Color Theory Notes from Transcript
Color Theory: Two Main Sectors
When we think color theory, it’s discussed in two main sectors:
Color harmony: which colors work well together vs. which combinations don’t.
Psychology of color: what emotions or feelings colors evoke.
Plan for the course: we’ll cover more on psychology and color usage in upcoming Adobe lessons (next week on Adobe Illustrator).
Hex Codes: Precise Color Identification
Hex codes are codes assigned to every color; even the slightest shade has its own unique code.
They provide a consistent color reference across platforms and tools (e.g., Adobe, Canva).
If you input a hex code into one platform and another, you should get the same color.
Practical note: hex codes are a precise organizing system for colors.
Example concept (not a specific code): you can specify a shade using a hex like #RRGGBB and get the exact color in any design tool.
Color Wheel Basics
Primary colors (the big three): red, yellow, blue.
There are three primary colors in this system; they combine to form other colors.
Secondary colors are formed by mixing two primaries:
Red + Yellow = Orange
Yellow + Blue = Green
Blue + Red = Purple
On a color wheel, secondary colors lie between their two primaries (e.g., between red and yellow is orange; between yellow and blue is green; between blue and red is purple).
The discussion reinforces a recap of the wheel learned earlier in school, but with a focus on practical application for design.
Color Relationships on the Wheel
Complementary colors: colors opposite each other on the wheel; they tend to create strong contrast.
Common complementary pairs: red & green, yellow & purple, blue & orange.
In class, examples were given for opposite pairs and how they work well together when used in contrast.
Analogous colors: colors next to each other on the wheel; they usually work well together and create harmonious schemes.
Example sequence mentioned: green, lime green, lime-yellow tones; yellow, yellow-green tones; etc.
Triadic colors: three colors evenly spaced around the wheel (forming a triangle on the wheel).
Typical triadic sets include: red, yellow, blue; or orange, green, purple.
Conceptual definition: equidistant spacing around the wheel (commonly at 120° increments).
Quick formulas (conceptual):
Complementary color relation: if a color has hue H, its complement has hue
H' = (H + 180^ ext{\circ}) \bmod 360^ ext{\circ}.Triadic relation: if a color has hue H, the other two in the triad have hues
H2 = (H + 120^ ext{\circ}) \bmod 360^ ext{\circ}, \quad H3 = (H + 240^ ext{\circ}) \bmod 360^ ext{\circ}.
Warm Colors vs Cool Colors
Warm colors: red, orange, yellow.
Tend to be in-your-face and attention-grabbing.
Cool colors: blue, green, purple.
Tend to be calmer and recede slightly in a composition.
The instructor used red as a focal color in some examples and contrasted it with blue to illustrate emphasis and composition.
Color Psychology: Emotions and Associations
There is a body of research suggesting that color can evoke emotion; the field includes debate about universality vs. cultural/contextual meaning.
In practice, color psychology informs branding, packaging, and marketing choices, particularly when you’re trying to stand out in a crowded shelf or page.
Color-emotion associations discussed:
Red: excitement, passion; warm color; tends to draw in attention and can be used as a main focal color.
Yellow: happiness, optimism; classic association with cheerfulness (e.g., the smiley face). Can convey health or vitality in some contexts.
Green: health, tranquility; commonly used by brands to suggest freshness or well-being.
Orange: bold and in-your-face; often linked to playful or kid-focused themes.
Purple: luxurious, high-end; historically associated with royalty and premium quality.
Black and white:
Traditionally strong, simple, and versatile; logos become more minimalist and iconic when reduced to black and white.
In recent years, luxury brands have moved toward simpler black-and-white logos for a clean, timeless look (e.g., Prada, Louis Vuitton).
Lego note:
The Lego logo is technically white, but it is almost always used on colored backgrounds, which affects color perception in branding.
Branding and Logos: Observations from the Lesson
There’s been a trend in the last five years toward simpler logos, especially among luxury brands.
The idea is to achieve clean, recognizable marks that scale well across media.
Contrast between colorful elements and neutral logo treatments can influence visibility and brand perception.
Classroom Activity: Create Your Own Color Wheel
Materials available: pencils, markers, paper; extra reference wheels behind the instructor’s desk.
Instructions for the color wheel project:
Draw and label the full color wheel with all color names.
On one side, label the primaries, secondaries, and tertiary colors.
On the other side, list the complementary colors, analogous colors, and triadic colors.
On the back, list the rainbow colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and for each color provide two brands that use that color in their branding. (As an aside, the instructor mentioned a few examples and noted there should be variety; the point is to think of real brands that leverage each color.)
Additional tips and notes:
If a color isn’t available, you can approximate by layering: e.g., put red first, then layer orange on top to achieve a close shade.
The classroom setup includes disinfectant circles for tracing; use the provided work area to avoid mess since the table surfaces are not cardstock-grade.
If you don’t finish in class, this becomes homework.
The teacher encouraged unique, personalized wheels rather than exact replicas of references; students were shown a few good examples as inspiration.
Practical Tips and References from the Session
Reference wheels behind the instructor serve as good starting points for your own designs, but creativity is encouraged.
If you need a visual guide, study the three reference wheels shown in class as solid examples to emulate or adapt.
The upcoming Adobe Illustrator lessons will provide more in-depth, hands-on practice with color theory in digital design.
Quick Recap
Color theory has two main focuses: harmony (how colors work together) and psychology (emotional impact).
Hex codes offer precise, cross-platform color identification.
The color wheel splits into primaries, secondaries, and tertiary colors, with relationships defined by complementary, analogous, and triadic schemes.
Warm and cool color groups influence perception and emphasis in design.
Color psychology supports color-emotion associations, though interpretations can vary; branding often leverages these associations strategically.
The class includes a hands-on activity to build personal color wheels with labeled color groups and branding examples, plus a back-side exercise listing rainbow colors and corresponding brand examples.
Homework and in-class materials emphasize neatness, non-permanent markers if possible, and creativity over exact replication of reference designs.