Colour Theory PDF

COLOUR THEORY OVERVIEW Colour is a Property of Light Colour Mixing Properties of Colour Colour Schemes Colour Temperature COLOUR IS A PROPERTY OF LIGHT  COLOUR IS A PROPERTY OF LIGHT Light is made of all colours. Objects have no colour of their own; they just reflect...

COLOUR THEORY OVERVIEW Colour is a Property of Light Colour Mixing Properties of Colour Colour Schemes Colour Temperature COLOUR IS A PROPERTY OF LIGHT  COLOUR IS A PROPERTY OF LIGHT Light is made of all colours. Objects have no colour of their own; they just reflect a particular wave-length from the colour spectrum. COLOUR IS A PROPERTY OF LIGHT For example, red objects absorb all of the wavelengths, EXCEPT for red. White reflects all the wave lengths of the colour spectrum. Black absorbs all the wave COLOUR MIXING COLOUR MIXING Additive System Colour is created from projected light. Colours of light mix to create white in an additive system. Examples: computer art, photography, interior design, etc. Subtractive System Colour is created from pigments and organized in a Colour Wheel.  Artists’ Colour COLOUR MIXING Wheel Colour Wheel: an illustrative organization of hues which shows the relationships between the primary, secondary, and tertiary colours. COLOUR MIXING COLOUR WHEEL Primary Colours: colours that cannot be created by mixing colours. Red, blue, and yellow Secondary Colours: colours created by mixing equal amounts of two primary colours. Green, Orange, and violet Tertiary/Intermediate Colours: colours created by mixing primary and secondary colours. Red-violet, red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet PROPERTIES OF COLOUR PROPERTIES OF COLOUR 1. HUE 2. VALUE 3. SATURATION 1. HUE REFERS TO THE NAME OF A COLOUR There are many colours, but NOT MANY HUES. Primary and Secondary colours are hues 1. HUE Pink, scarlet, maroon, and crimson are all different colours (keep in mind these are commercial names); however, they all share the same hue of red. All of the colours to the right are a part of the same colour family, as they share the same hue. 2. VALUE 2. VALUE 2. VALUE 3. SATURATION 3. SATURATION DE-SATURATE A COLOUR BY MIXING IT WITH ITS COMPLEMENTAR Y COLOUR  3. INFLUENCE OF SATURATION CONTEXT  3. SATURATION SATURATION AND HUE 3. SATURATION 3. SATURATION COLOUR SCHEMES COLOUR SCHEMES 1. MONOCHROMATIC 2. COMPLEMENTARY 3. TRIADIC 4. TETRADIC (RECTANGULAR OR SQUARE) 5. ANALOGOUS 6. ANALOGOUS COMPLEMENTARY 7. SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY 1. MONOCHROMATIC COLOUR SCHEME 2. COMPLEMENTARY COLOUR SCHEME 2. COMPLEMENTARY COLOUR SCHEME 3. TRIADIC COLOUR SCHEME 3. TRIADIC COLOUR SCHEME 4. TETRADIC (RECTANGULAR AND SQUARE) COLOUR SCHEME 4. TETRADIC (RECTANGULAR AND SQUARE) COLOUR SCHEME 4. TETRADIC (RECTANGULAR AND SQUARE) COLOUR SCHEME 5. ANALOGOUS COLOUR SCHEME 3 colours next to each other on the colour wheel, usually composed of the following: one dominant colour (usually a primary or secondary colour) a supporting colour (a secondary or tertiary colour) a third colour that is either a mix of the two first colours, or an accent colour that HTTPS://WWW.ELLEDECOR.COM/DESIGN-DECORATE/COLOR/A27793858/ANALOGOUS-COLOR-SCH EME/  BLUE-VIOL ET 5. ANALOGOUS VIOLET COLOUR SCHEME RED-VIOLE T RED “A succulent is an example of analogous colours in nature, with its blue, green, and blue/green leaves,” says designer Kristen Peña of K Interiors. “Another is the setting sun with hints of red, orange and yellow.” HTTPS://WWW.ELLEDECOR.COM/DESIGN-DECORATE/COLOR/A27793858/ANALOGOUS-COLOR-SCH EME/ 6. ANALOGOUS COMPLEMENTARY COLOUR SCHEME 7. SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY COLOUR SCHEME HTTPS://WWW.ELLEDECOR.COM/DESIGN-DECORATE/COLOR/A27793858/ANALOGOUS-COLOR-SCH EME/ 7. SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY COLOUR SCHEME COLOUR TEMPERATURE WARM COLOURS Warm colours advance spatially They represents fire and sunlight Red often symbolizes passion or anger Orange and yellow often COOL COLOUR S Cool colours recede spatially They represent sky, water, plants, night Darker blue and purple often symbolize sadness or loneliness Lighter blues and green evoke  COLOUR AND SPACE SPATIAL PROPERTIES Artists may use warm and cool colours in a piece of art to create depth Intense, warm colours come forward Dull, cool colours go back COLOUR TEMPERATURE IS ALSO USED TO CREATE A STRONG SENSE OF LIGHT COLOUR AND SPACE DEEP SPACE As things recede into the distance, dust in the air makes them fade to a blue-grey. Atmospheric perspective can be achieved by adding blue-grey or duller colours to the background.  COLOUR AND SPACE SHALLOW SPACE As things go back into the distance, dust in the air makes them fade to a blue-grey. Create a flat look by combining similar tones.