Colour Theory

Graphic Communication Why it is important to consider the colours which we use in our graphics? Because the meaning of colour impacts on all visual communications and it’s important to understand how colour is used. The right colour choice can convey the right message and evoke the desired response to any form of visual communication. Colour creates an emotional reaction. In your work you will need to be able to justify your use of colour for various applications.

What is a colour wheel? A colour wheel is a visual tool that shows the relationship between primary, secondary, and tertiary colours. The Colour Wheel

Primary Colours Red Yellow Blue

Secondary Colours These are made by mixing two primary colours Green Orange Violet

Made up of a combination of primary and secondary colours. Yellow-Orange Red-Orange Red-violet Violet-blue Tertiary Colours primary secondary tertiary primary secondary

Colours and Moods Colours invoke feelings and meanings. People have a favourite colour; decorate rooms to create a mood; choose the colour of clothes depending on occasion, season or what suits them. Particular colours provoke different feelings. Choose colours wisely for your graphics, and think about using appropriate combinations from the colour wheel.

Red Warm Vibrant Dangerous Exciting Active Festive Passion

Yellow Warm Sunny Happy Glowing Bright

Cool Elegant Sophisticated Formal Classy Blue

Green Calm Restful Natural Soothing Fresh

Violet Rich Regal Pompous Elegant

Orange Warm Happy Cheerful Energy Refreshing

Greys Natural Restful Calm Browns Natural Earthly Safe Reliable Elegant Dignified Reliable Good Neutral Colours

White Light Goodness Innocence Purity Cleanliness Perfection Simplicity Faith

Black Power Elegance Death Evil Mystery Unknown Authority Prestige

Black & White Dramatic Elegant Opposing Contrasting Sophisticated

Advancing and Receding Colours

You are about to see two adverts which are identical apart from the background colour. What is the effect of using the two different colour schemes?

EAU DE TOILETTE

Advancing/Warm Colours Advancing colours appear to come towards you when you look at them. These colours are used to give a feeling of warmth to a drawing, or to make a room feel cosy or smaller. They can also be used to show hot things as part of a symbol, like a red dot on a hot water tap. Examples of advancing colours are: yellow orange red

Receding/Cold Colours Receding colours give an appearance of depth or distance. These colours are used to give a feeling of coldness to a drawing, to make a room feel larger or to have a fresh appearance. They can also be used to show cold things as part of a symbol, like a blue dot on a cold water tap. Examples of receding colours are: blue green violet

Contrasting Harmonising Contrast and Harmony

Harmonising Colours Harmonising colours are beside each other on the colour wheel. The following colours are harmonious: Yellow & Orange Red & Violet Blue & Green

Contrasting Colours Contrasting colours are on opposite sides of the colour wheel. The following colours are contrasting: Yellow & Violet Red & Green Blue & Orange

Tint & Shade Tints are created by adding white to a colour. Shades are created by adding black to a colour. (dark) SHADE TINT (light)

Tone Tones are weak and strong examples of the same colour. The tonality of a colour can be controlled by adding black, white, grey or another colour. This can be shown in the tonal scale. Graded Tone Flat Tone

Key Terms primary, secondary and tertiary colours warm and cool colours advancing and receding colours creating contrast, harmony and unity through the use of colour moods created by the main colour groups tints and shades