Color Theory Terminology

Color

The quality of an object or substance

with respect to light reflected by the

object. We determine color by visually

measuring hue, saturation, and value.

Afterimage

A common optical effect in which an

additional color seems to appear at

the edge of an observed color. When a

color is placed against an achromatic

background it’s afterimage will be the

color’s complement.

Color Interaction

A color’s character is dependent upon

it’s context because colors interact

with each other where they meet.

Color Symbolism

Color symbolism is based upon

automatic associations attached to

colors or color combinations that are

learned and culturally determined. In

many ways color are linked to abstract

ideas like love, mortality, authority, or

nationhood.

CMYK

Used for

print purposes, a

subtractive color,

meaning that we begin

with white and end up

with black. If we add

more colors together, the

values get darker.

RGB

Color model that is

used for on-screen

purposes. Is a

additive color, meaning

that when mixing colors,

we start with black and

end up with white as more

colors are added

Hue

The name given to a color to describe

it’s location on the color spectrum

based upon its wavelength

Saturation

Sometimes also called intensity or

chroma, saturation refers to the

relative purity of hue present in a

color. A highly saturated color vividly

shows a strong presence of hue;

conversely, low saturation refers to a

weak hue presence.

Value

The relative quality of lightness or

darkness in a color

Greyscale

A graduated representation of the

value continuum broken down into a

finite number of steps, usually ten,

eleven, or twelve achromatic greys.

Achromatic Grey

Greys that are created by mixing black

and white. Achromatic Grays have no

evident coloration when seen against a

white background.

Chromatic Greys

Subtle colors that result from

considerably lowering the saturation

level of prismatic colors. Chromatic

Greys weakly exhibit the distinguishing

quality of the hue family to which they

belong

Muted Color

Rich but softened colors that reside in

our color wheel between prismatic

color and chromatic grey

Prismatic Colors

Pure Hues that represent the colors of

the color spectrum at their highest

saturation level. While these are

theoretically infinite in number, our

color wheel distributes them evenly

into twelve major hues

Additive Color

Color as seen in light. Additive color

primaries are red, green, and blue

violet; when they are combined the

result is white ligh

Subtractive color

Color seen in pigment as the result of

reflected light.

Color Wheel

A circular depiction of the various

colors and their interrelationships

Luminosity

Luminosity is light reflected from a

surface; in color, it is tied to value. The

lighter the color, the more luminous it

is. This can be measured with a light

sensor. In the example on the left,

luminosity builds as the colors

progress toward top center of the

sphere.

Anomaly

An irregularity; a deviation from a

norm. An anomalous color is one that

breaks sharply with the dominant

tonal quality established by a group of

colors.

Bridge Tones

Tones, tints and shades that combine

qualities of two distinctly different

colors and act to soften those

differences when placed near them in

a comparison.

Complimentary Hues

Hues that lie directly opposite each

other on the color wheel.

Color Constancy

The phenomenon that as light changes, so does our perception of color

Gradient

A gradual change in one color

in terms of one of color’s

three independent parts.

Two common types of

gradients are the linear

gradient where one color sits

on opposite sides of the

frame, and a radial gradient

where one color sits in the

middle, and another at the

edge.

Opacity

The degree of

transparency an

element has. The

lower the opacity, the

more transparent an

element is.

High Key

What an image is said to be when the

colors in it are predominantly light in

value

Low Key

What an image is said to be when the

colors in it are predominantly dark in

value

Monochromatic

A color scheme based on one hue

Simultaneous Contrast

Simultanious contrast is the optical

effect that two neighboring colors

have upon each other as their

afterimages interact along a shared

border.

Primary Triad

Red Yellow and Blue

- VS -

Magenta Yellow and Cyan

In theory by mixing two or three of

these colors from the true primary

triad, that any color can be achieved,

while primary colors themselves are

unobtainable through mixing.

Secondary Color

In the RYB system, Orange, Green, and

Violet are considered the secondary

colors. They are called secondary

because each can be made by

combining two primaries

Tertiary Color

Also called intermediate colors;

combining a primary color and a

secondary color. (i.e. yellow orange)

Analogous Hues

Hues that lie adjacent to each other on

the color wheel (i.e. yellow, yellow

green, green)

Color Harmonies

Visually pleasing color combinations

Tint

The result of mixing a color with white

Tone

A color with grey added

Shade

The result of mixing a color with black

Paint

Pigment and Binder

A mixture of pigment and binder; paint

is intended to dry and last as a colored

decorative layer. Paint can also be

used as a verb (to paint.)

Palette

Selection of colors you choose to use for your design

Co-Primaries

The result of the subdivision of the

(subtractive) primary triad into three

pairs consisting of cool and warm

versions of each hue