Color Theory. Why Study Color Theory? an understanding of color will help when incorporating it into your own designs. Do not base decisions on "it looks.

Color TheoryColor Theory

Why Study Color Theory?Why Study Color Theory?

an understanding of color will help when incorporating it into your own designs.

Do not base decisions on "it looks right." Application - painting - The Fauves Whereas other artists had used color as Whereas other artists had used color as

the description of an object, the Fauves let the description of an object, the Fauves let color become the subject of their painting. color become the subject of their painting. A painting in the "Fauvist Manner" was one A painting in the "Fauvist Manner" was one that related color shapes; rather than that related color shapes; rather than unifying a design with line, compositions unifying a design with line, compositions sought an expressiveness within the sought an expressiveness within the relationships of the whole. relationships of the whole.

CommunicationCommunication

What is red? Candy apple red, blood red, What is red? Candy apple red, blood red, catsup red, rose red... to try and catsup red, rose red... to try and communicate a specific hue is difficult communicate a specific hue is difficult without some sort of coding system. without some sort of coding system.

Early in the 1900's, Albert Munsell, a Early in the 1900's, Albert Munsell, a professor at an art school in Boston professor at an art school in Boston developed a color system developed a color system

Munsell's system has been reworked for Munsell's system has been reworked for today's use with the Pantone color system, today's use with the Pantone color system, TRUEMATCH, CIE systems and others. TRUEMATCH, CIE systems and others.

Color SystemsColor Systems

today's use with the Pantone color system, today's use with the Pantone color system, TRUEMATCH, CIE systems and others. TRUEMATCH, CIE systems and others.

HTML RedHTML Red Pantone® RedPantone® Red Pantone® Warm RedPantone® Warm Red TRUEMATCH® 6-aTRUEMATCH® 6-a

Chroma, Saturation, Intensity.Chroma, Saturation, Intensity.

These terms are all interrelated and overlap in definition.

Chroma: How a hue relates to gray

Saturation: The degree of purity of a hue.

Intensity: The brightness or dullness of a hue. One may lower the intensity by adding white or black.

Shade and TintShade and Tint

Shade: A hue produced by the addition of black.

Tint: A hue produced by the addition of white

Color MethodsColor Methods

When painting, an artist has a variety When painting, an artist has a variety of paints to choose from, and mixed of paints to choose from, and mixed colors are achieved through the colors are achieved through the subtractive color method. When a subtractive color method. When a designer is utilizing the computer to designer is utilizing the computer to generate digital media, colors are generate digital media, colors are achieved with the additive color achieved with the additive color method. method.

Subtractive ColorSubtractive Color

Subtractive Color. When we mix colors using Subtractive Color. When we mix colors using paint, or through the printing process, we are paint, or through the printing process, we are using the subtractive color method. Subtractive using the subtractive color method. Subtractive color mixing means that one begins with white color mixing means that one begins with white and ends with black; as one adds color, the and ends with black; as one adds color, the result gets darker and tends to black. result gets darker and tends to black.

The CMYK color system The CMYK color system is the color system used is the color system used for printing.for printing.

Those colors used in Those colors used in painting—an example painting—an example of the subtractive of the subtractive color method.color method.

Additive ColorAdditive Color

Additive Color. If we are working on Additive Color. If we are working on a computer, the colors we see on the a computer, the colors we see on the screen are created with light using screen are created with light using the additive color method. Additive the additive color method. Additive color mixing begins with black and color mixing begins with black and ends with white; as more color is ends with white; as more color is added, the result is lighter and tends added, the result is lighter and tends to white.to white.

Working with SystemsWorking with Systems

The Visible spectrum consists of The Visible spectrum consists of billions of colors, a monitor can billions of colors, a monitor can display millions, a high quality display millions, a high quality printer is only capable of printer is only capable of producing thousands, and older producing thousands, and older computer systems may be computer systems may be limited to 216 cross-platform limited to 216 cross-platform colors. colors.

SpectrumSpectrum

RGBRGB

The RGB colors are light The RGB colors are light primaries and colors are created primaries and colors are created with light. with light.

Percentages of red, green, & Percentages of red, green, & blue light are used to generate blue light are used to generate color on a color on a computer computer screen.screen.

