Lecture 1 colors

Colors

By: Jade V. Villareal

To understand color…

we first need to understand light

Light is everywhere in our world. We need it to see: it carries

information from the world to our eyes and brains.

Light Waves

Waves have high and low points, and the distance between one of those highs and lows and the next is called a wavelength.

Visible spectrum—colors of the rainbow known as ROY G. BIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet)

How are light and color related?

Light travels in the form of waves

White Light or the light from the sun, is made of colors and colors are different types of light recognized by their own wavelengths

Since light travels, what can happen?

Light Transfer

Reflect Absorb Transmit

Do objects “have” color?

Color Models

300 BC: Aristotle

1600s: Aguilonius (SJ)

1660: Newton

Color Mixing: Additive vs Subtractive

A range of colors can be reproduced by one of two complimentary approaches: Additive color Subtractive color

Additive colors: combine light sources, starting with darkness (black) beams of light or dots of light on monitor

screens Additive primary colors are red (R), green

(G), and blue (B) Adding red and green makes yellow (R + G =

Y); Similarly, G + B = C and R + B = M. Adding all three additive primaries in roughly

equal amounts creates gray or white light.

Subtractive colors: objects that transmit or reflect light (ex: film or prints) Typically illuminated by white light Primary colors: cyan (C), Magenta (M), yellow

(Y) Each subtractive primary removes one of the

additive primary colors from the reflected or transmitted image.

Color Models

RGB

CMY (K)

HSV

HSL

RGB

Red, Green, Blue Additive primary colors Used for monitor screens and most image file

formats

CMY(K)

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow Subtractive primary colors Used in inks for printing with black (K) added

because CYM pigments and inks rarely give deep, rich black tones by themselves (they tend to make a muddy brown).

Important to the prepress (printing) industry

HSV

Hue, saturation, value Hue—perceived as color Saturation—100% is a pure color, 0% is a

shade of gray Value—related to brightness

HSL

Hue, Saturation, Lightness Saturation is similar for dark colors but quite

different for light colors.

Color Theories

Color theories create a logical structure for color. Color Wheel Color Harmony Color Context

Color Wheel

Sir Isaac Newton developed the first circular diagram of colors in 1666

Categories of Color based on the Color Wheel

Primary Colors

Secondary Colors

Tertiary Colors

Primary Colors

Red, Yellow and Blue 3 pigment colors that can

not be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors

All other colors are derived from these 3 hues

Secondary Colors

Green, Orange, Purple Colors formed by

mixing the primary colors

Tertiary Colors

Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, yellow-green Colors formed by

mixing a primary and a secondary color

Color Harmony

Harmony—pleasing arrangement of parts Delivers visual interest and a sense of order

Formulas for Color Harmony

1. A color scheme based on analogous colors Analogous colors are any three colors which

are side by side on a 12 part color wheel Example: yellow-green, yellow, yellow-orange

Formulas for Color Harmony

2. A color scheme based on complimentary colors Any two colors which are directly opposite each

other Creates maximum contrast and maximum

stability

Formulas for Color Harmony

3. A color scheme based on nature Provides a perfect departure point for color

harmony

Color Context

How color behaves in relation to other colors and shapes

The relationship of values, saturations and the warmth or coolness of respective hues can cause noticeable differences in our perception of color.

Compare the contrast effects of different color backgrounds for the

same red square.

More about colors…

The Meaning of Color

Warm Colors

Includes red, orange, yellow and variations of those three colors

Used to reflect passion, happiness, enthusiasm and energy

Red (Primary Color)

A very hot color

Associated with fire, violence, warfare

love and passion

Anger but also with importance (red carpet)

Danger (stop light, warning labels)

Red (Primary Color)

In China, prosperity and happiness, good luck

In other eastern cultures, red is worn by brides on wedding days

In South Africa, it is mourning

In design, it is a powerful accent color

Orange (Secondary Color)

Very vibrant and energetic color

Associated with the earth and autumn

Represents change and movement

Health and vitality

In designs, orange commands attention without being as overpowering as red

More friendly, inviting and less in-your-face

Yellow (Primary Color)

Brightest and most energizing among the warm colors

Happiness, sunshine

Also associated with deceit, cowardice

Hope but also with danger

Yellow (Primary Color)

In Egypt bright yellow is happiness and cheerfulness Softer yellow is used as a gender-neutral color

for babies and young children Dark yellow and gold-hues yellow look antique

and used in designs where a sense of permanence is designed

Cool Colors

include green, blue, and purple, are often more subdued than warm colors

colors of night, of water, of nature, and are usually calming, relaxing, and somewhat reserved

Green (Secondary Color)

Very down-to-earth color

Represents new beginning and growth

Also envy or jealousy and a lack of experience

In design, it can have a balancing and harmonizing effect, and is very stable

Appropriate for designs related to wealth, stability, renewal, and nature

Blue (Primary Color)

Associated with sadness, calmness and responsibility

Light blues are refreshing and friendly

Dark blues are strong and reliable

Also associated with peace and has some spiritual connotations in some cultures

Purple (Secondary Color)

Associated with royalty, creativity and imagination

In Thailand, purple is the color for mourning of widows

In design, dark purples give a sense of wealth and luxury

Light purples are associated with spring and romance

Neutrals

Serve as the backdrop in design

Combined with brighter colors

Black

Strongest of the neutral colors

Associated with power, elegance and formality

Also, with evil, death and mystery

In design, black is commonly used for typography and other functional parts, because of it’s neutrality.

White

At the opposite end of the spectrum from black

Also works well with just about any other color

Associated with goodness and health care

In design, it is a neutral backdrop that lets other colors in a design have a larger voice

Conveys cleanliness and simplicity, popular in minimalist designs

Gray

Is at the cool end of the color spectrum

Considered moody and depressing

conservative and formal but also modern

A color of mourning

A sophisticated color, used in corporate designs

References:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/28/color-theory-for-designers-part-1-the-meaning-of-color/

http://www.normankoren.com/light_color.html

http://www.fi.edu/color/

http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-color-theory

And some lecture notes from Fr. Charlie Cenzon of ADMU