Chap45

DIGITAL MEDIA FUNDAMENTALS

Colour Behavior in Relation to Different Shapes Contrast and Dominance.


In This Chapter, you’ll learn on: Describe how each colour behaves in relation to: • Other colours • Different shapes • Colour proportions and intensity • Contrast and dominance. Apply colours in a composition to create different

moods


Describe how each colour behaves in relation to:

Other Colours Colour the rectangles according to the colour

stated below the rectangles. Colour the all the circles red.

Colour Behavior in Relation to Different Shapes Contrast and Dominance

After colouring, take a good look at the four boxes above. Notice that the red circle against the black background appears to be brighter as compared to the red circle in the white background.

Red circle against the orange background appear

to be dull as the contrast of the colours is not obvious.

On the other hand, red circle on the blue

background appear to be brighter and livelier. Notice that the red circle appears larger on black than on the other background colours.


Have a good look at the 2 vases above. The white vase seems to be bigger than the black one. In actual fact, both the vases are of the same size. Colour behaves differently when placed on a different background.


Different shapes How colours behave in relation to different shapes

is a profound area in colour theory. Bright colours tend to make a shape appear bigger as compared to darker colours. For example, a circle colored light yellow will appear larger than an equal size circle which is colored dark blue.


Colour Proportions and Intensity When we add equal amount of yellow to blue, we

get green. If we add double the amount of yellow to blue, we will get yellow-green. If we add more yellow to yellow-green, we will get yellow-yellow-green (i.e. 90% yellow, 10% blue). However if we add more blue than yellow, we will get blue-green.


Colour Proportions and Intensity Both blue-green and yellow-green falls in the

“green” family, but they have different properties. Blue-green is a cool colour while yellow-green is a warm colour. Blue-green is often used to portray worries, doubts, uncertainty, and passive while yellow-green is often seen as a bright, cheerful, encouraging colour. These colours represent different characteristics just by varying the amount of yellow. Different proportion and intensity of colours will give the output colour a different characteristic and property.


Colour Proportions and Intensity Similarly for tone and shades, adding different

amount of white and black will have a significant effect on the characteristics of colour. Compare a saturated yellow with a shaded yellow. Shaded yellow appears to be less appealing to you as it is duller. Compare a girl who is wearing tinted red (pink) dress to her twin sister who is wearing shaded red (maroon) dress. The girl in pink will look more cheerful, bubbly and younger than the other.


Contrast and DominanceWhen everything is equal in value and intensity, nothing stands out. Everything is fighting for our attention. When nothing stands out, our eyes don't know where to look at, because each area of the painting demands equal attention.


Contrast and DominanceFig 6a is made of several light grey blocks. All the blocks share a similar value. Every block demands equal attention. Hence our eyes are unable to focus on a particular spot in Fig 6a.

Similarly for Fig 6b, all the rectangular block are made up of similar values. Despite they are made up of a lower value, they are still unable to catch the viewer’s attention to a particular spot.

Fig 6b

When everything is equal in value and intensity, nothing stands out. Everything is fighting for our attention. When nothing stands out, our eyes don't know where to look at, because each area of the painting demands equal attention.


Contrast and DominanceUnlike Fig 6a ad Fig 6b, Fig 6c (left) has a majority of low value blocks with a smaller area of high value blocks. It creates a contrasting effect and it captures the attention of the viewers to look at the lighter block first, followed by the rest. The lighter area is more dominating in Fig 6c.

Varying the contrast, values and

saturation can help in capturing the viewer’s attention to a particular spot in an area. This approach is often found in painting and advertisement posters where they want the audience to focus on the product or subject they are selling. We called the area that stands out from the rest as a focal point.

Similarly for Fig 6d, our eyes tend to focus on the darker area first. The darker area becomes the focal point while the rest acts as a background.


Apply colours in a composition to create different moods

Colours can affect our moods, our thinking, and even our appetite. Colour can have a positive or negative impact on us.

Take for instance, when a person see red colour. There may be a few things that will come in mind. Red can be associated with danger, fire, blood, anger. On the other hand red can be seen as cheerful, active, warm, and approachable. It sometimes depends on the application of the colour.

We have to be careful using colours as it may convey a different message to different people. Hence there are some pointers we should consider before using a colour.

For example: Why are we using the colour? When are we using the colour? What do we want the viewer to see or feel?


Brief the meaning and properties of each colour Personal attraction to a certain colour may signal areas where you

are imbalanced. Some psychiatrists use colours to understand and treat the patients. They study and understand how certain colours affect us favourably while others bring about negative feelings.

Colour Means Too much of

RED

energy, power, strong, sweet Increases anger, stress

ORANGE

Lively, close, dry, warm Increases anger

YELLOW

sour, cheering, clear, free, very light Causes exhaustion, too much

mental activity

GREEN

Balance, jealous, relax, balanced, passive

Creates negative energy

BLUE

peaceful, harmony, loyal, sincere, far, young

Depressing and sorrowful

PURPLE

Gloomy, unhappy Negative thoughts

WHITE

purity, innocent empty

BLACK

silence, elegant, powerful, dark Dull, boring

Chap45

Technology

Transcript of Chap45