Color Theory

Additive vs. Subtractive Color Additive Color Used when working with rays of colored LIGHT (such as a theatre lighting, computer and TV monitors) Primary colors are red, blue and green When red, blue and green light overlap you get white light Subtractive Color Used when working with PIGMENTS (such as paint) Primary colors are red, blue and yellow When red, blue and yellow paint are mixed, you get black paint (or close to it) Subtractive color is how we see most of the world. A leaf is green because when white light hits it, the pigment in the leaf absorbs (or "subtracts") all the wavelengths of color in light except for green, which it reflects back to us and we see "green"

Color Wheel (for "Subtractive" or Pigment-Based Color)

Primary Colors (for Subtractive Color)

Secondary Colors (for Subtractive Color)

Tertiary Colors (for Subtractive Color)

Complementary Colors -Colors across from each other on the color wheel

Analogous Colors: -Colors next to each other on the color wheel and have a color in common.

Monochromatic means… A ONE-colored color scheme that includes tints and shades. Pick ONE color – add white and black to it (tints and shades).

Other Color Theory Terms Color is described in terms of 3 physical properties: Hue Generic name that we give to each color "Red," "blue," "orange," etc. are all different hues Value The term for the lightness or darkness of a color Each hue can be changed in value by adding black or white to the hue Intensity or Saturation The terms for the "quality" of a color, or the relative brightness or dullness of it

Warm and Cool Colors Warm Colors (think fire) Red, orange, and yellow Tend to be dominant in a composition -Advance or come forward on the picture plane Cool Colors (think water) Blue, green, violet Tend to recede or go back in a composition

SHADE – a color to which BLACK has been added

TINT – a color to which WHITE has been added                                          

Neutral Colors: Neutral color is not associated with a hue. Neutral colors include browns, blacks, grays, and whites.

Color and Emotion We can use color to create mood and symbolize ideas For example: Reds are thought of as active and exciting Blues are thought of as sad or calm Some of the emotions that colors bring out in people are cultural

Natural vs. Subjective Color Natural Color Using the natural color of an object Examples include a green leaf or a red strawberry Subjective or Symbolic Color Using a color palette decided on by the artist, not by nature Examples include a purple cow or green sky

RGB – Primary Colors for Additive Color CMYK – for Printers. K = Key or Black

Color printing typically uses ink of four colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black). When CMY “primaries” are combined at full strength, the resulting “secondary” mixtures are red, green, and blue. Mixing all three theoretically results in black, but imperfect ink formulations do not give true black, which is why the additional K component is needed.