Friday, April 6, 2012

about color

Primary Colors are the main colors needed to mix all other colors. Primary colors come in sets of 3 because of they way the receptors in human eyes work, we have 3 independent channels in the cones of our eyes for conveying color information to the brain. 

This is the traditional artists' color wheel, also know as the RYB Color Model, or Artists Color. It was originally used for light, and pigment, and to describe how human eyes see light. It's not actually accurate for light, or pigment or eyesight, but it still remains the primary color model that artists refer to. 

Subtractive Color is the color model used with paints, dyes, inks, and other mediums to create a full range of colors. Each medium 'creates' color by subtracting (absorbing) specific wavelengths of light and reflecting the others. The color that a surface displays depends on which colors of the spectrum are reflected for our eyes to see, and what colors are subtracted.

While the Traditional RYB color model is technically a Subtractive system, when people use the term Subtractive Color, they are most often referring to the CYM or CYMK color model used in printing.

When the primary colors of a Subtractive Color model are mixed, they produce black. (in an ideal world)

Additive Color is the color model used with light emitted directly from sources combining to create a full range of colors. Lights 'create' color by adding (combining) wavelengths to produce a new wavelength, or color.

While a deep understanding of Additive Color is not necessary for the beginner colorist, it does help to explain how different light sources in your art will interact with each other. Additive color is often counter-intuitive to people used to traditional paint mixing.


When the primary colors of a Subtractive Color model are mixed, they produce white. (in an ideal world)

Attributes of Color:
- Hue - an element of the color wheel that refers to a pure color.
- Value - refers to the relative lightness or darkness of a color as compared to black and white.
- Saturation
- Tints - Adding white to a hue creates a "tint" and makes it lighter.
- Tones - Adding gray or a complementary hue creates a "tone", which may be either lighter or darker. 
- Shades - Adding black to a hue creates a "shade" and makes it darker.

Color Schemes

Warm colors are vivid, bold, and energetic. They tend to advance in space and can overwhelm less eye catching hues. If an element in your design needs to pop out, consider using warm colors to do that.

Cool colors are soothing. They give an impression of calm and rarely overpower the main content or message of a design. Cool colors tend to recede and can be used if some element of your design needs to fade into the background.

Complementary colors are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as blue and orange, red and green, purple and yellow. They contrast, enhance and intensify each other. The high contrast between the tone and hue can be eye catching, but can be overwhelming, especially at full saturation. When you place complimentary colors next to each other, they will make each other appear brighter and more intense.

In illustration, a black shadow is often too harsh or jarring. It will look out of place. To correct this, the shadow of an object may also contain its complementary color, for example the shadow of a banana will contain some purple.

The split complementary scheme is a variation of the standard complementary scheme. It uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary. Using split complementary colors can give you a design with a high degree of contrast, yet still not as extreme as a real complementary color. It also results in more variations and subtlety than the use of the direct complementary.

Anachromatic

Monochromatic color scheme is one that uses a single hue.


Analogous colors are colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. Analogous color schemes are often found in nature and are pleasing to the eye because the combination of these colors can create a bright and cheery effect. 

This color scheme is also extremely flexible and able to accommodate many changing moods. When you use an analogous color scheme,choosing one color to be dominant can help with focus and contrast. The analogous scheme is similar to the monochromatic one, but offers more nuances.

A triadic color schemes are high-energy colors that are found by choosing three colors that are separated by 120 degrees on the color wheel. The primary (red, blue, and yellow) and secondary (purple, orange, green) colors are examples of triadic colors.
This scheme is popular because it offers strong visual contrast while retaining balance, and color richness. The triadic scheme is not as contrasting as the complementary scheme and may look more balanced and harmonious.

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Color Symbolism is the use of color as a symbol throughout a culture.
Color Psychology is the effect of color on human behavior and feeling.

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