Color Theory “color is a visual sensation perceived by the eye and the mind due to the activity and vibration of light”

Absorption “the process of taking in, as in a colored object which absorbs certain rays of light and reflects other rays giving the object its recognizable color”

Reflection “the return of light waves from surfaces; the bending or folding back of a part upon itself”

Chromatic Colors “a color having hue; a color of the visible spectrum (ROYGBIV) the colors of the spectrum, plus those produced by their mixtures

Achromatic Colors “a color not found in the visible spectrum; a neutral color such as white, black, gray, and silver, and gold (for decorative purposes)” the neutral colors

Dimensions of Color Hue Value Intensity

Hue “the property of a color by which it is distinguished from other colors” used only when speaking of the unadulterated chromatic color refers to a pure color

Primary Hues Red Yellow Blue

Warm Hues “a color which appears in the spectral band, characterized by long wave- lengths; a color which makes an object appear closer and larger; a color which reflects warmth”

Cool Hues “blue, green, purple (AKA violet) or any intermediate pigmentary hue in which they predominate; a receding hue which creates the illusion of distance from the observer; a color of short wave-lengths”

Color Wheel’s Division into Warm & Cool Hues Complements: “directly opposite hues on the color wheel; any two pigmentary hues which, by their mixture in equal quantities, produce gray”

Value “the lightness or darkness of a hue” every hue is capable of being darkened to a point above black every hue is capable of being lightened to a point below white

Intensity (chroma) “the brightness or dullness of a hue” a pure color is at full intensity hues at full intensity are brilliant low intensities are soft and pleasant

Classes of Hues Primary Secondary Intermediate Tertiary

Primary Hues “three pigmentary hues; red, yellow, and blue which can be combined to make all other hues” Cannot be produced by mixtures of other hues. Equilateral triangle is the symbol used to locate the position of the primary hues on the color wheel.

Secondary Hues “equal mixture of 2 primary pigmentary hues (orange, green, and purple)” Lie midway between the 2 primary hues which produce it. An inverted equilateral triangle depicts the relationship of the primary and secondary hues.

Intermediate Hues “a pigmentary hue produced by mixing in equal quantities, a primary hue with its adjacent secondary hue on the color wheel” Are located midway between the primary and secondary hues which produce them. There are 6 intermediate hues.

Tertiary Hues “the hue which results from the mixture of 2 secondary pigmentary hues or an unbalanced proportion of complements with the warm or cool hue predominating” 2 families of colors: browns and slates

Monochromatic Hues “variations of one hue; tints, tones and shades of one hue”

Tint “ a hue into which various quantities of white are mixed” As the quantity of white is increased, the hue is weakened. Changes the value of a hue. –HUE + WHITE = TINT

Tone “a hue mixed with either a small quantity of gray or the complement of the hue, resulting in dulling the hue” Changes the intensity of the hue. –HUE + GRAY (COMPLEMENT) = TONE

Shade “ a hue into which various quantities of black are mixed; the darkened hue” Changes the value of the hue. –HUE + BLACK = SHADE

Once white, black or gray (complement) is added to a hue, it is no longer a hue, it is a tint, a tone, or a shade.

Analogous Hues “two or more hues which have the same hue in common” Are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. Contain the same hue.

Color Wheel “a circle in which the primary, secondary, and intermediate hues are arranged in orderly intervals”

Complements “directly opposite hues on the color wheel” Always involve a warm hue and a cool hue. When mixed in equal parts they result in gray. Are the greatest contrast in hues.

Juxtaposition “(simultaneous contrast) any two hues seen together which modify each other in the direction of their complements”

After-image “psychological; a visual impression remaining after the stimulus has been removed”