COLOUR – Part 3colour & contrast

OUGD404 DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Because of this physiological response, the eye can be "fooled" into seeing the full range of visible colors through the proportionate

adjustment of just three colors: red, green and blue.

Itten’s 7 Contrasts

• Contrast of TONE

• Contrast of HUE

• Contrast of SATURATION

• Contrast of EXSTENSION

• Contrast of TEMPERATURE

• COMPLEMENTARY contrast

• SIMULTANEOUS contrast

CONTRAST OF TONE

Formed by the juxtaposition of light and dark values. This could be monochromatic

CONTRAST OF HUE

Formed by the juxtaposing of different hues. The greater the

distance between hues on a colour wheel, the greater the contrast.

CONTRAST OF SATURATION

Formed by the juxtaposition of light and

dark values and their relative saturations

CONTRAST OF EXSTENSION

Formed by assigning proportional field sizes in

relation to the visual weight of a colour. Also known as the

contrast of proportion.

CONTRAST OF TEMPERATURE

formed by juxtaposing hues that can be considered ‘warm’ or

‘cool’. Also known as the contrast of warm and cool

COMPLEMENTARY CONTRAST

formed by juxtaposing complementary colours from a colour wheel or

perceptual opposites

SIMULTANEOUS CONTRAST

Formed when boundaries between colours perceptually

vibrate.

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