Using Using Understanding the possibilities and complexities of printing in color.
Post on 22-Dec-2015
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Color
Color choice is critical to good design--whether it is the printed page or web page. It may well be the most powerful design tool because it communicates so effectively.
Colors can vary . . .
• Human perception; the way each person sees color can vary
• Colors can vary depending on which color is by its side or how the light hits the page/screen
• Monitors vary• Home printers often do not have the same
color range as professional printers
Colors can vary . . .
• There are millions of printable colors and only 216 web-safe colors;
• Even when using professional printing services, colors can differ because there are different printing processes
• Monitors and printers create color differently
Monitors vs. Printers
• Color selection is complicated by the difference in the way monitors and printers create color– Monitors use a process known as additive color– Printers use subtractive color
Additive vs. Subtractive
Additive• Additive color starts with
black and adds red, green and blue to produce white
Subtractive• Subtractive color starts with
black and removes cyan, magenta, and yellow to produce white.
RGB vs. CMYK
RGB• RGB is additive color• This is the color model used
by monitors and televisions• RGB stands for red, green,
blue• Colors range in value from
0-255
CMYK• CMYK is subtractive color• This is the color model used
by inkjet and laser printers• CMYK stands for cyan,
magenta, yellow, and black• These colors are also known
as process colors• Varying percentages (0-100%)
of each color are used to reproduce color
Process Color vs. Spot ColorPRINTING
• Process color uses four colors of ink: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black to produce all colors
• Typically used when – printing photographs or
multi-color graphics– more than two spot
colors are needed
• Spot colors uses specially mixed ink to create colors
• Typically used when– limited number of
colors are in the publications
– vibrant colors are needed
– special effects (metallic, fluorescent) are required
Professional printing services use process color or spot color
Pantone
• Pantone: a color matching system that uses a series of cards to identify specific colors.– The Pantone Matching System is the most widely
used standardized coloring system used by professionals.
Color Theory
• Color theory is understanding the relationship of color--often based upon the specific location on the color wheel– Color wheel: a visual
representation of colorsarranged according to their chromatic relationship.
http://www.brigantine.atlnet.org/GigapaletteGALLERY/websites/ARTiculationFinal/PDFfiles/ColorGuide.pdf
Communicating with Color
• Colors create feelings and generate emotional responses in readers.– Black--classic, strong, mysterious, shows authority– Blue--peaceful, dependable, quiet, loyalty,
productive– Brown--wholesome, rich, home-like, stable, rustic– Green--soothing, refreshing, healing, natural, fresh– Neutral--classic, quality, natural, timeless, quiet
Communicating with Color
– Orange--sharp, friendly, hot, energizing, inviting– Pink--happy, sweet, romantic, youthful– Purple--sensual, elegant, regal, spiritual,
mysterious– Red--exciting, dynamic, appetite stimulant– White--pure, bright, innocent, clean– Yellow--harmonious, warming, sunny, splendor
Color Schemes
• A color scheme is the choice of colors used in the design of publication
• Colors are combined to create a particular mood, image, etc.
• Example: – Bright colors create a festive mood– Neutral colors create a calming mood
Basic Color Schemes
• Monochromatic—different values of one color• Analogous--colors that are adjacent to each other on
the color wheel • Complementary--colors that are opposite each other
on the color wheel • Split-complementary--a main color and the two
colors on each side of its complementary color on the color wheel
• Triadic--three colors of equal distance apart on the color wheel
http://www.brigantine.atlnet.org/GigapaletteGALLERY/websites/ARTiculationFinal/PDFfiles/ColorGuide.pdf
The intensity of the color is described as its saturation.
Color Tips
• Consider your audience• Use colors appropriate to the topic• Consider color contrast with your background color;
older viewers need higher brightness levels to distinguish colors
• Use color consistently across the project• Verify that the colors you use look okay on different
projection methods• Be sensitive to the fact that colors mean different
things in different countries and regions.
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