Color Theory

Color characteristics

-color is all about context; is a property of light. As light changes, color will change.

Properties of color

• hue: refers to the name of a color that resides on the traditional color wheel
• value: refers to the lightness/darkness of the hue
• saturation/intensity: the saturation of hue perceived in a color

Hue

-A property of color defined by distinctions within the visual spectrum or color wheel. “Red,” “blue,” “yellow,” and “green” are examples of hue names

Intensity

-The saturation of hue perceived in a color

Complementary colors

-A color scheme incorporating opposite hues on the color wheel. Complementary colors accentuate each other in juxtaposition and neutralize each other in mixture

Palettes

-a range of colors

Visual color mixing

• optical mixing: when the artist places two pure colors side by side in small areas so the viewer's eye will do the mixing
• pointillism: a system of color mixing based in a juxtaposition of small bits of pure color

Cool and warm colors

• cool: a color closer to blue on the color wheel
• warm: a color closer to the yellow-to-red side of the color wheel

Color as emphasis

-areas of emphasis in a work of art create visual interest; can be used to create a focal point

Color dominance

-a color that keeps it's hue despite its surroundings

Achieving balance with color

-even when a composition isn't perfectly symmetrical, designers often want to regain balance by adding and equally weighted aspect

Spatial properties of color

-value and color contrasts are more pronounced in the foreground and more subtle in the distance

Monochromatic

-A color scheme using only one hue with varying degrees of value or intensity

Analogous

-A color scheme that combines several hues located next to each other on the color wheel

Triadic

-A color scheme involving three equally spaced colors on the color wheel

Color discords

-A perception of dissonance in a color relationship

Vibrating colors

-Colors that create a flickering effect at their border. This effect usually depends on an equal value relationship and strong hue contrast

Local color

-The identifying color perceived in ordinary daylight

Arbitrary color

-a color chosen to express the artist's feelings

Emotional color

-A subjective approach to color use to elicit an emotional response in the viewer.

Color symbolism

-Employing color to signify human character traits or concepts