1. Basic properties of color: hue, value, and saturation.
A very quick intro to Color Physics

2. Isaac Newton: by refracting rays of light through a prism, he discovered color was a function of light, and that all color is contained in sunlight.

3. Isaac Newton
In 1672 Isaac Newton executed a series of experiments where he refracted (bent) rays of sunlight through a prism. In these experiments, he discovered that all color is a function of light, and that sunlight contains the 6 colors we are familiar with in the rainbow.

4. The colors of the rainbow are known as the VISIBLE SPECTRUM OF LIGHT, aka the Spectral Hues
These spectral hues are the basic colors we work with.

5. The electromagnetic spectrum of visible light also contains other wavelengths of energy imperceptible to the human eye

6. There are three color systems:
Additive color: the light-based color system, discovered by Isaac Newton.
Subtractive color, which uses pigments (paints), and which produces black when all colors are mixed together. So named because light is removed when colors are mixed.
Process color, the color system used for photos and printing.

7. Subtractive Color

8. Primary Colors- ‘base colors’ we use to make other colors.
RED
BLUE
Yellow
These are the primary colors in the subtractive (pigment based) color system. Mixing two primary colors produces Secondary colors: Orange, Green, Purple.
Primary colors cannot be mixed from other colors.

9. .
The color system Newton discovered is the Additive, or Light-based color system, where colors mix to create white light. It is known as the additive system, because light is increased, or added, when the colors are mixed.
In the Additive System Blue, Green, and Red are the Primary Colors.

10. the Process (printing and photo) system
In the Process system, cyan, magenta, and yellow are the primary colors.

11. HUE
The color quality identified by a color’s name. This is determined by a color’s light wavelength.
Any of the colors below fall under the general hue “red”.
Blue and green are hues, light green is not a hue, it is a description of a specific green.

12. Saturation The purity or intensity of a color, how ‘true’ it is.
When a color is at its purest, it is highest in saturation
A color with no white, black, gray, etc added is said to be at Full Saturation, or Highly Saturated.
Saturation becomes lower, the more it is mixed

13. Stuart Davis
Example of a painting using mostly saturated Primary Colors

14. Colors that have been mixed or blended with other colors are Low(er) in Saturation.

15. Vermeer
Primary colors, but lower in saturation

16. Saturated Colors are known as ‘Chromatic Hues’
Colors that are desaturated until they resemble brown or gray are known as NEUTRALS.
Brown, black, gray, tan, beige---all neutral colors

17. VALUE refers to how light or dark a surface is.
Julie Heffernan

18. Achromatic value is value absent of color, purely mixtures black and white
A value scale is a representation of progressive value transitions, from pure white to pure black.
A middle value, found in the center of the scale is called a MID-TONE.

19. Chromatic and Achromatic Value
Achromatic neutrals, grays that are mixes of black and white.
Chromatic neutrals are neutrals mixed from Chromatic Hues colors to create grays or browns.
Achromatic
Chromatic

20. Value: the amount of light or dark in colors
Colors have inherent values. In these Chromatic Value Scales the step at Full Saturation (full purity) arrives at different point in each scale. In yellow, it is step 4, red: step 7, blue: step 9. This is because pure blue is inherently darker than pure yellow.

21. To change a color’s saturation, as well as it’s value:
TINTS: Color +White
Shades: Color + Black
Tones: Color + Gray

22. Why Study Color Theory?

24. For class next week: Bring all necessary supplies
Bring one example of great use of color found in art, design, film, video games, fashion, etc. either print it out (in color) or bring it on a flashdrive.