This document outlines the contents of a course on color studies, including sections on color basics, color systems, color properties, color harmonies, psychology and symbolism of color. It covers topics such as primary/secondary/tertiary colors, warm/cool colors, color wheels, Munsell/RGB/CMYK color systems, monochromatic/analogous/complementary color schemes, and the psychological effects and cultural meanings associated with different hues. The course appears to provide an introduction to color theory, the technical aspects of color mixing and reproduction, and applications of color across different mediums and disciplines.

1. DIPLOMA
IN NEW
MEDIA
DNM 115 – COLOR STUDIES
NAME : Kam Li Mun
ID : 2014050028
GROUP : NMG2
PREPARED FOR MR SYAFIQ HARIZ
Contents
1. WHAT IS COLOR?
1.1 Color Basics
1.2 Describing of Colors
2. COLOR SYSTEM

2. 2.1 Munsell color system
2.2 Additive color system
2.3 Subtractive color system
3. COLOR PROPERTIES
3.1 Color Wheel
3.2 Primary color
3.3 Secondary color
3.4 Tertiary color
4. COLOR HARMONIOUS
4.1 Analogous
4.2 Complementary
4.3 Split Complementary
4.4 Triad
4.5 Tetrad
5. ACHROMATIC & MONOCHROMATIC
5.1 Value
5.2 Shades, Tones, Tints
6. COLOR TEMPERATURE
6.1 Warm color
6.2 Cold color
7. COLOR PSYCHOLOGY
7.1 What is color psychology

3. 8. COLOR PSYCHOLOGY AS A THERAPY
8.1 Color meaning & symbolism
9. FINAL PROJECT
9.1 Rationale of my artwork
10. REFERENCES
1. WHAT IS COLOR
1.1 Color basics
Color is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans described by a color name such
as yellow, blue, green and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light. Some wavelengths
absorbed by an object and others reflect to the viewer. We perceive these wavelengths as color.
1.2 Describing of color
Color can be described in terms of its hue, saturation, and value. Hue is refer to the color itself.
Saturation is about the intensity, chroma, purity of a color. Value is the lightness or darkness of a

4. color.
2. COLOR SYSTEM
Sir Isaac Newton, was the first who in 1706 arranged red,
orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet into a
natural progression on a rotating disk while Leonardo Da
Vinci was the first to arrange colors.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832) designed a
numbering system for each hue according to its value,
brightness or dullness.
Albert Munsell, American color theorist (1858-1918) created the first color system adopted by
the USDA as the official color system for soil research in the 1930s.
2.1 Munsell color system
The Munsell color system is a color space that specifies colors based on three color dimensions:
hue, value, and chroma.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Munsell-system.
svg
2.2 Additive color
Additive color is refer to RGB color model. The
RGB model is the basis for displaying colors in
television and computer screens. Additive color
mixing begins with black and ends with white; as
more color is added, the result is lighter and
tends to white.

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AdditiveColor.svg
Color Name RGB Color Point HSV Color Point Color
Red (255,0,0) (0,100,100)
Green (0,255,0) (120,100,100)
Blue (0,0,255) (240,100,100)
Magenta (0,255,255) (300,100,100)
Cyan (255,0,255) (180,100,100)
Yellow (255,255,0) (60,100,0)
White (255,255,255) (?,0,100)
Black (0,0,0) (?,?,0)
Gray (128,128,128) (?,0,50)
Maroon (128,0,0) (0,100,50)
Navy (0,0,128) (240,100,50)
Purple (128,0,128) (300,100,50)
Orange (255,128,0) (30,100,100)
Brown (128,80,0) (30,100,50)
http://condor.depaul.edu/sjost/gph205/paint-pigments/color-spaces.htm
2.3 Subtractive color
CMYK color model is the subtractive color used in the printing industry.
The abbreviation stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key—black is referred to as the key
color. In the subtractive model, adding white to a color, whether by using less colorant or by
mixing in a reflective white pigment such as zinc oxide, does not change the color's hue but does
reduce its saturation. Subtractive color printing works best when the surface or paper is white,
or close to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SubtractiveColor.svg

6. RYB (red, yellow, and blue) color model is another subtractive primary color. It is primarily used
in art and art education, particularly painting. It predates modern scientific color theory. In RYB
model, painters will need separate greens as a basis for mixing hues, a necessity based upon the
purity of hues mixable with the primary pigments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BYR_color_wheel.svg
3. COLOR PROPERTIES
3.1 Color Wheel
Color Wheel is an abstract illustrative organization of
colorhues around a circle that shows relationships
between primary colors,secondary colors, tertiary
colors etc. A basic color wheel features 12 colors that
can be combined in a variety of ways to create a
number of different effects.

7. 3.2 Primary Color
The basic principle of the color wheel starts with three primary colors – red, yellow and blue.
Primary colors are the basis for all other color and any color can be made using a combination of
primary colors.
3.3 Secondary Color
Secondary colors are made by mixing two primary colors from the color wheel. The results –
orange, green and violet – are centered between the colors mixed to make them on the wheel.

8. 3.4 Tertiary Color
Tertiary colors is made from mixing a primary and secondary color. Each color has a two word
name, such as red-orange, blue-purple or blue-green. Tertiary colors rest between the colors
used to form each on the color wheel.
4. COLOR HARMONIOUS
4.1 Analogous
Analogous color schemes use colors that are next to
each other on the color wheel. They usually match
well and create serene and comfortable designs.

