive red + green + blue = white magenta + yellow + cyan = black

Additive Mixture LIGHT comes from sun, spotlights, ... Additive color mixture begins with the absence of light (black), and adds colors of light together to form new colors. RED, GREEN and BLUE are typically used as the ADDITIVE PRIMARY COLORS. If RED, GREEN and BLUE are mixed together produce white light. In pairs, they combine to create CYAN, MAGENTA and YELLOW, the secondary colors in additive mixtures. Additive mixture is used in theatrical lighting, and in computer monitors and TV screens.

Subtractive mixture Subtractive mixture starts with the presence of all colors of light, usually as white light reflected from a white surface, such as a piece of paper. Then dyes, inks, or filters are used to subtract some of the reflected light.  Any color of ink, dye or paint subtracts its complementary color of light. Cyan ink on white paper absorbs red light, and allows green and blue to be reflected. Cyan, Magenta and Yellow are the primary colors in subtractive mixture. RED, GREEN and BLUE are de secondary ones.

What is this jargon ? Hue Value Chroma Hue - name and properties/mixture of a color that enables it to be perceived Brilliance - how light or dark a color is Saturation - the level and mixture of white, black, grey or complimentary included in color Extension - proportions of color Simultaneous - shifting of colors to complementary

Hue another name for color, (for ex. Ultramarine blue and Prussian blue, are all close in "hue" to each other) Hue - name and properties/mixture of a color that enables it to be perceived Brilliance - how light or dark a color is Saturation - the level and mixture of white, black, grey or complimentary included in color Extension - proportions of color Simultaneous - shifting of colors to complementary

Value Value is the lightness or darkness of a color. Sometimes light colors are called tints, and dark colors are called shades. The color can be lightened if white is added to it. Hue - name and properties/mixture of a color that enables it to be perceived Brilliance - how light or dark a color is Saturation - the level and mixture of white, black, grey or complimentary included in color Extension - proportions of color Simultaneous - shifting of colors to complementary

Chroma Chroma is the purity of a color. High chroma colors look rich and full. Low chroma colors look dull and grayish. Sometimes chroma is called saturation. Hue - name and properties/mixture of a color that enables it to be perceived Brilliance - how light or dark a color is Saturation - the level and mixture of white, black, grey or complimentary included in color Extension - proportions of color Simultaneous - shifting of colors to complementary

What are these ? complementary colors Hue - name and properties/mixture of a color that enables it to be perceived Brilliance - how light or dark a color is Saturation - the level and mixture of white, black, grey or complimentary included in color Extension - proportions of color Simultaneous - shifting of colors to complementary

Opposite colors are complementary Additive Mixture Opposite colors are complementary

Opposite colors are complementary Subtructive Mixture Opposite colors are complementary

What are these ? primary secondary tertiary colors Hue - name and properties/mixture of a color that enables it to be perceived Brilliance - how light or dark a color is Saturation - the level and mixture of white, black, grey or complimentary included in color Extension - proportions of color Simultaneous - shifting of colors to complementary

Primary colors Secondary colors Tertiary colors Colours at their basic essence; those colours that cannot be created by mixing others. Secondary colors Colours created by mixing primary colors Tertiary colors Colours created by mixing primary and secondary colors

the color wheel

Another way to visualize

Another way to visualize

Primary colors

Secondary colors

Tertiary colors

Analogous colors

The contrast between warm and cool colors seems related to the observed contrast in landscape light, between the "warm" colors associated with daylight or sunset and the "cool" colors associated with a gray or overcast day. Warm colors are often said to be hues from red through yellow, browns and tans included; Cool colors are often said to be the hues from blue green through blue violet, most grays included

Now you know the jargon too!