The document discusses color theory as a vital tool in graphic design, exploring its impact on emotions and behavior. It is divided into three main parts: the color wheel, color values, and color schemes, detailing primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, as well as their psychological implications. Understanding how to utilize warm and cool colors effectively is crucial for achieving harmony in design and influencing consumer behavior.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Color is oneof the most powerful tools for visual
communication. It can influence our emotions, our
mood, and our behavior. That’s why it’s so
important for product designers to select colors
carefully.
4.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Have you ever
wondered
howdesigners &
artists find the
perfect color
combination?
They use color theory.
Color theory is a
practical combination
of art and science that’s
used to determine what
colors look good
together.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Accurately combining colors,using the color wheel, and
understanding how colors relate to each other are critical
skills for artists, designers, marketers, and brand
owners.
Color Theory is broken down into 3 parts- The color
wheel, color value, and color schemes. Each part of
color theory builds on the previous.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Around 1665, renownedmathematician, Sir Isaac
Newton invented the first color wheel. While
studying white light reflecting off prisms, he
noticed that the light reflected a spectrum of
colors. Noting down the different hues, he believed
the rainbow of colors shared a harmonious
relationship.
9.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
He compared thehues to music to discover the
harmonious relationship between each hue. He
identified each hue with a corresponding musical
note. He then arranged those musical notes into a
square, and then finally placed the colors on a
rotating disk to see how they interact with each
other visually.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
There are twotypes of color wheels. The RYB (red, yellow, blue) color
wheel is typically used by artists, as it helps with combining paint colors.
The RGB (red, green and blue) color wheel, is designed for online use,
as it refers to mixing light – like on a computer or TV screen.
13.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Primary colors –colors that can’t be mixed from other colors. There are three
primary colors: red, yellow, and blue.
Secondary colors – colors that result from mixing two primary colors. There are
three secondary colors: orange, green, and purple.
Tertiary colors – colors made by combining a secondary color with a primary
color. There are six tertiary colors: red-purple, blue-purple, red-orange, yellow-
orange, blue-green, and yellow-green are tertiary colors
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
The second partof color theory deals with
color values. Value is the darkness or
lightness of a color. When dealing with pure
color (hue), value can be affected by adding
white or black to a color.
16.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Shades, Tints andTones
You can create shades, tints and tones of a color by adding black, grey and white to a base hue.
Shade - is created by adding black to a base hue, darkening the color. This creates a deeper, richer color.
Shades can be quite dramatic and can be
overpowering.
Tint - is created by adding white to a base hue, lightening the color. This can make a color less intense, and
is useful when balancing more
vivid color combinations.
Tone - is created by combining black and white—or grey—with a base hue. Like tints, tones are subtler
versions of the original color. Tones are less
likely to look pastel, and can reveal
complexities not apparent in the base color.
17.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
FUN FACT:
Red isthe first color a baby sees.
Red has the longest wavelength of the colors
and scientists speculate this makes it easier
to process in developing receptors and
nerves in a baby’s eye. This definitely helps
explain every baby’s love of Elmo!
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Monochromatic Colors –Three shades, tones and tints of one base
color. Provides a conservative color combination. This is a versatile
color combination that is easy to apply to design projects for a
harmonious look.
Complementary Colors – Two colors that are on opposite sides of
the color wheel. This combination provides a high contrast and high
impact color combination – together, these colors will appear brighter
and more prominent. Ex. Blue and orange, red and green, yellow-
green and red-purple
Analogous Colors – are colors that are next to each other on the
color wheel. Three colors that are side by side on the color wheel.
This color combination is versatile, but can be overwhelming. To
balance an analogous color scheme, choose one dominant color, and
use the others as accents.Ex. Blue, blue-green, green, and yellow-
green; red, red-purple, purple, blue-purple.
22.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Triadic Colors –Three colors that are evenly spaced
on the color wheel. This provides a high contrast color
scheme, but less so than the complementary color
combination — making it more versatile. This
combination creates bold, vibrant color palettes.Ex.
Red, blue and yellow or orange, green and purple.
