COLOR DESIGN’S MOST EXCITING ELEMENT
Hue Value Intensity COLOR HAS THREE DIMENSIONS OR QUALITIES:
HUE RED YELLOW VIOLET The name given to a color.
VALUE The lightness or darkness of a color
INTENSITY The brightness or dullness of a color. FUSCHIA - HIGH INTENSITY OLIVE - LOW INTENSITY
TINT Made by adding white to a color so that it is lighter. + = HUE WHITE TINT
SHADE Made by adding black to a color so that it is darker. + = HUE BLACK SHADE
NEUTRALS (NOT REALLY COLORS) No color All colors White + Black Can be used with most colors White Black Gray Beige
COLOR WHEEL A GUIDE TO STUDY HOW TO CHOOSE AND COMBINE COLORS
PRIMARY COLORS The three colors from which all other colors can be made. Cannot be made from any other colors. Equal distance from each other on color wheel. RED YELLOW BLUE
SECONDARY COLORS Made by mixing equal amounts of 2 primary colors + = + + = = ORANGE GREEN VIOLET
INTERMEDIATE (TERTIARY) HUES Made by mixing equal amounts of adjoining primary and secondary colors.
THE COLOR WHEEL CAN BE DIVIDED INTO WARM AND COOL COLORS
WARM COLORS Appear hot like the sun or like fire Give feelings of gaiety, activity or cheerfulness Appear to advance-they make body look larger Can give a nervous impression if overdone
COOL COLORS Remind us of water or sky Give feelings of quietness or restfulness Appear to recede and make body look smaller Can be depressing if overdone
Types of Color Schemes
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR SCHEME One-color plan that uses different tints, shades and intensities of a color. BLUE
ANALOGOUS COLOR SCHEME Uses adjacent or neighboring colors on the color wheel with varying values and intensities of the colors.
COMPLEMENTARY COLOR SCHEME Uses hues that are opposite each other on the color wheel.
SPLIT-COMPLEMENTARY COLOR SCHEME Uses three colors, one color with the two colors on each side of its complement. VIOLET
TRIAD COLOR SCHEME Combines three colors equidistant on the color wheel.
ACCENTED NEUTRAL COLOR SCHEME Combines white, black, gray or sometimes beige with a bright color accent.