Color Theory
Vocabulary
Properties of Color
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

Hue – The quality by which we recognize one
color from another; hue is the name of the color.
Value – The lightness or darkness of a color, as
expressed by the amount of black or white mixed
with a particular hue.
Intensity / Saturation – The brightness or
dullness of a color, as expressed by the amount of
the color’s complement mixed with the pure hue.
Primary Colors

Yellow

Blue

Red
Secondary Colors

Yellow + Blue =
 Green

Blue + Red =
 Violet

Red + Yellow =
 Orange
Intermediate/Tertiary Colors






Yellow-Green
Blue-Green
Blue-Violet
Red-Violet
Red-Orange
Yellow-Orange
Analogous Colors
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
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Colors that
Yellow,
Yellow-Green,
are adjacent
and Green
(next
to) each other on
the color wheel,
Green,
Blue-Green,
including
various
Blue
and Blue-Violet
intensities
of each
color.
Blue, Blue-Violet,
Examples
include:and
Violet

Blue-Violet, Violet,
Red-Violet, and Red

Red-Orange, Orange,
Yellow-Orange, Yellow
Complementary Colors
The
twoand
colors
Yellow
that
are opposite
Violet
each other on the
 color
Blue wheel.
and


Orange

Red and Green
Neutral Grays


Equal amounts of
any two
complementary
colors mixed
together creates a
neutral grayish
color.
To tone down the
intensity of a color
add a little bit of
its compliment.
Triads



Triads are colors
that are
equidistant from
each other on the
color wheel. They
form a triangle.
Primary Colors
form a triad
Secondary Colors
form a triad
Warm Colors
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
Colors that
Yellow,
Yellow-Green,
give the
and Green
feeling
of warmth. The
color of fire and the
Green,
sun. Blue-Green,
Blue and Blue-Violet

Blue, Blue-Violet, and
Violet

Blue-Violet, Violet,
Red-Violet, and Red

Red-Orange, Orange,
Yellow-Orange, Yellow
Cool Colors


Colors that
Yellow,
Yellow-Green,
give the
and Green
feeling
of cold. The
colors of the ocean and
Green,
grass. Blue-Green,
Blue and Blue-Violet

Blue, Blue-Violet, and
Violet

Blue-Violet, Violet,
Red-Violet, and Red

Red-Orange, Orange,
Yellow-Orange, Yellow
Earth Tones

Earth tones are
color that are
created by mixing
equal parts of 2
secondary colors.

ORANGE + VIOLET =
RUSSET (Reddish
Brown), ORANGE +
GREEN = CITRON
(Golden Yellow), GREEN
+ VIOLET =OLIVE.