Color Theory
What is Color Theory?
• A body of practical guidance to color
mixing
• The visual impact of specific color
combinations
The Color Wheel
The Color Wheel
• Sir Isaac Newton developed first color wheel
in 1666
• Based on primary colors: Red, Yellow, Blue
• Logically arranged sequence of pure hues
Basic Color Types
• Primary Colors
• Secondary Colors
• Tertiary Colors
Primary Colors
• Red, Blue, and Yellow are the only
primary colors
• These colors make up all others
• No color(s) mixed together can make
these.
Secondary Colors
• Violet, Green, and
Orange
• Two primary colors
mixed together
Color #1
Color #2
Secondary Color
red
blue
VIOLET
blue
yellow
GREEN
yellow
red
ORANGE
Tertiary Colors
• One primary color mixed
with a related secondary
color.
Color #1
Color #2
Tertiary Color
red
orange
RED-ORANGE
red
violet
RED-VIOLET
yellow
orange
YELLOW-ORANGE
yellow
green
YELLOW-GREEN
blue
green
BLUE-GREEN
blue
violet
BLUE-VIOLET
Complementary Colors
• Complementary Colors
• Split Complementary Colors
• Double Complementary Colors
• Analogous or Harmonious Colors
Complementary Colors
• Two colors directly
across from each other
on the color wheel
• Represents the
strongest contrasts of
color
• When mixed together,
they neutralize one
another and form gray
Split Complementary Colors
• One color and two
colors directly
across from it on
the color wheel.
Double Complementary Colors
• Two colors plus two
colors directly across
from them on the
color wheel.
Analogous or Harmonious Colors
• Three to four colors
next to each other
on the color wheel
• Often have a hue in
common that makes
them harmonious.
Color Effects
• Warm Colors
• Cool Colors
Warm Colors
• Tend to advance from a picture plane
• Are related to fire, heat, highlights
• Express feelings of warmth, action,
even anger
Cool Colors
• Tend to recede in a picture plane
• Are related to shadows
• Express feelings of calm, crispness,
even sadness, jealousy, and peace
Colors and Neutrals
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Neutrals: WHITE, BLACK, and GRAY
Tint: A hue (color) plus white.
Tone: A hue plus grey.
Shade: A hue plus black.
Monochromatic: One color plus black
and white to create all the range of that
color.
Three Properties of Color
• Hue
• Value
(Lightness)
• Saturation
Hue
• The name of the pure
spectrum color
Value
• the degree of
lightness or
darkness of a
color
Saturation
• The brightness
(intensity) or
dullness of a
color
• A saturation
level of zero
means white or
gray