Floriculture Elements of Design COLORCOLORCOLORCOLOR

What is Color? Color is NOT a physical property… It is a “sensation” that is associated with an object

How is Color created? We see varying light rays as color Objects have no true color of their own: They reflect certain rays of white light, which contains all of the colors Remember ROY G BIV? As the light changes, the color of the object changes

Color Expression Color is expressed in PIGMENTS - agents that reflect or absorb light All colors are seen in conjunction with others Even in the same light, colors will appear differently depending on what is next to them

The psychology of Color Consider the following when selecting components: Personal taste of the customer Occasion (happy, sad, romantic, festive) Style Lighting where design will be placed Mental Associations with color Viewing distance from design Fashion trends

Color Terminology Color Wheel Hue: the true color Value: lightness or darkness of a hue Tint: a hue plus white (ex: sky) Shade: a hue plus black (ex: navy) Neutralizer: dulls a color (gray & the color’s complement)

Color Terminology Chroma: intensity or purity of a hue Complement: colors opposite one another on the color wheel Warm colors: Red, Orange, Yellow (think sunsets) Cool colors: Blue, Green, Violet (think oceans and forests)

Color Balance Group colors for visual balance Remember, darker colors ‘weigh’ more How to balance color: –Use more of a lighter color than darker –Use a small amount of brilliant colors with larger amounts of duller colors –Repeat colors

Color Rhythm Two methods for achieving color rhythm: Transition: –Gradual change from one hue to another Repetition: –Use a color in more than one area rather than just once

Color Dominance Unequal amounts of color –One color is more important Area Dominance or mass effect –Using more of one color than another

Color Contrast Differences in hues can be emphasized by placing them close together Two kinds of contrasts: –Quiet, subtle: close viewing; light blue, pink, lavender –Strong, sharp: distance viewing or low light areas; bold complementary colors

Color and Lighting Fluorescent light: –Intensifies blues, violets and greens –Deadens reds, oranges and yellows Incandescent light: –Deadens blues, violets and greens –Intensifies reds, oranges and yellows

Color and Lighting Natural light makes all colors more brilliant Subdued light makes all colors appear dull Front lighting removes shadows (flat) Top lighting broadens designs Side lighting adds height Back lighting adds depth (creates shadows)

Color and Harmony Monochromatic: –Uses 1 hue and its values –Mood is subtle and comforting –Contrasts are weak; use for close viewing Complementary: –Combines 2 colors that are opposite on the color wheel –Mood: Vibrant and exciting –Contrasts are strong; use for distance viewing

Color and Harmony Triad: –Combines 3 equidistant colors on color wheel –Mood is festive –Contrasts are great, but not as much as complementary Near Complementary: –Combines 2 colors, a hue and its near complements –Mood is less intense, but contrast is still good

Color and Harmony Split Complementary: –Combines 3 colors, a hue and both complements –Mood is more subtle than complementary and more colorful than near complementary –Contrast is not always clear Analogous: –Combines 3 to 6 adjacent colors on the color wheel, skipping no colors –Mood is subtle and pleasing –Contrasts are not great, so view close up