Color Theory: The development of the color wheel, exploration of color schemes. Johannes Itten's 7 contrasts.

1. ART 251: Lecture 3, part 3
Color Theory:
Traditional Color Circle, Color Attributes,
and Color Schemes

2. Johannes Itten organized most of
these into his “7 Color Contrasts”:
• Contrast of hue – primary and secondary colors in
same composition.
• Contrast of light‐dark (value).
• Contrast of Saturation (intensity).
• Contrast of Warm‐Cool.
• Complementary Contrast – opposites on color wheel.
• Simultaneous Contrast – For any given color, the eye
simultaneously requires the complimentary color.
• Contrast of Extension – proportion. E.g. a small
intense area balances a larger areas of duller.

3. These were organized as the
7 COLOR CONTRASTS
from these, generally called,
COLOR SCHEMES

4. Simplest
scheme:
Primary &
secondary hue
color scheme

20. Planning Color Schemes
Complimentary Color Scheme (blue/orange),
contrast in value (dark background makes subject look more illuminated)
Adds drama, depth, and emotion

23. Bad color discord
Discordant colors are visually disturbing ‐ we say they clash.

24. Bad color discord
Discordant colors can be eye‐catching and are often
used for attention‐getting devices in advertising.