This document discusses color theory and how color relates to light. It explains that light is made up of different wavelengths that are perceived by the human eye as different colors. The primary colors are red, green and blue for light (additive color) and cyan, magenta and yellow for objects (subtractive color). Color wheels are used to categorize colors as primary, secondary or tertiary. Color schemes use concepts like analogous colors, complementary colors or nature-inspired palettes. The meaning and cultural associations of different colors like warm, cool, neutral colors are also examined.

2. To understand color…
we first need to
understand light

3. Light is everywhere in our world. We need
it to see: it carries information from
the world to our eyes and brains.

4. Light Waves

5.  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)

6. 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

8. Since light travels, what can happen?

9. Light Transfer
Reflect
Absorb
Transmit

10. Do objects “have” color?

11. Color Models
 300 BC: Aristotle
 1600s: Aguilonius (SJ)
 1660: Newton

12. Color Mixing: Additive vs Subtractive
 A range of colors can be reproduced by one of two
complimentary approaches:
 Additive color
 Subtractive color

13.  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.

15.  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.

17. Color Models
 RGB
 CMY (K)
 HSV
 HSL

18. RGB
 Red, Green, Blue
 Additive primary colors
 Used for monitor screens and most image file formats

19. 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

20. HSV
 Hue, saturation, value
 Hue—perceived as color
 Saturation—100% is a pure color, 0% is a shade of
gray
 Value—related to brightness

21. HSL
 Hue, Saturation, Lightness
 Saturation is similar for dark colors but quite different
for light colors.

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

24. Color Wheel
 Sir Isaac Newton developed the first circular
diagram of colors in 1666

25. Categories of Color based on the
Color Wheel
 Primary Colors
 Secondary Colors
 Tertiary Colors

26. 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

27. Secondary Colors
 Green, Orange, Purple
 Colors formed by mixing
the primary colors

28. Tertiary Colors
 Yellow-orange, redorange, redpurple, bluepurple, bluegreen, yellow-green
 Colors formed by
mixing a primary and a
secondary color

29. Color Harmony
 Harmony—pleasing arrangement of parts
 Delivers visual interest and a sense of order

30. 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

31. 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

32. Formulas for Color Harmony
3. A color scheme based on nature
 Provides a perfect departure point for color harmony

33. 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.

34. Compare the contrast effects of different
color backgrounds for the same red
square.

35. More about colors…

36. The Meaning of Color

37. Warm Colors
 Includes red, orange, yellow and variations of
those three colors
 Used to reflect passion, happiness, enthusiasm and
energy

38. 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)

39. 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

40. 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

41. Yellow (Primary Color)
 Brightest and most energizing among the warm
colors
 Happiness, sunshine
 Also associated with deceit, cowardice
 Hope but also with danger

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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

47. Neutrals
 Serve as the backdrop in design
 Combined with brighter colors

48. 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.

49. 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

50. 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

51. References:
 http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/28/colortheory-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/basiccolor-theory
 And some lecture notes from Fr. Charlie Cenzon of
ADMU