1. National 4/5 Graphic Communication
Colour Theory

2. Graphic Communication
The use of colour plays a massive role in Graphic Communication.
It can be used to convey feelings, to create visual impact and to suggest the use for products.
It can also be used in signs and symbols to convey specific types of information.

3. Graphic Communication
You will need to know about the colour wheel.
What are primary colours?
What are secondary colours?
What are tertiary colours?
What colours are contrasting?
What colours are harmonious?
What colours are advancing?
What colours are rededing?
What colours are warm or cold?
What is meant by the terms: tone; tints; and shades?

4. The Colour Wheel

5. Primary Colours
The 3 primary colours are
Yellow
Red
Blue

6. Secondary Colours
The 3 secondary colours are
Orange
Green
Violet

7. Tertiary Colours
Tertiary colours are obtained when you mix a primary colour with a secondary colour.
The tertiary colours are circled on the colour wheel opposite.

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

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

10. Advancing Colours
Advancing colours appear to come towards you when you look at them.
Advancing colours are warm colours:
red
orange
yellow
They are all on one half of the colour wheel.

11. Warm Colours
These colours are used to give a feeling of warmth to a drawing.
They can also be used to show hot things as part of a symbol, like a red dot on a hot water tap.
red
yellow
orange

12. Receding Colours
Receding colours appear to move into the background when you look at them.
Advancing colours are cold colours:
blue
green
violet
They are all on one half of the colour wheel.

13. Cold Colours
These colours are used to give a feeling of coldness to a drawing.
They can also be used to show cold things as part of a symbol, like a blue dot on a cold water tap.
blue
green
violet

14. Tone The tone of a colour is how strong or weak a colour is.
By applying more coats of a colour its tone can be made stronger.
This can be shown in the tonal bar.

15. Tint & Shade
Tints and shades are created by adding white or black to a colour.
White is added to a colour to give it a tint. Pale colours tend to be soft.
Black is added to a colour to give it a shade. Dark colours look as though they are heavy.

16. Feelings & Instruction
Colours are often used to convey feeling or instruction.
This is helpful as it can be used as signs in any language.
The following slides tell us what feelings colours give.

17. Red
Warm
Vibrant
Exciting
Active
Festive
Passion

18. Yellow
Warm
Sunny
Happy
Glowing
Easily seen

19. Blue
Cool
Elegant
Sophisticated
Formal
Classy

20. Green
Cool
restful
natural calm
soothing
fresh

21. Violet
Cool
Peaceful
Solitary

22. Orange
Warm
Happy
Cheerful
Energy
Refreshing

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

24. Black & White
Dramatic
elegant
opposing
contrasting
sophisticated