Intro to Visual Communication - Colour Theory Colour Spectrum Colour Wheel Primary Colours Secondary Colours Complementary Colours Analogous Colours Split Complementary Colours Tints, Shades and Tones Simultaneous Contrast Successive Contrast Subtractive Colour Printing Primary Colours Additive Colour Colour MattersColour, Contrast & Dimension Web Links Colour Theory Colour Test Colour Test Answers

Colour

colour spectrum The concept of additive colour theory was developed around 1690 by Sir Isaac Newton who discovered that white sunlight passing through a prism split into different wavelengths of light - the colours of the spectrum. Main Menu

Colour Wheel Hue pure colour Main Menu

primary colours Next

primary colours primary colours can be found equally spaced on the twelve part colour wheel Main Menu

secondary colours each secondary colour is a mixture of two primary colours Main Menu

complementary colours Complementary colours can be found opposite each other on the twelve part colour wheel Next

complementary colours complementary colours provide maximum visual contrast of hue Next

complementary colours The sum of any two primary colours makes the complement of the remaining primary Main Menu

analogous colours colours which are close to each other on the colour wheel Next

analogous colours colours harmonise easily and are pleasing to the eye Next

analogous colours they can include tones, tints and shades Main Menu

split complementary colours this complementary variation introduces slight variations of the contrasting colour Next

split complementary colours using adjacent colours to the opposite hue Next

split complementary colours the effect is vibrant and exciting but less harsh than two straight complementary colours Main Menu

Tints Colour + white hue Hue + white Hue + more white Next

shades Colour + black hue Hue + black Hue + more black Next

tones colour + grey hue Next

hue 70% tint 50% tint 30% tint + light grey + dark grey Main Menu

simultaneous contrast of tone the same grey, shown as a central square, gives the illusion of being lighter set against a dark tone and darker when set against a light tone Next

simultaneous contrast the same effect occurs when the same grey is set against colours of different value Next

simultaneous contrast of colour The same grey is shown against a different background colour Next

look at the central spot after a few seconds the same grey has the illusion of appearing different in colour - taking on a complementary hue of its background colour Next

simultaneous contrast of colour The same yellow is shown against a different background colour Next

look at the central spot after a few seconds the same yellow has the illusion of appearing different in colour - it appears more intense set against a contrasting hue Main Menu

successive contrast look at the central spot and try to remain fixed on it until the screen changes Next

successive contrast the complementary colour appears as an after illusion as your eyes adjusted to the loss of colour Next

successive contrast try the illusion again what colour will appear? Next

purple / mauve Main Menu

subtractive colour i.e. using colour pigments primary colours red yellow blue Next

subtractive colour secondary colours two pigment primaries mixed together create a secondary colour purple orange green Next

subtractive colour secondary colours When mixing paint it is often proves difficult to mix an intense colour hue using the traditional primaries. Some colours appear dull. purple orange green Next

subtractive colour secondary colours purple orange green Red and yellow, mixed, create a good orange in this example, but purple and green appear dull Main Menu

printing primary colours yellow magenta cyan Next

to reproduce the widest range of colours printers use four process colours - magenta, yellow and cyan + black yellow magenta cyan + black Next

printing primaries printing primaries mixed together create good secondary colours Next

theoretically, all are mixed to create black but in practice this is impossible to achieve Next

thus black is printed as an additional colour to provide definition and depth Main Menu

additive primary colours Next

additive colour i.e. using light when all light primaries are mixed we see white Main Menu