This document discusses color theory as it relates to fashion design. It covers key color concepts like hue, value, intensity and color schemes. The primary topics covered are: 1) The importance of color in achieving successful garment design and the roles of hue, value and intensity 2) Primary, secondary and intermediate colors on the color wheel 3) Common color schemes including monochromatic, analogous, complementary and triad 4) Combining colors on the wheel based on their proximity and relationships

1. COURSE- BDFT
SEMESTER-I
SUBJECT- Design Exploration in Fashion
UNIT- I
TOPIC- Colors Theory

2. for fashion design
1.

3. Colour plays an important role in achieving
a successful design
Fashion designers incorporate colour to
achieve a harmonious garment design
Balance, proportion, emphasis, unity and
rhythm rely on colour

4.  Hue:
• Is the name given to a color, such as red, yellow, green, or
violet. It distinguishes one color from another
 Value:
• Is the lightness or darkness of a color. The values of colors
range on a gradation scale from almost white to almost
black.
 Intensity:
• Is the brightness or dullness of a color. Very strong, bright
colors are said to have high intensity.

5. 2

6.  Primary colors:
• Red, yellow, and blue
 Secondary colors:
• Orange, green, and violet (purple). They are made by mixing
equal amounts of two primary hues together.
 Intermediate colors:
• Result when equal amounts of adjoining primary and secondary
colors are combined. (Yellow-green, red-orange…)
 Neutral
• White, black, gray

7. • Monochromatic color scheme
 A one-color plan that uses different tints shades, and
intensities. A navy blue pair of pants, with a light blue shirt is
monochromatic. Same “color” different shades.
• Analogous color scheme
 Uses neighboring, or adjacent, colors on the wheel. It is
sometimes called a related color scheme since two or three
“related” colors are used.
• Complementary color scheme
 Uses opposite hues on the color wheel. Complementary
colors are across from each other on the wheel
• Triad color scheme
 Combines three colors equidistant on the wheel. Examples
are red, yellow, and blue.

8. 3.

9. 4 5

10.  Accented Neutral
• A color scheme that combines white, black, or
gray with a bright color accent.
 Analogous
• A color scheme using two or three adjacent or
“related” colors on the color wheel
 Cool colors
• Hues, such as green, blue, and violet, that serve
as reminders of water or sky.
 Complementary
• A color scheme using hues across from each
other on the color wheel
 Hue
• The name given to a color

11.  Intensity
• The brightness or dullness of a color
 Monochromatic
• A color scheme that uses different tints, shades
and intensities
 Split-complementary
• A color scheme that uses one color with the two
colors on each side of its complement on the color
wheel
 Value
• The lightness or darkness of a color between
almost white to almost black
 Warm colors
• Hues, such as red, orange, and yellow, that
appear to be hot like the sun or fire.

12. http://fashionbombdaily.com/2010/04/16/the-color-wheel-how-to-combine-colors-
wardrobe-accessories/tolula-adeyemi-2/

13. 1. Colors directly next to each other
(i.e. yellow and yellow-orange; yellow and
yellow-green; violet and blue-violet, etc.)
2. Colors that form right (90 degree)
angles with each other (i.e. yellow and
red-orange; blue and violet-red; green and
orange, etc.)
3. Colors directly across from each
other (i.e. yellow and violet; blue and
orange; red and green, etc.)
4. Colors that form a T (i.e. blue, orange,
and violet-red; yellow, violet, and red-
orange; yellow, blue-green, and red-
orange, etc.)
5. Colors that form an X (i.e. blue,
orange, violet-red, and yellow, violet, blue-
green, and red-orange, etc.)
6.

14. These neutrals work well with all colours:
Brown
Black
White
Denim
Grey
77
.

15. Colour families work too
Substitute red with pink and will
work with blues (right angles)

16. 1. http://www.artyfactory.com/color_theory/color_terms_
1.htm
2. http://onlinemedia.rmcad.edu/FD1115/week-4/4-4-
exercise-painting-six-parts.html
3. http://www.color-wheel-artist.com/monochromatic-
color.html
4. www.schools.utah.gov/cte/documents/marketing/.../f
ashion/FMB.ppt
5. www.schools.utah.gov/cte/documents/marketing/.../f
ashion/FMB.pp
6. https://cs.nyu.edu/courses/fall02/V22.0380-
001/color_theory.htm
7. https://cs.nyu.edu/courses/fall02/V22.0380-
001/color_theory.htm