Color Theory & the Color Wheel

A Color Wheel

How do we “see” color?

How we “see” color:  Color is a sensation. Its our eyes reaction to wavelengths of light.

What are “wavelengths?

What are “wavelengths”? When we see color, we see certain wavelengths in light reflected back to our rod and cones in our eyes. When we see something white, all wavelengths are being reflected back to our eyes. When we see black no wavelengths are being reflected. Black and white are not colors.

White light is what?

White light is  White light is composed of different wavelengths. A prism can separate light into these wavelengths. In this sense, white is the addition of all colors, and black is the absence of color.

a HUE is ??

the name of the “color”

What are Color Schemes?

Color Schemes are a systematic way of using the “Color Wheel” to put colors together.

VALUE is??

 is how light or dark the color appears.  (think about if you were to photocopy it)

Tints are?

Shades

Tints & Shades Tints are used to lighten a color using white. Shades are used to darken a color using black or the color’s opposite.

Saturation ???

 Is the brightness & dullness of a color

Contrast is???

 Is the difference between the colors, textures, value & shape

What are these colors?  RED  YELLOW  BLUE

Primary colors:  RED  YELLO W  BLUE

What are these colors?  ORANG E  GREEN  VIOLET

Secondary colors:  ORANGE  GREEN  VIOLET

Monochromatic means?

Monochromatic is a color scheme made of one color and all its tints and shades. Mono = One

Complementary colors are?

Complementary are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.

Split Complementary are??

Split Complementary is a color and the two colors on either side of its complement.

Analogous colors are??

Analogous colors are colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. They are also known as color families.

Triad colors are?

A Triad is made of colors that are equally spaced apart on the color wheel.

Warm and Cool The color wheel can be equally divided into warm and cool colors. Warm colors are the colors found in fire and the sun. Cool colors are the colors of water and shade. Cool Warm

What are these colors?  RED  ORANG E  YELLO W

Warm  RED  ORANGE  YELLOW

What are these colors called ? BLUE  GREEN  VIOLET

Cool  BLUE  GREEN  VIOLET

Neutrals are what?

Neutrals Neutrals are black, white, & browns. They are not considered “colors”. Browns are all primaries mixed together, black is the absence of color and white is the reflection of all color.

Final Exam Slide Show  Starting on # 51 on your scan-tron sheet