Tetradic Colors - Four colors that are evenly spaced
on the color wheel. Tetradic color schemes are bold
and work best if you let one color be dominant, and
use the others as accents. The more colors you have
in your palette, the more difficult it is to balance.
Split-Complementary – a color scheme that is made
up of a color and it’s complements closest analogous
colors. Ex Blue, yellow-orange and red-orange. Red-
orange, red-purple, green
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
The color wheelcan also be divided into warm and cool colors. Warm
colors including shades of red, yellow, and orange, and have the
longest wavelengths on the color spectrum. Warm colors advance
toward the eye, while cool colors recede. Cool colors including green,
blue and violet, have shorter wavelengths. The warmth or coolness of
a color is also known as its color temperature.
26.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Warm and coolcolors are categorized as warm and cool due to
the feelings that one gets when looking at the hues. Reds,
yellows, and oranges are evocative of the sun and fire.
Therefore, they tend to convey a sense of warmth and comfort.
Cool colors, on the other hand, are reminiscent of earthy objects,
such as grass and water. These hues often feel cool and
refreshing, much like the outdoor areas that they are associated
with. Incorporating a mix of warm and cool colors will provide a
balance and a more defined contrast between the different hues.
Why Colors are Labeled as Warm and Cool
27.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Both warm andcool colors impact our visual perception of the
objects that we see. For example, warm colors will feel inviting
and comforting, and provide the illusion of heat and warmth.
Since these colors advance toward the eye, they work well in
large spaces in order to make them feel cozy and secure. Warm
colors can also be stimulating. They often evoke strong emotions
and promote activity, so these colors are ideal for gyms and
living rooms. Advertisers often use warm colors to provide a
sense of urgency, such as with red clearance signs, as well as
optimism and cheerfulness.
Psychological Effects of Warm and Cool Colors
28.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Cool colors havenearly the opposite effects of warm colors.
Receding from the eye, cool colors can make a space feel larger
and more open. These hues work well in smaller rooms in order
to increase the perceived size of the area. Additionally, cool
colors provide a sense of calm and relaxation. They are ideal for
small spaces that are intended to be tranquil, such as bathrooms
and bedrooms. Cool colors also influence people by evoking a
sense of health, tranquility and wisdom. Blue, purple and green
are utilized in advertising to convey trustworthiness and respect.
29.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
It is importantto pay attention to the characteristics of warm and
cool colors when choosing hues to use for a space or project.
The colors that you select can influence your perspective and
emotions, as well as those around you. Be sure to choose warm
and cool hues that represent the type of room or message that
you are trying to convey.
30.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Achieving harmony incolor combinations is
one of the main color theory principles. When
you create a new scheme, it might be tempting
to add dozens of colors to it. But it’s better to
avoid that temptation. Why? Because it’s really
hard to achieve a visual balance when you use
too many colors. You can also easily
overwhelm your users.
31.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
So how doyou avoid this? Keep your color
scheme simple, with a maximum of two or three
colors. Some designers think that two or three
colors will limit their creativity, but that’s not
true. It’s possible to create interesting visual
combinations by playing with shades and tints
of those colors. Simple schemes also work best
for your users.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
THE PSYCHOLOGY OFCOLOR
Focusing on the psychological aspects of color is an essential part of
understanding color theory. When you select a color palette for your
project, you’ll usually think about how things will look, but it’s equally
important to think about how they feel, too. Color has a powerful
psychological influence on the human brain, with each color representing
different meanings and emotions for your client.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Color Theory Termsand Definitions
● Color - Element of art derived from reflected light. We see color because light
waves are reflected from objects to your eyes.
● Color wheel -an illustrative tool used to help us define colors and their relationships
to one another
● Color scheme - The choice of colors used in a design plan.
● Primary colors - The most basic colors on the color wheel, red, yellow and blue.
These colors cannot be made by mixing.
44.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
● Secondary colors- colors that are made by mixing two primary colors together.
Orange, green and violet (purple).
● Tertiary colors - colors that are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary
color.
● Hue - the name of the color.
● Intensity - the brightness or dullness of a color. DO NOT CONFUSE WITH VALUE.
● Color value - the darkness or lightness of a color. Ex pink is a tint of red.
● Tints - are created by adding white to a color.