COLOR THEORY 101

COLOR THEORY 101

Light: the Visible Spectrum

The Color Wheel

The color wheel is a way to visualize and organize the entire color spectrum of light. The ends of the spectrum are bent around a circle to form a color wheel

Types of Color Theories

Subtractive Color (CMYK)The subtractive (pigment) theory deals with how white light is absorbed and reflected off of colored surfaces.

Additive Color (RBG)The additive (light) theory deals with radiated and filtered light.

Additive Theory• White (sunlight) radiates ALL light• Black radiates no light• Light-emitting media use the process

of capturing and radiating light, therefore they use Additive (Light) Theory

• Primary colors in Additive Theory:• Red ( R )• Green ( G )• Blue ( B )

• All the primaries mixed together to make WHITE

• Additive (Light) Theory is used in computer monitors, television, theater lighting, and video production.

Subtractive Theory• Black absorbs most light• White reflects most light• Colored Pigments absorb light and

reflect only the frequency of the pigment color.

• All colors other than the pigment colors are absorbed, so this is called subtractive color theory.

• Primary colors in Subtractive Theory:– Cyan ( C )– Magenta ( M )– Yellow ( Y )– Black ( K )

• Subtractive or Pigment Theory is used in desktop and commercial printing.

Subtractive Color: RYB Color Model

• Traditional “Painter’s Color Wheel”

• Primary Colors (RYB) are pure pigments that cannot be mixed: o Redo Yellow o Blue

• RYB is used primarily with traditional pigment-based art media (like painting)

The Color Wheel

Colors on the wheel can be described using three elements:

1.Hue: pure color

2.Saturation: brightness or dullness

3.Value: lightness or darkness

Color Theory 101

• The technical name for color• Describes the position of a color on a classic color wheel• Used to name the color (Yellow, Orange, Red, etc.)

Hue

Color Theory 101

• Saturation refers to how vivid and intense a color is

Saturation

Tone = Shade + Tint

Color Theory 101

• Painter’s Color Wheel

Secondary ColorsPrimary Colors

Color Theory 101

Warm / Cool Colors

• Color Temperature

Color Schemes: Warm

• Warm Colors: Right half of the color wheel contains colors associated with fire, heat

Artist: Jan VermeerTitle: Girl Asleep at a Table Year: 1657

Paul CezanneThe Basket of Apples, 1894

Color Schemes: Warm

Henri MatisseThe Dessert, Harmony in Red, 1908

Color Schemes: Warm

Color Schemes: Cool

Cool: Left half of the wheel has cooler colors associated with ice, water

Artist: Pablo PicassoTitle: Femme Allongée Lisant Year: 1939

Pablo PicassoThe Old Guitarist, 1903

Monochromatic uses different values of the same hue, including tints and shades

Color Theory 101

Color Schemes: Monochromatic

Color Schemes: Monochromatic

• Monochromatic uses different values of the same hue, including tints and shades

Artist: Georges BraqueTitle: Le PortugaisYear: 1911

Color Schemes: Monochromatic

Pablo Picasso, Guernica, 1937

Color Schemes: Monochromatic

• Monochromatic color palettes in interior design

Color Schemes: Monochromatic

Color Theory 101

• Color Schemes: Analagous

• Analogous: A selection of colors that are adjacent on the color wheel

Color Schemes: Analogous

• Analogous: A selection of colors that are adjacent on the color wheel

Artist: Vincent van GoghTitle: The IrisYear: 1889

Color Schemes: Analogous

Color Schemes: Analogous

Color Schemes: Analogous

Color Schemes: Analogous

Color Theory 101

• Color Schemes: Complementary

• Complementary: Colors that are opposite on the wheel. High Contrast

Color Schemes: Complementary

• Complementary: Colors that are opposite on the wheel. High Contrast

Vincent Van GoghThe Café Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles, at Night

1888

Complementary Colors in Art

Georges Seurat, Le Chahut, 1889-90

Eugène Delacroix, Women of Algiers, 1834

Complementary Colors in Art

Complementary Colors in Graphic Design

Complementary Colors in Fashion

Color Theory 101

Triadic

• Color Schemes: Triadic

Triadic Color Schemes in Design

Triadic Color Schemes in Design

Triadic Color Schemes in Art

Andy Warhol Piet Mondrian

HINT: Choosing ONE common color can help tie random color schemes together