This document defines color and describes three key properties: hue, intensity, and value. It introduces the color wheel and primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Different color schemes are explained including complementary, analogous, triadic, split-complementary, rectangle, and square. Color temperature is defined as describing the overall warmth or coolness of colors, and how it can be applied between two similar colors or in painting to set mood. Plates for demonstrating different color wheels and schemes are outlined for a final submission. Key sources are cited.

1. Definition
Properties of Color
The Color Wheel
Understanding Color
Color Schemes

2. Definition
 refers to reflected light on an object as
seen by the human eye.

3. 3 Properties of Color
 Hue = the name of the color
example red, yellow, blue, etc.
 Intensity = the strength and vividness of the color.
example color blue as "royal" (bright, rich, vibrant) or
"dull" (grayed).
 Value = the lightness or darkness of the color
Also remember:
 Tints- are created by adding white to a color
 Shades- are created by adding black to a color
 Tones- are created by adding gray to a color

4. The Color Wheel
Primary Colors
solid colors; no other
colors can create them
Secondary Colors
equal combination of
two primary colors
Tertiary Colors
unequal combination
of two primary colors or
combination of three or
more colors
TRIVIA: The first circular color diagram
was designed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666.

5. Understanding Color

6. Color Schemes and Its Effects
 Complimentary Colors
Pairs of colors which, when combined,
cancel each other out. This means that when
combined, they produce a grey-scale color like
white or black. When placed next to each other,
they create the strongest contrast for those
particular two 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.
Complementary color schemes are
tricky to use in large doses, but work well when
you want something to stand out.
Complementary colors are really bad for text.
They are located opposite each other in the
Color Wheel.

7. Color Schemes and Its
Effects Analogous Colors
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.
Analogous color schemes are
often found in nature and are harmonious
and pleasing to the eye.
Make sure you have enough
contrast when choosing an analogous color
scheme.
Choose one color to dominate, a
second to support. The third color is used
(along with black, white or gray) as an
accent.

8. Color Schemes and Its
Effects Triadic color scheme
A triadic color scheme
uses colors that are evenly
spaced around the color wheel.
Triadic color schemes
tend to be quite vibrant, even if
you use pale or unsaturated
versions of your hues.
To use a triadic harmony
successfully, the colors should
be carefully balanced - let one
color dominate and use the two
others for accent.

9. Color Schemes and Its
Effects
 Split-Complementary color
scheme
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.
The split-complimentary color
scheme is often a good choice for
beginners, because it is difficult to
mess up.

10. Color Schemes and Its
Effects
 Rectangle (tetradic) Color Scheme
The rectangle or tetradic color
scheme uses four colors arranged into
two complementary pairs.
This rich color scheme offers
plenty of possibilities for variation.
Tetradic color schemes works
best if you let one color be dominant.
You should also pay attention to
the balance between warm and cool
colors in your design.

11. Color Schemes and Its
Effects
 Square Color Scheme
The square color
scheme is similar to the
rectangle, but with all four
colors spaced evenly
around the color circle.
Square color
schemes works best if you
let one color be dominant.
You should also pay
attention to the balance
between warm and cool
colors in your design.

13. Color Temperature in
Painting
 Color temperature described the overall
color range in a composition, can
compare the relationship between two
colors, or describe the difference
between two similar hues.
 Color temperature can be used for
emotional effect, or set up the lighting of
environment of a scene.

14. Understanding Color Temperature
Temperature within a Color
Color temperature is not always
used to describe the relationship
between different colors as it is
sometimes applied to the difference
between two variants of the same color.
Looking at the two versions of green on
the right, we can see one appears
cooler than the other.
The same is true looking at two
versions of orange. We can see that one
orange appears warmer than the other.
This is true of any comparison
between two similar colors. Besides
value or saturation differences we will
find temperature differences as well.

15. Color Temperature in Painting
Warm Colors Cool Colors
Such as red, yellow and
orange – can spark a
variety of emotions ranging
from comfort and warmth to
hostility and anger.
A warm color is one that
gives the viewer a sense of
warmth, energy, or heat,
such as the colors of the
sun.
Such as green, blue and
purple – often spark
feelings of calmness as well
as sadness.
A cool color is a color that
gives a sense of coolness,
cold, or stillness, such as
the colors of the ocean.

16. Plates for Color (Final Submission Sept. 8,
2016)
 Plate 31: The Basic Color Wheel
 Plate 32: The 12-Color Wheel
 Plate 33: Complimentary Colors
 Plate 34: Analogous Color Scheme
 Plate 35: Triadic Color Scheme
 Plate 36: Warm and Cool Colors
Materials: Compass, Pencil, Brush, Acrylic Paint

17. 2 Types of Color Wheels
Plate 31: The 6-Color
Wheel
Plate 32: The 12-Color
Wheel

18. Plate 33: Complimentary
Colors

19. Plate 34: Analogous Color
Scheme

20. Plate 35: Triadic Color Scheme
L. Green
L. Orange
Violet
L. Yellow
Orange
Blue Violet
L. Blue
D. Yellow
Red Violet
Yellow
Red
Blue

21. Plate 36: Warm and Cool
Colors
A> Use white and black paint
to create a tint and shade of
color
B>Revise this diagram into
only 3 color bands instead of 6
color bands.
C>The middle band should be
the base color. The top color
should be cooler (use white)
and the inner color should be
warmer (use black)
D>Use the 12 Color Wheel

22. Sources:
http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-
theory/color-theory-intro.htm
http://www.paintdrawpaint.com/2011/04/col
or-basics-color-temperature-in.html