Color Theory Grade 11/12 Graphics

Monochrome Monochromatic - One color. Add blacks – shades. Add Gray – Tones. Add White – Tints. Hue is a color. Forces you to look at form, depth and dimension.

Naldzgraphics.com

Audience and hierarchy Tricks for emphasis spot color, tonal value, dark and light colors, size or scale, negative space, contrast of shape

Value Value refers to the lightness and darkness of a color. Add light to a color, the value is light, higher value. Add dark to a color, the value is dark, lower value.

Values together give a calm appearance Use values that are close together to give the design a calm appearance. Emptyeasel.com .

FineArtAmerica.com Use values of pure hues as well as those of tints and shades to create movement.

Value Contrast forces viewers to look at texture and composition – Kestan.com Remember that value is the relationship of light to dark

Neutral Colors Neutral colors - contain equal parts of each of the three primary colors - black, white, gray, and sometimes brown are considered "neutral". When neutrals are added to a color only the value changes. If you make the color darker, the hue changes by adding a darker color.

Consider that black and white are thought of as neutrals because they do not change color.

Homedit.com – Analogous Colors colors that contain a common hue and are found next to each other on the color wheel.

Warm Colors Warm Colors Warm colors suggest move toward the viewer and appear closer, e.g., red, orange, and yellow.

Cool Colors Cool Colors Cool colors suggest coolness and seem to recede from a viewer. blue and green are the colors of sky, water, and trees).

Warm and Cool ceenphotography.com

Complementary – allemstudio.blogspot.com Two colors opposite one another on the color wheel, e.g., blue and orange, yellow and purple, red and green. This is with pure hues.

Syndicate Details.com If the hues are not pure, Add black and white to soften – not as harsh.

Primary colors

High Intensity and Low intensity High, pure hues. Low, mixed with a complimentary color to nuetralize.

Triad Triad A color triad is composed of three colors spaced an equal distance apart on the color wheel. The contrast between triad colors is not as strong as that between complements. Oddwiring.com

Secondary Secondary – moonleafstudios.com By mixing two primary colors, you create a secondary color: Red + yellow =orange; yellow + blue = green; and blue + red = purple (violet)

Split complementary Split Complements https://i.pinimg.com/736x/82/42/aa/8242aaa3ef9d45c20464da149152d7ba.jpg The combination of one hue plus the hues on each side of its complement.

Double complementary – dcchallenge.com double complementary colors – have one that is dominant otherwise it won’t look harmonized.

Yes that was gross, don’t do that. Ever.

Compositional Effects of Color The lighter the color at maximum saturation – yellows/oranges – will appear larger than the darker colors at maximum saturation – blue/purple. Also yellows and oranges seem closer. A warm color on a small shape will balance out a large shape with a cool color.

Which appears closer and larger. Which smaller and further away Which appears closer and larger? Which smaller and further away? Dreamstime.com

Saturation, the less black added, the more saturated the color.

What you see first. Make sure there is one Emphasis An area in a work of art that attracts the viewers attention first. The element noticed first is called dominant; the elements noticed later are called subordinate.

Unity Simplify the color scheme or use one tonality throughout.

Psychology of Color- https://www. helpscout

But it depends on your personality and what you relate But it depends on your personality and what you relate. Not a standard case.

Black Balance and proportion Black Lacking hue and brightness; absorbing light without reflecting any of the rays composing it. Produces a feeling of solidarity and formality. Black is a natural classic. The color of authority and power, yet also implies submission. Aloof, evil, death, unknown, fear, mystery, dark, night, sad, murky, sinful, inhuman, fiendish, devilish, infernal, monstrous, horrible, dangerous, false

White A color without hue at one extreme end of the scale of grays, opposite to black. A white surface reflects light of all hues completely and diffusely. White would be an inappropriate color for a wedding in China. It is the color of mourning. If a bride chooses a white wedding gown, her parents would probably not allow her to get married. Innocence, purity, sterility, fairness, snow, frost, milk, ghostly, ultraconservative, blank, empty, transparent, honorable, dependable, auspicious, fortunate, harmless

Be careful with color picking from here on…make wise decisions. Use the rules when designing.