Color Theory Color Theory VocabularyVocabulary

Properties of ColorProperties of Color

HueHue – The quality by which we recognize – The quality by which we recognize one color from another; one color from another; hue is the name hue is the name of the color.of the color.

Value – Value – The lightness or darkness of a The lightness or darkness of a color, as expressed by the amount of black color, as expressed by the amount of black or white mixed with a particular hue.or white mixed with a particular hue.

Intensity / SaturationIntensity / Saturation – The brightness or – The brightness or dullness of a color, as expressed by the dullness of a color, as expressed by the amount of the color’s complement mixed amount of the color’s complement mixed with the pure hue.with the pure hue.

Primary ColorsPrimary Colors

BlueBlue RedRed

YellowYellow

Secondary ColorsSecondary Colors

Yellow + Yellow + Blue =Blue = GreenGreen

Blue + Red =Blue + Red = VioletViolet

Red + Yellow Red + Yellow ==OrangeOrange

Intermediate ColorsIntermediate Colors

Yellow-GreenYellow-Green Blue-GreenBlue-Green Blue-VioletBlue-Violet Red-VioletRed-Violet Red-OrangeRed-Orange Yellow-OrangeYellow-Orange

Analogous ColorsAnalogous Colors Yellow, Yellow-Yellow, Yellow-

Green, and GreenGreen, and Green

Green, Blue-Green, Green, Blue-Green, Blue and Blue-Blue and Blue-VioletViolet

Blue, Blue-Violet, Blue, Blue-Violet, and Violetand Violet

Blue-Violet, Violet, Blue-Violet, Violet, Red-Violet, and RedRed-Violet, and Red

Red-Orange, Red-Orange, Orange, Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Orange, YellowOrange, Yellow

Colors that are Colors that are adjacent (next to) adjacent (next to) each other on the each other on the color wheel, color wheel, including various including various intensities of intensities of each color.each color.

Examples include:Examples include:

Complementary ColorsComplementary Colors

Yellow and Yellow and VioletViolet

Blue and Blue and OrangeOrange

Red and Red and GreenGreen

The two The two colors that colors that are opposite are opposite each other on each other on the color the color wheel.wheel.

NeutralNeutral Equal Equal

amounts of amounts of any two any two complementarcomplementary colors mixed y colors mixed together together creates a creates a neutral neutral grayish color. grayish color.

To tone down To tone down the intensity the intensity of a color add of a color add a little bit of a little bit of its its complement.complement.

TriadsTriads Triads are Triads are

colors that colors that are are equidistant equidistant from each from each other on the other on the color wheel. color wheel. They form a They form a triangle.triangle.

Primary Primary Colors form a Colors form a triadtriad

Secondary Secondary Colors form a Colors form a triadtriad

Warm ColorsWarm Colors Yellow, Yellow-Yellow, Yellow-

Green, and GreenGreen, and Green

Green, Blue-Green, Green, Blue-Green, Blue and Blue-Blue and Blue-VioletViolet

Blue, Blue-Violet, Blue, Blue-Violet, and Violetand Violet

Blue-Violet, Violet, Blue-Violet, Violet, Red-Violet, and RedRed-Violet, and Red

Red-Orange, Red-Orange, Orange, Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Orange, YellowOrange, Yellow

Colors that give Colors that give the feeling of the feeling of warmth. The warmth. The color of fire and color of fire and the sun.the sun.

Cool ColorsCool Colors

Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Green, Blue and Green, Blue and Blue-VioletBlue-Violet

Blue, Blue-Violet, Blue, Blue-Violet, and Violetand Violet

Blue-Violet, Blue-Violet, Violet, Red-Violet, Violet, Red-Violet, and Redand Red

Colors that give Colors that give the feeling of the feeling of cold. The colors cold. The colors of the ocean and of the ocean and grass.grass.

Earth TonesEarth Tones Earth tones are Earth tones are

color that are color that are created by created by mixing equal mixing equal parts of 2 parts of 2 secondary secondary colors.colors.

ORANGE + VIOLET = ORANGE + VIOLET = RUSSET (Reddish RUSSET (Reddish Brown), ORANGE + Brown), ORANGE + GREEN = CITRON GREEN = CITRON (Golden Yellow), (Golden Yellow), GREEN + VIOLET GREEN + VIOLET =OLIVE.=OLIVE.