CMYKCMYK

Reproducing color can be problematic with Reproducing color can be problematic with regard to printed, digital media, because regard to printed, digital media, because what we see is not what is possible to get. what we see is not what is possible to get. Although a monitor may be able to display Although a monitor may be able to display 'true color' (16,000,000 colors), millions of 'true color' (16,000,000 colors), millions of these colors are outside of the spectrum these colors are outside of the spectrum available to printers. Since digital designs available to printers. Since digital designs are generated using the RGB color system, are generated using the RGB color system, colors used in those designs must be part of colors used in those designs must be part of the CMYK spectrum or they will not be the CMYK spectrum or they will not be reproduced with proper color rendering. reproduced with proper color rendering. Working within the CMYK color system, or Working within the CMYK color system, or choosing colors from Pantone© palettes choosing colors from Pantone© palettes insures proper color rendering.insures proper color rendering.

Photoshop RGB and CMYK Photoshop RGB and CMYK Color SlidersColor Sliders

Color RelationshipsColor Relationships

There should be thought and reason There should be thought and reason behind every design decision from behind every design decision from color to layout to choice of type and color to layout to choice of type and art.art.

Using a color wheel and a template, Using a color wheel and a template, the relationships between colors are the relationships between colors are easy to identify.easy to identify.

Choose a color relationship based Choose a color relationship based on what you are trying to convey, on what you are trying to convey, whether it is feeling or information.whether it is feeling or information.

RelationshipsRelationships

MonochromaticMonochromatic Colors that are shade or Colors that are shade or tint variations of the tint variations of the same hue.same hue.

ComplementaryComplementary Those colors across from Those colors across from each other on a color each other on a color wheel.wheel.

Monochromatic Color SchemeMonochromatic Color Scheme

More RelationshipsMore Relationships

Split-ComplementarySplit-Complementary One hue plus two others One hue plus two others equally spaced from its equally spaced from its complement.complement.

Double-Complementary Double-Complementary Two complementary color Two complementary color sets; the distance between sets; the distance between selected complementary selected complementary pairs will effect the overall pairs will effect the overall contrast of the final contrast of the final composition.composition.

Complementary Color Complementary Color SchemeScheme

Complementary Color Complementary Color SchemeScheme

More RelationshipsMore Relationships

AnalogousAnalogous Those colors located adjacent to Those colors located adjacent to each other on a color wheel.each other on a color wheel.

Triad Three hues equally positioned on a color wheel.

ContrastContrast

The contrast is formed by the juxtaposition of light and dark values and their relative saturation.

The contrast is formed by the juxtaposition of light and dark values. This could be a complementary composition.

The contrast is formed by size in relation to the visual weight of a color.

Analogous Color Schemes Analogous Color Schemes WarmWarm

Analogous Color Schemes Analogous Color Schemes CoolCool

Pantone Matching SystemPantone Matching System

The accuracy of color is critical in design. Because what you see The accuracy of color is critical in design. Because what you see on your monitor is never what will appear on a printed sheet, on your monitor is never what will appear on a printed sheet, designers need a standardized color key.designers need a standardized color key.

A logo can be deep blue on the client's letterhead, blue-greenish A logo can be deep blue on the client's letterhead, blue-greenish on his business card, and light blue on his very expensive on his business card, and light blue on his very expensive envelopes.envelopes.

A way to prevent this is by using a standardized color matching A way to prevent this is by using a standardized color matching system, such as the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM. Though system, such as the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM. Though PANTONE is not the only color standardization system, it is the PANTONE is not the only color standardization system, it is the most widely used and the one that most printers understand. most widely used and the one that most printers understand. Aside from being able to have consistency, PANTONE Colors Aside from being able to have consistency, PANTONE Colors allow you to use colors that cannot be mixed in CMYK.allow you to use colors that cannot be mixed in CMYK.

The Pantone Color Matching System expands upon existing The Pantone Color Matching System expands upon existing color reproduction systems such as the CMYK process. The color reproduction systems such as the CMYK process. The Pantone system is based on a specific mix of pigments to create Pantone system is based on a specific mix of pigments to create new colors—referred to as spot colorsnew colors—referred to as spot colors

Pantone Matching SystemPantone Matching System

For More Color Information….For More Color Information….

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