Lecture notes on Color Theory and composition with application

1. Color Theory and
Composition

2. Color
• Is perception
• Our eyes see something and data sent from our eyes to
our brains tells us its a certain color.
• O object reflect light in different combinations of
wavelengths, and out brain pick up on those wavelength
combinations and translate them into the phenomenon
we call color.

3. RGB Color Mixing Model
• Mixing light= the additive color
mixing model
• Allows you to create colors
bemiring red, green and blue light
of various intensities
• More light you add the brighter the
color mix becomes.
• If you miss all three colours of light,
you get pure white light
• TVs, screens and projectors use
green and blue
• Facebook, twitter, website

4. CMYK: the subtractive color
mixing model
• Any color you see on a
physical surface )paper,
signage, packaging, etc.)
• Learned in kindergarten when
mixing finger paints
• “subtractive” because you
subtract the light from paper
by adding more color
• Printing uses subtractive color
mixing method

5. Digitally created Yumbry Wheel Hand-painted Yumbry Wheel

6. • Designed by Sir Isaac newton
in 1666
• Artists use it to develop color
harmonies, mixing and
palettes
• Three primary colours
• Secondary colors
• Tertiary colors

7. Energy, brightness, action Calm, peace, and serenity

10. Dimensions of Color
• Hue- where it appears
around the edge of the
color wheel
• Chroma- how pure or
grayed-down it appears
• Value- lightness
• Albert Munsell’s contributions to the understanding and practical use of color was his
numerical classification system for all possible colours according to 3 dimensions
• ex. Beige = YR 7/2 ; Maroon = R 3/6
• YR means “yellow red”

11. RED NEON
• Effect on eye couldn’t be mixed with pigments
• Neon color was the lightest value
• Only paint- white oil paint (no hue/character) + pure red /surround of
red orange at misvalue

12. LOCAL COLOR
• Color of the surface of an object as it appears close to white light
• Matching paint swatch= local color
• Color to mix to paint the object= different

14. Grays and Neutrals
• Provide setting for bright coloured accents
• Gives space and scope to a composition
• Creates a quiet reflective mood
• Gray comes in many subtle variations
• Mix from complementary pairs

15. GRADIATION
Light to dark
Dull to saturated one

16. TINTS
• Add white color raises it
to a “tint” or a pastel
color
• Hazy day
• Paler ranges of color
• Convey feeling of light
• 2 ways:
• Add white
• Apply thin transparent
layer over white

18. Logo design by Wiell for Pepper Powered

23. branding, marketing and sales

24. Webpage design by mute_work for Mahony’s Lawyers

25. Webpage design by Mila Jones Cann

26. Webpage design by MercClass by Glapion Law Firm

27. Color Context
• How color behaves in relation to other colours and shapes is a
complex area of color theory
• Ex. Red appears more brilliant in black background, duller against
white background, lifeless in orange, brilliance in blue green.
• Larger on black than other colours

28. Different readings of the same color

29. https://99designs.com/blog/tips/the-7-step-guide-to-understanding-color-theory/
https://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-color-theory
2010, Gerney, James “Color and Light: A Guide For Realist Painter”