Color

Color Theory and Color Schemes

Color: The result of light reflecting off of a surface.

Color Theory:

A body of practical

guidance to color mixing and

the visual impacts of

specific color combinations.

(wikipedia.org)

According to color theory, certain color combinations

work better than others. Using color schemes

can help with the over all success of a composition.

Color Schemes:

An arrangement or pattern of

colors or colored objects

conceived of as forming an

integrated whole.

(dictionary.com)

Color Schemes: • Primary: Red, Blue, Yellow• Secondary: Orange, Purple, Green• Tertiary/Intermediate colors: The colors in

between a primary and secondary color.• Complimentary: Colors across from each other

on the color wheel; green/red, orange/blue, and purple/yellow

• Analogous: Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel; red, orange, yellow.

• Monochromatic: One color, plus value (black and white)

Primary: Red, Blue, Yellow

Secondary: Orange, Green, Purple

Complimentary Colors: Colors across from each other on the color wheel.

Red and Green

Orange and Blue

Yellow and Violet

Orange and Blue…

Red and Green.

Spilt-Complimentary Colors: Triad of colors consisting of a compliment,

plus the two tertiary/intermediate colors on each side of it’s compliment.

An example of split-complimentary…

Analogous Colors: Colors next to each other on the color wheel.

Red, orange, and yellow.

Green, Blue, Purple.

Examples of analogous compositions…

Monochromatic:

Consisting of one color, plus its tints and shades (color + black and white = monochromatic)

Examples of monochromatic compositions…

Okay, so you know about color, but there are a few other things you need

to know.

• Shape: Organic and Geometric

• Balance: Asymmetrical

• Space: Positive and Negative

Shape:

An area enclosed by line.

There are two types of shape:

Organic Geometric

Organic Shape:

Characteristic of, pertaining to, or derived from living organisms (dictionary.com)

Organic shapes have curvy, natural lines.

Geometric Shape:

Arrangement of objects in simple rectilinear or curvilinear form.

(dictionary.com)

Geometric shapes are characterized by straight, rigid lines.

Balance:

Equal distribution of weight (dictionary.com)

There are three types of balance:

• Symmetrical

• Asymmetrical

• Radial

Asymmetrical Balance:

Not identical on both sides of a central line; lacking symmetry

Both sides of the composition are not the same, but the shapes visually

balance each other.

Positive and Negative Space:

Positive Space: The object; the are the object occupies.

Negative Space: The area around the object.

When creating a composition, the negative space and positive space

should be about equal.

Try to avoid

having too much negative space.

Conclusion: Terms you should know:

• Color• Color theory/schemes• Primary• Secondary• Complimentary• Split-complimentary• Analogous• Monochromatic

• Shape• Organic• Geometric• Balance• Asymmetrical

Balance• Positive Space• Negative Space