Podcast #2 Color Theory

The right use of color can do what? Maximize productivity, minimize visual fatigue, and relax the body.

Within the electromagnetic spectrum, which waves allow us to see color? Visible light

Describe white light? Equal parts of all the colors in the visible light spectrum.

How do we see color if objects "have no color of their own"? They absorb or reflect one or more of the colors in the visible light spectrum. The reflected color is the color we see.

What is a glass prism? A transparent triangular object that breaks white light into all of the colors of the visible light spectrum.

What seven colors result when white light is refracted through a prism? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

Describe hue? Hue is the color itself. Each hue is a different reflected wavelength.

When does white light occur? All wavelengths are reflected back to your eye.

When does black light occur? No light is reflected back to your eye.

How color is perceived depends on what? The type of light that the color is seen with and it's surroundings.

What is a color wheel? A visual tool that shows the relationship between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.

What are primary colors? Name them? Colors that can't be created by mixing other colors. Red, yellow, and blue.

What are secondary colors? Name them? Colors that are created when mixing two primary colors. Orange, green, and violet.

What are tertiary colors? Name them? Colors that are created when mixing a primary and secondary color. Red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet.

What are neutral colors? How can they be created? Colors of very low saturation that don't show up on the color wheel such as blacks, grays, whites, and browns. They can be created by mixing complementary colors.

How can a neutral color help a design? Help put the focus on other colors or to tone down other colors.

What are complementary colors? Name them? Colors that are positioned opposite of each other on the color wheel. Red and green, orange and blue, and yellow and violet.

What is color value? The lightness or darkness of a hue.

What is a shade? A low value color.

What is a tint? A high value color.

What is saturation/intensity? Brightness of a color.

What happens when you mix complementary colors together? You produce a dull tone.

Describe color harmony? Something that is pleasing to the eye that engages the viewer and creates a sense of order.

What is a color scheme? Harmonious color combinations.

Describe a monochromatic color scheme? Uses variations and shades of one color. It is clean and elegant and easy on the eyes.

Describe an analogous color scheme? Uses three colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel.

Describe a complementary color scheme? uses two colors that are opposite of each other on the color wheel.

Describe a split-complementary color scheme? Uses one color and two colors adjacent to it's complement.

Describe a triadic color scheme? Uses colors equally spaced around the color wheel.

What colors are considered to be warm colors? Yellows, oranges, and reds.

Describe a warm color scheme? Bold and energetic.

What colors are considered to be cool colors? Greens, blues, and violets.

Describe a cool color scheme? Calm and rarely overpowers the message of a design.

Why is important to consider which colors are being used within a design? You need to think of how colors are perceived to convey the right message and evoke the right response.