RA II Color Theory

What is the premise of color theory?

To be successful in embalming and restorative art you must have an understanding of the theory of color.

What will the knowledge of color theory assist in?

It will assist the sound judgment necessary for optimal performance within our profession.

What Areas of Funeral Service Require a Knowledge of Color Theory?

1. Cosmetic requirements of the deceased

2. Clothing/wardrobe considerations of the deceased

3. Casket interior colors

4. Flower arranging

5. Your own professional wardrobe and accessories

6. Funeral home lighting

7. Advertising (ads, logos, signage)

8. Web design

9. Product packaging

10. Funeral home décor

Describe Light colors

Soft, quiet, gentle

Describe darker colors

Serious, depth, weight

Describe clear tones

Energetic, youthful, friendly

Describe bright colors

Exciting, draws attention

Describe muted tones

Refined, serious, sophisticated, dull

Describe dull muddy colors

Somber, depressing

What emotions does the color white invoke?

purity, innocence, peace, goodness

What emotions does the color green invoke?

nature, rest, envy, money

What emotions does the color purple invoke?

royalty, wisdom, maturity, drama

What emotions does the color blue invoke?

Harmony, calmness, power, dignity

What emotions does the color black invoke?

Sophistication, power, gloom, misery, darkness, death, evil, badness

What emotions does the color red invoke?

Love, passion, vigor, power, activity, blood, pain, death

What type of sensation is color?

A visual one

What is color the response to?

To light of specific wave-lengths of radiant energy which strike the retina of the eye; this then transmits an impulse to the brain.

What lies within the retina?

six different layers of cells including the rods and cones.

What are rods in the eye?

responsible for our seeing varying degrees of light

What are cones in the eye?

responsible for our perception of color

Perception of color is a highly personal experience and can be influenced by:

• Past experience or association

• Aesthetic preference

• Eye fatigue

• Sharpness of vision (visual acuity)

• Color blindness

What are some factors that can influence our perception of color?

• Color’s appearance can be influenced by the type and amount of illumination

• One color’s appearance can be influenced by another adjacent color (emphasize or diminish)

• Color begins with light. Without it there is no perceptible color.

what is the color spectrum?

The original scientific standard of color

• When a beam of light is passed through a prism, it is dispersed, or broken down into 7 individual colors called a spectrum.

• As the light exits on the other side of the prism the colors you see are the 7 colors of the spectrum.

List the colors of the color spectrum

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue

Indigo

Violet

All color originates from a source of light known as __________, which is a mixture of all colors.

white light

What type of light is daylight?

White light

What technically, has no color of its own, but, rather absorbs certain rays and reflects other?

Pigment

What does pigment do to get its characteristic color?

It will reflect the ray which is responsible for its characteristic color.

• Lips absorb all colors but red, which is reflected

Define spectrum

The progressive arrangement of colors (Roy G. Biv) that appear when a beam of light is dispersed (broken down) into its component colors.

Define dispersion

The separation of light waves

Define absorption

Colored objects absorb rays of light, which illuminate it, while others are reflective.

Define reflection

The return of light from a source

The color of an object is the ______________

reflected color

What are the three dimensions of color?

1. Hue

2. Value

3. Intensity (Saturation)

Define hue

The property of a color by which it is distinguished from another

• The name by which we know it or the word used to describe it.

  • Ex: Red

Define Value

The lightness or darkness of a color.

• A light value is high and a dark value is low

• For example you cannot see hue in a black and white movie but you can see value.

• Just as different clothes with different colors are distinguished by their value of colors.

  • Ex: Light red vs. dark red

How might the value of colors be altered?

by the addition of proper pigments to create tints or shades.

Define tint

A hue into which various quantities of white are mixed. The whites dilute the color, lightening the value.

• Ex: Red + White = Pink

Define shade

A hue into which various quantities of black are mixed. The black darkens the value.

• Ex: Red + Black = Burgundy

Match a photo of shades

Match a photo of tints

Define intensity (saturation)

The amount of strength a color, or hue, has.

• It describes the degree of purity, or the brightness or dullness, of a hue.

Define tone

A hue mixed with either a small quantity of gray, or a compliment of that hue, resulting in a dulling, making it more neutral or less intense.

Define achromatic color

A color not found in the visible spectrum; a neutral color such as gray, black or white. (Black and white technically aren’t colors but are rather the addition or subtraction of light.)

Define monochromatic color

A variation of one hue or a tone, tint or shade of a hue.

Match a photo of tones

Match a photo of hues

Match a photo of intensity

Match a photo of values

Match a photo of achromatic

Match a photo of monochromatic

What is Prangs System of Pigment Color Theory?

A Color Wheel - An illustrative model of hues arranged in a circle.

• It shows the relationships between the primary, secondary, and intermediate/tertiary colors.

List the categories on the prang color wheel

1. Primary Hues (3)

2. Secondary Hues (3)

3. Intermediate Hues (6)

4. Complimentary Hues

List the primary hues

RED BLUE YELLOW

What are the characteristics of the primary hues?

• Primary colors are three hues that can be combined to make all other hues.

• All colors originate from these three primary hues.

• Primary pigment hues cannot be produced by mixtures of other hues.

• The mixture of these three primary hues, in equal amounts, produces gray.

List the secondary hues

PURPLE ORANGE GREEN

Describe the secondary hues

Secondary hues are equal mixtures of two primary hues

• RED + BLUE = PURPLE

• BLUE + YELLOW = GREEN

• YELLOW + RED = ORANGE

Match a photo of the primary colors

Match a photo of the secondary colors

List the intermediate hues

• Red-Orange

• Yellow-Green

• Blue-Violet

• Yellow-Orange

• Blue-Green

• Red-Violet

Describe the intermediate hues

Equal mixtures of a primary and secondary color

• It is customary to list the primary color first.

List the complimentary hues

• Yellow & Purple

• Yellow-Green & Red-Violet

• Red & Green

• Blue-Green & Red-Orange

• Blue & Orange

• Yellow-Orange & Blue-Violet

Describe the complimentary hues

Colors found directly opposite one another on the color wheel.

How do you determine complimentary colors?

Refer to a color wheel. The color directly opposite your color is its compliment.

How do you find the compliment of a primary color?

By mixing the two remaining primary colors.

• Red (Yellow + Blue) = Green

How do you find the compliment of a secondary color?

By mixing the two remaining secondary colors.

• Orange (purple + green) = blue

What is an analogous color?

Two or more hues that have the same hue in common.

• They are located adjacent to one another on the color wheel.

Define Juxtaposition

Simultaneous contrasts.

When any two hues are placed side by side or one hue is superimposed upon the other:

• If they are compliments, they will enrich each other.

• If they are not compliments, they will dull each other.

  • Ex: Red + Green = Compliment = Enriched

Define after image

Visual impressions remaining after a stimulus is removed.

• If you stare at a sheet of colored paper and then stop, a flash of the color’s compliment will appear.

  • Ex: Blue’s compliment is orange

Define warm color

A color characterized by long wavelengths; makes objects appear closer and larger and reflects warmth.

• Orange is the warmest hue.

Define cool color

A color characterized by short wavelenghts; makes objects appear to recede and reflects coldness.

• Blue is the coolest hue.

Whats a tip for warm and cool colors?

To determine between warm and cool colors divide the color wheel in half at yellow/yellow-green and violet/red-violet