|
|
COLOR THEORY
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. If you have ever taken a painting class or even a chemistry or astronomy class, you may be familiar with ROYGBIV - the colors (that we can see) as they appear in order in the natural spectrum of light. They appear on a spectrum according to their wavelength - or rather, our eyes interpret the different wavelengths as these colors. This spectrum naturally goes from red to violet - from shortest to longest wavelength.
Color is a fascinating phenomenon, and a greater understanding of the science behind color, its cultural associations, psychological & physiological effects are of great use to any graphic designer or business owner - or anyone who wants to coordinate an outfit! Color can be used to sell products, induce and suppress hunger, and so much more.
Basic Color Theory
 |
The Primary Colors: red, blue, and yellow.
These are the three colors in traditional color theory that can be mixed together to create all the other colors. Conversely, because they are the "basics" - no combination of the other colors can be mixed to form red, yellow, or blue.
|
 |
Secondary Colors: green, orange and purple
These colors result when the primary colors are mixed together (ex: blue + red = purple) |
 |
Tertiary Colors & the Twelve Part Color Wheel
Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green and yellow-green.
These colors result from mixing a primary and a secondary color. Hence the two word names; such as blue-green, red-violet, and yellow-orange. |
| |
The Color Wheel
According to Wikipedia color theory is "a body of practical guidance to color mixing and the visual impacts of specific color combinations. Although color theory principles first appear in the writings of Leone Battista Alberti (c.1435) and the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (c.1490), a tradition of "colory theory" begins in the 18th century, initially within a partisan controversy around Isaac Newton's theory of color (Opticks, 1704) and the nature of so-called primary colors. From there it developed as an independent artistic tradition with only superficial reference to colorimetry and vision science"
Since that time, scientists and artists have studied and developed many variations of this simple concept. Differences of opinion about the validity of one format over another continue to provoke debate. In reality, any color circle or color wheel which presents a logically arranged sequence of pure hues has merit.
|
To learn more about color theory, associations with colors and how color can be used in advertising click the links below.
Color Meanings
|
