You can greatly enhance any graphic or sketch with the careful addition of colour. There are more rules than you might think regards what colours should be used when. You will get to know what the main rules are by studying the following couple of pages. These are the basic colours ; RED, YELLOW and BLUE. These are made by mixing two PRIMARY colours together. These are made by mixing a PRIMARY & SECONDARY colour. These are colours which are opposite each other on the colour wheel. These are colours which are near each other on the colour wheel. The basic colour Lighter or darker than the basic hue The basic hue mixed with some white The basic hue mixed with some black When a colour moves through a variety of tones from light to dark, this is termed a gradient. This effect is used a lot to give the impression that an object is three dimensional. Gradients can be stepped like the first example here or they can be more gradual as shown in the second. MANDATORY WARNING SAFETY PROHIBITION

There is no absolute right and wrong when it comes to selecting the right colour for a particular task. Colour is only unsuitable if it is used inappropriately or in combinations which are inharmonious. The choice of colours and colour combinations often comes down to nothing more than personal taste. However, equally as often the choice is governed by a set of rules which will be explained on this page. Keep in mind you will have to say why you chose the colours that you did for every piece of work in your folio and you should rarely, if ever, break any of the rules on this page. So get to know them ! Here are some of the rules governing some colours. Do you agree with them all ? WHAT COLOURS TO USE... AND WHEN ! BLACK GREY BROWN VIOLET PURPLE GREEN ORANGE BLUE YELLOW RED Great power of attraction but too much can be tiring. Hot, bold, exciting, festive, passionate, positive. Red can be associated with rage, aggression, danger, courage, masculinity and speed. The colour which is most easily seen (luminous). Bright, pleasant, happy, sunny, lively and cheerful. Yellow is often associated with sunshine and holidays. Blue is more formal than red or yellow. Cool, sophisticated, aristocratic, serene, passive, elegant and reliable. Rarely used in food because of its association with mould. Sunny, cheerful, warm and happy. Orange is one of the appetite colours associated with flavour and energy. Green is the most restful of all of the colours. Fresh, youthful, cool, soothing, natural and informal. It is also associated with safety, health and environmental concern. Purple combines the courage of red and the nobility of blue. Rich, pompous, impressive and regal. Purple is also seen as the colour preferred by moody people ! Cool, negative, retiring, subdued and solemn. Violet is associated with peacefulness. Safe, reliable, wholesome and natural. Brown is often associated with the earth. Neutral, sedate, dignified, dull and inconspicuous. Grey is often associated with old age. Luminous, positive, light, delicate, cold and clean. White is often associated with innocence and purity. Subdued, solemn, heavy and profound. Black is often associated with death, sorrow and evil. SOME FUNCTIONS OF COLOUR Political colours, National colours. Interior decoration Colour coding Warning signs and advertising Corporate identity Packaging International signs and symbols Traffic lights Army uniforms and team colours Receding/advancing, Heavy/light

COLOUR In Graphic Communication we use colour extensively. However, we do not simply use it for the sake of using it. We use it for specific purposes. We select certain colours to render, design and tone products to suit the individual environment.

The colour wheel is made up of every colour in the visible spectrum. Inside the colour wheel we have primary, secondary and tertiary colours. THE COLOUR WHEEL

COLOUR ASSOCIATION We are surrounded by colours everywhere and colours are involved in everything we do, both consciously and sub-consciously. In the following few slides we will take a look at what certain colours mean to us and how they are manipulated in every day life...

Red is associated with areas such as passion, danger, speed, stopping, blood, fear and warmth. Certain items will be coloured red due to this colour association. COLOUR ASSOCIATION

Blue is a formal colour, it is associated with sophistication, elegance and reliability. It is a cool colour which is rarely used in foods as it is associated with mould! For this reason, chef’s sticking plasters are blue. COLOUR ASSOCIATION

Yellow is an easily seen, luminous colour. It is associated with brightness, sunshine, holidays, being happy and cheerful. COLOUR ASSOCIATION

Orange is similar to yellow in its associations. Orange is linked with areas such as warmth, fire, sun, being happy, cheerful and is also associated with flavour and energy. COLOUR ASSOCIATION

Green is a very restful and peaceful colour. It is associated with areas such as nature, health, the environment, informal, youthful and cool. COLOUR ASSOCIATION

Purple combines the courage of red and the nobility of blue. It is a rich, pompous, impressive and regal colour. COLOUR ASSOCIATION

White is luminous, positive, light, delicate and clean. It is also associated with innocence and purity in our culture but with death in some other cultures. COLOUR ASSOCIATION

Black is very subdued, solemn, profound, it is associated with death, sorrow and evil in our culture. COLOUR ASSOCIATION back to menu