Color Theory

COLOR

The property of an object that causes the perception or sensation of certain light to activate the eyes.

HUE

Another word for color. Used especially for describing similar colors.

INTENSITY / CHROMA / SATURATION

How bright or strong a color is or appears.

VALUE

Refers to the relative light or dark of a color.

TINTS and SHADES

Add white, it's a tint. Add black, it's a shade.

THE COLOR WHEEL

The visible spectrum (electromagnetic spectrum) bent into a circle.

PRIMARY

A color that cannot be made by mixing any colors. Equidistant from each other in the color wheel. Can be used to mix to create all other colors.

SECONDARY

Mixing two primaries in equal ratio. (Yellow+Red=Orange, Yellow+Blue=Green, Red+Blue=Purple)

TERTIARY

Mixing primary and secondary in equal ratio. (Examples: Red+Orange=Red Orange, Blue+Green=Blue Green, Yellow+Green=Yellow Green, etc.)

COMPLIMENTARY

Opposite colors on the color wheel have high contrast (Blue & Orange, Red & Green, Yellow & Purple). Mixing them makes a tone by cutting intensity.

ANALOGOUS

Colors close to each other on the color wheel.

CONTRASTING

Colors opposite to each other on the color wheel.

DEPTH

Warmer colors appear in front of cooler colors.

WARM and COOL

Colors have a temperature. Greens, Blues and Purples are cool. Yellows, Oranges and Reds are warm. Temperature is relative to surrounding colors.

COUNTERCHANGE

Placing light against dark or vice versa.