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 spectrum.

How do we see color if objects "have no color of their own"?
When the objects absorb or reflect colors in the visible spectrum into our eyes. Reflected color is the color we see.

What is a glass prism?
A transparent, triangular object that breaks white light into all 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?
The color itself. Each different hue is a different reflected wavelength. There are 7 hues (see above)

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

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

How color is perceived depends on what?
It depends on the type of light it is seen with, the lighting, and the background.

What is a color wheel?
A wheel that show the relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.

What are primary colors? Name them?
Red, Yellow, and Blue. You cannot make them with other paints.

What are secondary colors? Name them?
Mixed with two primaries, they are Green, Orange, and Purple.

What are tertiary colors? Name them?
Colors mixed with a primary and a secondary color. They are Blue-Green, Red-Violet, etc.

What are neutral colors? How can they be created?
Don't show up on the color wheel, they are colors with very low intensity as far as color (gray etc.). May be created by mixing complementary colors.

How can a neutral color help a design?
They help put focus on other colors in the work or to tone down the overpowering colors.

What are complementary colors? Name them?
Colors opposite on the color wheel. Red's complementary is green.

What is color value?
Lightness or darkness of a hue or color.

What is a shade?
Low value color.

What is a tint?
High value color.

What is saturation/intensity?
Brightness of a color.

What happens when you mix complementary colors together?
Make a dull tone. Complementary colors side by side increases the intensity, though.

Describe color harmony?
Pleasing arrangement of parts or colors.

What is a color scheme?
Arranged harmonious color combinations to engage the viewer and make it pleasing.

Describe a monochromatic color scheme?
Using one color but various tints to make it clean, elegant, and easy on the eyes.

Describe an analogous color scheme?
Three adjacent colors on the color wheel.

Describe a complementary color scheme?
Use complementary colors on the wheel.

Describe a split-complementary color scheme?
A color and the compliment's adjacent colors.

Describe a triadic color scheme?
Three colors equally spaced on the color wheel.

What colors are considered to be warm colors?
Red, orange, and yellow.

Describe a warm color scheme?
Expressed aggression, excitement and danger, and welcoming. Will overpower other colors in the design.

What colors are considered to be cool colors?
Blue, purple, green.

Describe a cool color scheme?
Calm, rarely overpowers the message. Gives the illusion of depth.

Why is important to consider which colors are being used within a design?

Make the colors seem pleasing to the eye for the viewer and have the viewer like the art.