COLOR TERMINOLOGY (SOME REVIEW)
Color
is defined as visual sensation dependent on the reflection or absorption of light from a
given surface. Color has three primary characteristics. They are hue, value, and intensity.
Hue
is pure color without changing its value or intensity. This means it is pure color without
adding black, white or gray to it. On your “Value: Tints and Shades” chart the hues were
the pure colors in center row of the chart.
Value
is defined as light and dark; the graduations of light and dark on the surface of objects.
You add black or white to a particular hue to change its value. Values which have white
added to them are called tints and values that have black added to them are called shades.
Intensity
(also called saturation) refers to the brightness of a color. The intensity of a hue or color
is affected by adding gray to the particular hue (also known as de-saturation).
Primary Colors
are those colors that are pure and cannot be created by mixing any other colors. The
primary colors are Red, Yellow, and Blue.
The secondary colors
Yellow and Red
are Orange, Green, and Violet. Secondary colors are created by mixing two of the
primary colors together.
make orange
Yellow and Blue
make green
Red and Blue
make violet
Analogous:
Refers to closely related colors; a color scheme that combines several hues next to each
other on the color wheel.
Color Relationships:
The relationships of colors on the color wheel. Basic color schemes include
monochromatic, analogous, and complimentary
Complementary Colors:
Colors opposite one another on the color wheel. Red is opposite green on the color
wheel, so they are said to be complementary. Orange and blue are complementary, and
yellow and violet are complementary. For these colors, don’t refer to your color charts,
rather, look at the large color wheel chart on the wall.
Cool Colors:
Colors suggesting coolness: blue, green, and violet. The colors you painted on the right
side of the “Value: Tints and Shades” chart are cool colors.
Monochromatic:
A color scheme involving the use of only one hue that can vary in value or intensity. For
example, if you picked one column (let’s say the yellow column) from your “Value:
Tints and Shades” chart, its range from the lightest yellow to its darkest yellow would be
a monochromatic color scheme.
Neutral Colors:
The colors black, white, gray, and brown. They are included in the color family called
earth colors.
Warm Colors:
Colors suggesting warmth: red, yellow, and orange. The colors you painted on the left
side of the “Value: Tints and Shades” chart are warm colors.
Tints
Hues which have white added to them
Shades
Hues which have black added to them