Color
November 22, 2013
What is color?
o A ray of light (the source of all color)o Perceived by the eye and interpreted by the
braino Internal sensation expressed when colored
light waves stimulate the eye
Color is Affected By:
o Textureo Artificial lightingo Natural lighting
Pigments
o Substances that can be ground into fine powders
o Used for adding color to dyes and paintso Were derived from animal, mineral and
vegetable sourceso Now produced through chemistry
Blue
• Cool Color• Moves away from you• Suggests respect, responsibility, authority• Needs a relief color• Tranquilizing• Elongate time• Favorite color• Poor color around food
Red
• Hot, exciting, stimulating• Highly emotional• Raises blood pressure, pulse and heart rate• Cellular reaction in heart and lungs• Stimulate appetite• Pay more• Lose track of time• Separate gender responses
Yellow
• Requires the most visual processing• Cheerful, warm, inviting• Stimulate memory• “Value for Money”• Loss of minor muscle control in elderly• Loose your temper quicker• Baby’s cry more
Green
• Peaceful, relaxation, serenity• Easiest for the eye to see• Fastest adjustment time• High socio-economic status• Natural• Cool color closest to warm
Black
• Mysterious• Positive and negative effects• Positive: Dignity, solemnity, formality• Negative: Mourning, sorrow, depression• Message of power, strong authority when
combined with white• Reinforces the color it touches, powerful accent
White
• Delicate, refined• Symbol of purity, chastity, cleanliness• All white feels empty or forced• Soften edges between colors• Encourages precision• Clarity, openness and brightness
Grey
• Helps people work longer• Increases creativity• People are more artistic• Chameleon-takes on other colors• Needs accent colors• Strong prejudice against grey – love/hate
Brown• Homelike, masculine• Warmth, snug, secure• Universal• Solidity• Positive food associations• Less intensive behavioral response• Needs natural associations and less yellow for a
positive response.
Violet
• Stronger versions are called purple• Feelings of uncertainty• Represents royalty, dignity• Women generally accept universally• People get tired of the fastest• Seen as artistic and expressive
Pink
• Sweet• Can be calming• Intensifies when applied• Feminine• Good accent clothing color, not as well used
overall in clothing
Orange
• Declassifying• Informal• Stimulating• Inexpensive• Good around fast food• Shares some qualities of red, slightly
reduced
Fall Trends
• http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2013/02/the-dos-and-donts-of-fall-2013-fashion-trends#slide=1
Color Wheel
o Basic tool for working with coloro Based on the standard color theory known
as Brewster/Prang
Primary Colors
o Red, yellow and blueo Cannot be mixed from other pigments
Secondary Colors
o Orange, green and violeto Made by mixing equal amounts of two
primary colors
Tertiary Colors
o 6 of them: Red-orange, red-violet, blue-green, blue-violet, yellow-green, and yellow-orange
o Also known as intermediate colorso Made by mixing equal parts of a primary
color and a secondary color
Warm Colors
o Reds, yellows, and orangeso Are advancingo Create feelings of warmth, activity and
excitement
Cool Colors
o Blues, purples, greenso Are recedingo Create feelings of coolness, calmness, and
relaxation
Neutral Colors
o Colors not found on the color wheelo White, black, grey, brown, beige, tan and
cream
o Color Wheel Project
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