PixelSpoke Lunch + Learn: Color Theory

Lunch + Learn
Color Theory I:
The Color Wheel, Value Scale
and the Language of Color

Synotac / synotac.com / 503.517.2116

L+L Introductions

1. Who is this guy?
2. Who are you and what is one thing that you
hope to get out of today?


L+L Objectives

1. Gain a better understanding of Color, the
Color Wheel and Value Scale in a broad
sense, rather than the digital space.
2. Develop a fluency in the Language of Color
3. Make our own color wheels
4. More activities if time allows
5. Have some fun!


What is Color Theory?
The study of rules, ideas and principles that
apply to color as a general topic, as well as the
visual impacts of specific color combinations.


What is Color?
Color derives from the spectrum of light
interacting with light receptors in the eyes.

An object produces different sensations
in the eyes as a result of the way it reflects or
emits light.


What is the spectrum?
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of
all possible frequencies of electromagnetic
radiation.

The electromagnetic spectrum of an object is
the distribution of electromagnetic radiation
emitted or absorbed by that particular object.


Visible Light within the
Electromagnetic Spectrum


Sir Isaac Newton Johannes Itten
Color Circle, 1704 Farbkreis, 1961


The purpose of the color wheel
Understanding and visualizing relationships
of spectral hues, and creating effective color
schemes.


Primary Colors
Three spectrum colors are equidistant from one another on
the color wheel—blue, yellow, red.

In theory, all of the remaining 16 million or so colors can be
mixed using the three primary colors.

In practice, trace chemicals in pigments reflect light rays in
multiple wavelengths, rather than pure spectrum color.


Three Primary Colors


Three Secondary Colors
Orange, Violet and Green are called "secondary colors."

Each is theoretically born of primary parents:

Red + Yellow = Orange

Red + Blue = Violet

Yellow + Blue = Green


Secondary Colors


Six Tertiary Colors
Formed by combining a primary and a secondary hue.

The names indicate the two source colors:

Yellow-orange
Red-orange
Red-violet
Blue-violet
Blue-green
Yellow-green


Tertiary Colors


Color Wheel


Complementary Colors
Pairs of colors that are opposite on the color
wheel. Any two complements contain the
complete trio of primaries.

Examples:
Yellow complement is Violet (red + blue)
Red complement is Green (yellow + blue)
Blue complement is Orange (yellow + red)


Complements–contrast


Complements


Analogous Colors
Formed by three adjacent colors on the color
wheel.

Example: Blue, blue-green and green

Analogous colors are smooth and rich feeling


Analogous–similarity


NAMING COLORS, THE
VALUE SCALE & INTENSITY

Naming Colors
Every color existing in our world can be
identified using three attributes:

Hue: Basic source of the color.


Hue
Putting aside the lightness or darkness of a
color, as well as its brightness or dullness,
which of the twelve basic color wheel hues is
the starting point for this example?


Naming Colors: Value
Value: Lightness or darkness of the color, also
known as shades, tints, luminance, luminosity


Value
How dark or light is this red-violet relative to a
seven-step value scale from white to black?


Naming Colors: Intensity
Intensity: The dominance of hue in the color.
The brightness or dullness of the color, also
known as chroma or saturation.


Intensity
How bright or dull is this red-violet relative to an
intensity scale from brightest to dullest?


Identified by three attributes
Hue: Red-violet
Value: Light
Intensity: Dull


Value versus Intensity


Activity
1. Pick a client logo and another object.
2. Describe their colors using the three
attributes: Hue, Value, Intensity
3. Review and critique as a group


Additional Resources
FM Hue test
www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?PageID=77

Reading
Color: A course in mastering the art of mixing colors by Betty Edwards
Interaction of Color by Josef Albers
Color Workbook by Becky Koenig
Readings on Color: The Philosophy of Color by Alex Byrne


Next time ...
Color Techniques and the Effects of Color
May 1, 2012 in our new office at 333 SW Fifth Avenue

What color can I choose to evoke a particular mood?
Why do the colors in this design work well together? Or not?
How do surrounding colors affect each other?


PixelSpoke Lunch + Learn: Color Theory

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