COLOR THEORY

Presentation By Keerthika S
Table of contents
Color theory Color context

History of color Color contrast

Color wheels Warm and cool colors

Color properties Color gradations

Color harmony Color branding, trends, emotion,

Color psychologys Color natural, culture, art and design

 Color Theory
Color theory is a set of principles
that help designers and artists
understand how colors work
together and how to use them to
create pleasing color combinations.
 History Of color

The history of color is a rich and fascinating journey that

spans thousands of years, with various civilizations
contributing to our understanding and use of colors.
Here’s a brief overview:
1. Prehistory (40,000 BCE
– 3000 BCE):
Early humans used natural pigments like iron oxide,
carbonates, and silicates to create art and decorate tools.

2. Ancient Egypt (3000

BCE – 500 CE)
Egyptians developed a range of colors, including
blue (lapis lazuli) and red (cinnabar).
Greeks and Romans used Tyrian purple
extracted from shellfish.
3.Middle Age and
Renaissance :
In the Middle Ages, color was mainly used
in religious art, like paintings in churches
and stained glass windows. People used
natural materials to make colors, and the
church often influenced which colors were
used. For example, blue was used to
represent the Virgin Mary, and gold was
used to symbolize heaven.
Renaissance :
During the Renaissance, artists started studying
how light and shadow affect color to make their
paintings look more realistic. They mixed colors in
new ways, creating depth and life in their art. Famous
artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo used
these techniques to create masterpieces that
changed the way people viewed art. The
Renaissance was a time when both art and science
grew, and understanding color was a big part of that.
4. Scientific
Discoveries:
In 1666, Isaac Newton discovered that white light is made up of
a spectrum of colors. This led to a deeper understanding of how
color works. Later, Goethe explored how color affects emotions.
5. Modern Art and
Technology:
In the 19th and 20th centuries, artists like Monet and Van Gogh
used bright colors to capture light and mood. The invention of
color photography and printing brought color to media, and new
technologies like digital screens use color models like RGB.
6. Today:
Color is a key part of branding, design, and everyday
life, with ongoing research into how color affects
perception and emotions. Advances in digital
technology allow for more precise use of color across
various platforms.
Color wheel

A color wheel is a simple tool that helps us see how colors relate to
each other. It’s shaped like a circle and shows colors arranged in a
specific order.
 Color wheels
Primary Colors:
These are the basic colors - Red, Yellow, and Blue. You can’t mix
other colors to make these; they are the starting point for all other colors.
Secondary color:
Secondary Colors: These are made by
mixing two primary colors:

Red + Yellow = Orange

Yellow + Blue = Green

Blue + Red = Purple

Tertiary Colors:
Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color with a
secondary color next to it. Examples include:

Red-Orange (Red + Orange)

Yellow-Green (Yellow + Green)

Blue-Violet (Blue + Violet)

 Color properties
Hue Saturation Value
The name of the color or How bright or dull a color How light or dark a color
pure color (like red, blue, is. Bright colors have is. Adding white makes it
or green). high saturation, while lighter (tint), adding
faded ones have low black makes it darker
saturation. (shade).
 Opacity
How solid or see-through a color is. High
opacity means it’s solid; low opacity means
it’s transparent.

Tint
When a color is lightened by adding
white.

Shade
When a color is darkened by adding black.
 Color
Harmony
• Color harmony is a color theory technique
that involves using color combinations to
create visually appealing and aesthetically
pleasing results.
 Color combination
Complementary color
:
These are colors directly opposite each other on the color
wheel.When used together, they create strong contrast,
making each color stand out.
 Analogous Colors:
These are colors next to each other
on the color wheel. They usually
match well and create serene and
comfortable designs.
Triadic colors:
This combination involves three colors that
are evenly spaced around the color wheel,
forming a triangle. Triadic schemes offer
vibrant, balanced contrast.
Monochromatic Colors:
This scheme uses variations of a single
color, with different tints (adding white) and
shades (adding black). It creates a clean
and unified look.
Split-Complementary Colors:

This combination uses one base color and

the two colors adjacent to its complementary
color. It offers contrast without being as
intense as direct complementary colors.
Tetradic Colors (Double
Complementary):
This uses two pairs of complementary
colors, forming a rectangle on the
color wheel. It’s a complex scheme
with lots of contrast and variation.
Color Psychology
 Color contrast
Color contrast is the difference between two
colors when placed next to each other. High
contrast means the colors are very different,
like black and white, making them stand out.
Low contrast means the colors are similar, like
light blue and light green, so they blend more.
Color context
Color context refers to how a color
looks depending on the colors
around it. A color can appear
different when placed next to other
colors. For example, a grey might
look lighter on a dark background
and darker on a light background.

This means the same color can

seem to change depending on its
surroundings, affecting how we
perceive it.
Warm colors
and cool colors:
Warm colors, like red,
orange, and yellow,
remind us of things
like the sun and fire.
They feel energetic
and cozy.

Cool colors, like blue,

green, and purple,
make us think of
water or the sky. They
feel calm and relaxing.
 Color gradation
Color gradation is when one color slowly changes
into another. It could go from light to dark or from
one color to a different one, like red slowly turning
into orange. It's a smooth and gradual change,
making the colors blend together nicely.
 Color Branding

Color branding is the use of specific

colors to represent a brand or
company. Companies choose colors
that reflect their identity, values, and
how they want people to feel about
them. For example, red can show
energy or excitement, while blue can
feel calm and trustworthy.
 Color trends
Color trends refer to the popular
colors that are widely used in
fashion, design, and marketing at
a particular time. These trends
change each year or season based
on influences from culture, art,
nature, and technology
 Color Emotion
Colors can evoke emotions and feelings. For example, blue is often
associated with calmness and serenity, while red can evoke feelings of
passion or excitement. Different colors can impact mood and perception in
various ways.
 Color Natural
Natural colors are those that are commonly found in nature. They tend to be soft,
muted, and earthy, creating a sense of calm and harmony. These colors include:

Greens from plants, leaves, and grass.

Blues from the sky and water.

Browns and tans from soil, sand, and wood.

Grays from rocks and stone.

Soft whites and creams from natural materials like wool or cotton.
Color Culture
Color culture is about what different colors mean in different
societies. For example, red can mean love in the West but
good luck in China. White is seen as pure in some places but
can represent mourning in others. Knowing these meanings
helps avoid misunderstandings in design and communication.
Color Art and
Design
Color in art and design is used to create mood, convey
emotions, and highlight important elements. Artists and
designers choose colors carefully to communicate ideas,
draw attention, or evoke certain feelings.
Thanks!
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