A&G (Color Theory)
Uploaded by
Anushka KhatriA&G (Color Theory)
Uploaded by
Anushka KhatriTheory of Colours
• Light is the source of all colours, as all colours are visible only in the presence of
light
• Colour is in sunlight also, since when sunlight passes through a prism, it separates
into different colours, viz. violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red
• Scientifically speaking, colour is the name given to the reflection of wavelengths
from different surfaces.
• When light comes into contact with a surface and reflects all the wavelengths
equally, then we see white colour, whereas if the surface absorbs all the
wavelengths, then we see black colour.
• if the surface doesn’t absorb the blue rays, but absorbs all the other colours, then
we see blue colour
There are a number of colour theories developed for various fields of
application, viz.
1. Pigment colour theory – This theory is used for the mixing up all the
paints and pigments; it is also used for the manufacture of paints
and pigments
2. Psychologist’s theory – Based on the perception of different colours
by the human eye
3. Munsell theory – This system describes the colour by its 3
parameters, viz. hue, value and chroma. The human eye can
distinguish only within limits the differences in any of the above.
Emotional effects of colours
Colour has dimensions, movement and weight. Each colour
has its unique identity … hence, it can be used to represent
any brand … or even a nation
a) Yellow – Cheerfulness, sympathy, prosperity, … reflects more light
b) Red – Power, aggression, warmth, longing, poison
c) Blue – Calmness, coldness
d) Orange – Courage, friendliness
e) Green – Refreshment, pleasing
f) Purple – Dignity, mooring
g) White – Coolness, sensitivity, purity
h) Black – Mystery, sophistication, strength
i) Grey – No effect (black + white)
Colours and seasons
Certain colours express different seasons of a year, along with its
respective feelings, viz.
• Spring – Starting with blue, through blue-green to green; Feeling –
Birth, New beginnings
• Summer – Green, yellow-green and yellow; Feeling – Maturity,
knowledge
• Autumn – Orange, red, red-violet; Feeling – Decline, growing old
• Winter – Blue, blue-violet, violet; Feeling – Death, sleep, stagnation
Branches of learning are also identified with colour, viz.
• Orange – Engineering
• Green – Medicine
• Purple – Law
• Blue – Philosophy
• Golden yellow – Science
• Pink – Music
• White – Arts
Munsell Colour theory –
This system describes the colour by its 3 parameters, viz.
hue, value and chroma.
HUE – The quality of light, which distinguishes red from blue, yellow from blue
e.t.c.
CHROMA/ SATURATION (or intensity)
• A colour may vary in its strength or chroma. Chroma is also referred to as the
purity or saturation of a colour, and gives a measure of the strength or purity
of a colour
• It is defined as the percentage of hue present in a given colour. A strong-
chroma red would be very bright and pure, while a weak chroma red is dull
and grayish.
VALUE (or luminosity/ brightness) –
• A colour may vary in lightness or darkness, called the dimension
or value of the colour. It is associated with the capacity to emit
more or less light.
• In simple language, it means bright or dull. It is the scale of the
measurement of lightness or darkness of colour, without
changing its hue.
• Value is the amount of lightness in colour by mixing white (or
black). For example, red might be a high-value red (light red) or a
low value (dark red).
• TINT– It is the softness of colour nearer to white i.e. tint =
colour + white
• TONE - It is the darkness of colours nearer to black, i.e. tone =
colour + black
• SHADE = colour + grey
HUE – The quality of light, which distinguishes red from blue, yellow
from blue e.t.c. Hues are of many types as shown below: -
– Primary hues: These are primary colours which cannot be obtained by mixing
up of any other colours in any proportion and are hence, termed as primary
hues/ colours, namely red, blue and yellow.
– Secondary hues: They are obtained by mixing two primary hues; hence, they
are termed as secondary hues. They are also 3 in number, viz. green, obtained by
mixing blue and yellow; purple, by mixing red and blue and orange, by mixing
red and yellow
– Tertiary hues: They are obtained by the mixing of any pair of
secondary colours, viz.
• olive green (green + purple)
• russet (orange + purple)
• citron (orange + green)
– Quarternary hues: They are obtained by the mixture of any
pair of tertiary colours, viz
• Sage (citron + olive green)
• Buff (citron + russet)
• Plum (olive green + russet)
COLOUR WHEEL
• Consists of the colours of the rainbow, arranged in a
circular fashion.
• Colour wheel can be used to explain the main
relationship of colours.
• An understanding of these relationships is useful for
choosing furniture-coverings, paints and others.
COLOUR WHEEL
Types of Colour Wheel
1. PRANG COLOUR WHEEL (12 colours)
2. CLASSICAL COLOUR WHEEL (12 colours)
3. MUNSELL COLOUR WHEEL (10 colours)
COLOUR SCHEMES
• Related colour scheme
– Monochromatic (Single colour)
– Analogous
– Cool/ receding
– Warm/ advancing
(Harmonious or related colours are those adjacent to
each other on the colour wheel, e.g. green and yellow)
• Contrast (ing) colour scheme
– Single complementary
– Double complementary
– Split complementary
– Triad
– Tetrad
– Achromatic (Black and white)
– Polychromatic (More than two colours)
(Contrast or complementary colours are those directly opposite to
each other on the colour wheel, e.g. blue and orange, red and green,
yellow and purple)