9. 4.2 Complementary
Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel
are considered to be complementary colors.
The high contrast of complementary colors creates a
vibrant look especially when used at full saturation.
This color scheme must be managed well so it is not
jarring.
4.3 Split-Complementary
The split-complementary color scheme is a variation
of the complementary color scheme. In addition to
the base color, it uses the two colors adjacent to its
complement.
This color scheme has the same strong visual
contrast as the complementary color scheme, but
has less tension.
4.4 Triad

10. A triadic color scheme uses colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel.
Triadic color harmonies tend to be quite vibrant, even if you use pale or unsaturated versions of
your hues.
4.5 Tetrad
The tetrad color scheme is similar to the square,
but with all four colors spaced evenly around the
color circle.
The tetrad color scheme works best if you let one
color be dominant.

11. 5. ACHROMATIC & MONOCHROMATIC
Monochromatic and Achromatic color scheme. What is monochromatic.
The monochromatic color scheme uses variations in lightness and saturation of a single color.
This scheme looks clean and elegant. Monochromatic colors go well together, producing a
soothing effect. The monochromatic scheme is very easy on the eyes, especially with blue or
green hues. You can use it to establish an overall mood. The primary color can be integrated
with neutral colors such as black, white, or gray. However, it can be difficult, when using this
scheme, to highlight the most important elements.
5.1 Value

12. Value is the lightness or darkness of a color. Light colors are sometimes called tints, and dark
colors shades. All high saturation colors have medium values (because light and dark colors are
achieved by mixing with white or black).
5.2 Shades, Tones, Tints
A shade is a mixing result of an original color to which has been added black.
A tint is a mixing result of an original color to which has been added white.
The broader definition defines tone as a result of mixing a pure color with any neutral/ gray
scale color including the two extremes white and black.

13. 6. Color Temperature
The terms “warm” and “cold” are often used to
describe a color. In general blue, green and purple are
considered cold colors while yellow, orange and red
hues are considered warm.
6.1 Warm colors
Warm colors are vivid and energetic, and tend to advance
in space.

14. 6.2 Cold colors
Cold colors give an impression of calm, and create a soothing impression.
7. COLOR PSYCHOLOGY
7.1 What is Color psychology?
Color psychology is the study of color as a determinant of human behavior.
Most psychologists view color therapy with skepticism and point out that the
supposed effects of color are often grossly exaggerated. Colors also have
different meanings in different cultures. Research has demonstrated in many
cases that the mood-altering effects of color may only be temporary. A blue room
may initially cause feelings of calm, but the effect dissipates after a short period
of time.
While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, there are some color effects
that have universal meaning.
“Red is the most interesting of all colors in magic healing.”-------mentioned by
Faber Birren in COLOR PSYCHOLOGY and COLORTHERAPY
8. C OLOR PSYCHOLOGY AS T HERAPY
Several ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, practiced
chromotherapy, or the use of colors to heal. Chromotherapy is sometimes
referred to as light therapy or colorology and is still used today as a holistic or
alternative treatment.
In this treatment:
Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.
Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.
Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.

15. Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.
Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems.
8.1 Color meaning & symbolism
Red: Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat,
aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate,
sincerity, happiness (Only in Japan)
Pink symbolizes love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm.
Yellow signifies joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope,
sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy,
covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard and friendship.
Blue: Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth,
confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water,
technology, depression, appetite suppressant.
Purple: Royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation,
wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, honor, arrogance, mourning, temperance.
Orange: Energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant,
demanding of attention.
Green: Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, spring,
generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor.
Brown: Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance,
simplicity, and comfort.
Gray: Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid,
conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolizes calm.
White: Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision,
innocence, youth, winter,snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death
(Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.
Black: Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery,
fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity,
underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western cultures), austerity,

16. detachment.
9. FINAL PROJECT
9.1 Rationale of my artwork
I done this artwork for a reflection of myself. It is not only reflect my characteristic,
but also my dream. I drew a cat to represent myself is a sometimes playful and
sometimes lazy man, This artwork I drew has show out the circulate process in
my life. A sentence always inside my head “What you see is what you get, what
you dream you may get”. So I use this thought as my idea to draw out the whole
artwork. I believe a man can’t do amazing things without a dream.
My final project artwork is based on four colors and two neutral colors which is
black and white. I use blue color to represent calm and trust. The blue fish bone
shown that I done my favourite thing, and the blue color background to bring out
the trust in my dream. I use yellow color to show there are joy, happiness and
hope when chasing dream. For demonstration of my youth and spring
imagination, so I chose green color to draw a child/ youth-look character with a
pink color wing which means romantic and freedom. I used also the red color to
bring out my energy and exciting for my dream. Inside the dream, the sky blue
color character brush my real life with full of effort (all colors) a few by few onto
my gray color life before dream. So, that is me.

18. 10. REFERENCES
http://www.greatreality.com/color/ColorHVC.htm
http://www.sensationalcolor.com/understanding-color/theory/how-color-theory-came-about-
812#.VDrKOPmSz3E
http://condor.depaul.edu/sjost/gph205/paint-pigments/color-spaces.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_color
http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-harmonies.htm
http://www.incredibleart.org/lessons/middle/color2.htm
COLOR PSYCHOLOGY and COLORTHERAPY -A Factual Study of the INFLUENCE OF COLORON
HUMAN LIFE - by Faber Birren