Types of Color Theories

1. Subtractive Theory• The subtractive, or

pigment theory deals with how white light is absorbed and reflected off of colored surfaces.

2. Additive Theory• The Additive, or light

theory deals with radiated and filtered light.

Subtractive Theory

• Black absorbs most light• White reflects most light• Colored Pigments absorb light and reflect

only the frequency of the pigment color. • All colors other than the pigment colors are

absorbed so this is called subtractive color theory.

• The primary colors in Subtractive Theory are:– Cyan ( C )– Magenta ( M )– Yellow ( Y )– Black ( K )

• Subtractive or Pigment Theory is used in printing and painting.

Additive Theory• Black radiates no light• White (sun) radiates all light• Video is the process of capturing and

radiating light, therefore it uses Additive (Light) Theory not Subtractive (Pigment) Theory.

• The primary colours in Additive Theory are:– Red ( R )– Green ( G )– Blue ( B )

• The primary colours add together to make white

• Light Theory is also called Additive Theory.

• Light Theory is used in Television, theater lighting, computer monitors, and video production.

The Visible Spectrum

The Color Wheel

If the ends of the spectrum are If the ends of the spectrum are bent around a color wheel is bent around a color wheel is formed:formed:

The Color Wheel

• Colors on the wheel can be described using three parameters:

1. Hue: degrees from 0˚ to 360˚

2. Saturation: brightness or dullness

3. Value: lightness or darkness

(As suggested by Henry Albert Munsell in A Color Notation, 1905)

Color WheelColor Wheel

Color ValuesColor Values

Color SchemesColor Schemes

The color wheel fits together like a puzzle - each color in a specific place. Being familiar with the color wheel not only helps you mix colors when painting, but in adding color to all your art creations.

Primary ColorsPrimary ColorsPrimary colors are not mixed from other

elements and they generate all other colors.

• Red

• Yellow

• Blue

Secondary ColorsSecondary ColorsBy mixing two primary colors, a secondary

color is created.

• Red + Yellow = Orange• Yellow + Blue = Green• Blue + Red = Purple

Intermediate, or Tertiary, colors are created by mixing a primary and a secondary.

•red-orange•yellow-orange•yellow-green

•blue-green•blue-purple•red-purple

Intermediate ColorsIntermediate Colors

The principles of color mixing let us describe a variety of colors, but there are still many colors to explore. The neutral colors contain equal parts of each of the three primary colors. Black, white, gray and sometimes brown are considered "neutral”.

Neutral ColorsNeutral Colors

Color values are the lights and darks of a color you create by using black and white (‘neutrals”) with a color. This makes hundreds of more colors from the basic 12 colors of the wheel.

• white + color = tint

• color + black = shade

Tints are lightened colors. Always begin with white and add a bit of color to the white until the desired tint is obtained. This is an example of a value scale for the tints of blue.

TintsTints

Shades are darkened colors. Always begin with the color and add just a bit of black at a time to get the desired shade of a color. This is an example of a value scale for the shades of blue.

ShadesShades

Color Schemes are a systematic way of using the color wheel to put colors together… in your art work, putting together the clothes you wear, deciding what colors to paint your room…..

monochromatic, complementary, analogous,

warm and cool.

“Mono” means “one”, “chroma” means “color”… monochromatic color schemes have only one color and its values. The following slide shows a painting done in a monochromatic color scheme.

MonochromaticMonochromatic

Using the WheelThe colors are arranged on the The colors are arranged on the wheel in such a way that purposeful wheel in such a way that purposeful color choices can be made.color choices can be made.

Choices of color combination Choices of color combination depend on what you are trying to depend on what you are trying to accomplish.accomplish.

Such as:Such as:

• ContrastContrast• BlendingBlending• AffectAffect

This non-objective painting has a monochromatic color scheme - blue and the values (tints and shades) of blue.

Complementary colors are opposite on the color wheel provided a high contrast - if you want to be noticed wear complementary colors!

ComplementaryComplementary

Using the WheelComplementary ColorsComplementary Colors

Colors opposite from one another Colors opposite from one another on the wheel.on the wheel.

These colors will provide the These colors will provide the most visual contrast.most visual contrast.

Contrast is the noticeable level of Contrast is the noticeable level of difference between two colors. difference between two colors.

Contrast with Text

On the other hand, blue and black offer little contrast. On the other hand, blue and black offer little contrast. An extended read of this combination could be painful. An extended read of this combination could be painful.

The more a color contrasts with the colors around it, the more easily visible The more a color contrasts with the colors around it, the more easily visible that color will appear. This fact is extremely important when using different that color will appear. This fact is extremely important when using different colored texts and backgrounds.colored texts and backgrounds.

This is why black text on a white background is so This is why black text on a white background is so popular and effective. There’s a high degree of popular and effective. There’s a high degree of contrast.contrast.

Contrast with TextBut be careful, even though colors may contrast they may not always work But be careful, even though colors may contrast they may not always work well for text and background pairing.well for text and background pairing.

““Simultaneous Contrast” occurs when a color like red Simultaneous Contrast” occurs when a color like red is fore grounded on blue. Note how the text appears is fore grounded on blue. Note how the text appears to slightly vibrate. This would get annoying real to slightly vibrate. This would get annoying real quick.quick.

But simultaneously be aware of extreme lack of contrast in your text and But simultaneously be aware of extreme lack of contrast in your text and background choices.background choices.

Honestly, this is just painful. Do not make your Honestly, this is just painful. Do not make your readers struggle with this!readers struggle with this!

Practical Example

Neither of these Neither of these flyers is completely flyers is completely ineffective and both ineffective and both provide shape provide shape contrast with the contrast with the text box.text box.

But the orange box But the orange box above provides a nice above provides a nice contrast with the contrast with the blues and grays of blues and grays of the clothes rack.the clothes rack.

The blue box here, The blue box here, however, is too however, is too similar to the similar to the clothes’ color clothes’ color palette.palette.

This painting has complementary colors and their values - blues and oranges.

The analogous color scheme is 3-5 colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel. This combination of colors provides very little contrast.

AnalogousAnalogous

Using the Wheel

Analogous ColorsAnalogous Colors

Colors positioned Colors positioned next to each other next to each other on the wheel.on the wheel.

These colors have These colors have very little very little contrast; contrast; therefore, they therefore, they will provide will provide harmonious blends.harmonious blends.

Analogous Colors in Nature

Nature offers an excellentNature offers an excellentlook at analogous colors in action.look at analogous colors in action.

Question: what color ofQuestion: what color offlower could be added toflower could be added tothis photo to provide athis photo to provide astrong and attentionstrong and attentiondrawing contrast? drawing contrast?

Analogous colors are illustrated here: yellow, yellow-green, green and blue-green.

Warm colors are found on the right side of the color wheel. They are colors found in fire and the sun. Warm colors make objects look closer in a painting or drawing.

WarmWarm

This is an illustration of the use of warm colors - reds, oranges and yellows.

Cool colors are found on the left side of the color wheel. They are the colors found in snow and ice and tend to recede in a composition.

CoolCool

Note the cool color scheme in this painting (greens, purples and blues).