Colour TheoryColour Theory

Colour occurs because of light. Colour occurs because of light. (If there is no light there is no colour!)(If there is no light there is no colour!)

Colour is dependent upon the Colour is dependent upon the quality of light present.quality of light present.(low light = duller colours, bright light = brighter colours)(low light = duller colours, bright light = brighter colours)

A colour also changes in relation to other colours around that colour.

The Colour WheelThe Colour Wheel

(Use ROY G BIV to remember the order.)(Use ROY G BIV to remember the order.)

YellowYellow-Green

Green

Blue-Green

Blue

Blue-Violet

Violet

Red-Violet

Red

Red-Orange

Orange

Yellow-Orange

Primary colours – make all other colours : red, blue, yellow – make all other colours : red, blue, yellow Secondary colours – made by combining two primaries: – made by combining two primaries:

orange, green, violetorange, green, violet Tertiary colours – made from a primary and a secondary: – made from a primary and a secondary:

R-O, Y-O, Y-G, B-G, B-V, R-V R-O, Y-O, Y-G, B-G, B-V, R-V

Warm Warm colourscolours – red, – red,

orange, orange, yellowyellow

Cool coloursCool colours – violet, blue, – violet, blue,

greengreen

Warm Colours Cool ColoursWarm Colours Cool Colours

The Properties of ColourThe Properties of Colour

HueHue (name, ex. blue)(name, ex. blue)

IntensityIntensity – refers to – refers to brightness/dullness of a colour brightness/dullness of a colour (bright (bright blue/ dull blue)blue/ dull blue)

ValueValue – refers to how light or dark a – refers to how light or dark a colour is. colour is. (light blue/dark blue)(light blue/dark blue)

Colour Intensity:Colour Intensity:To dull a colour, add its complement (opposite)To dull a colour, add its complement (opposite)

Mixing two complementary colours will make a neutral colour Mixing two complementary colours will make a neutral colour (brown, grey)(brown, grey)

Colour ValueColour Value

Tints - add white to lighten a Tints - add white to lighten a colourcolour

Shades – add black to Shades – add black to darken a colourdarken a colour

Colour SchemesColour Schemes

1. 1. MonochromaticMonochromatic – tints – tints and shades of one colourand shades of one colour

2.2.AnalogousAnalogous – colours beside – colours beside each other on the colour wheeleach other on the colour wheel

3.3.ComplementaryComplementary– – colours opposite colours opposite each other on the colour wheel.each other on the colour wheel.

4.4.Split ComplimentarySplit Complimentary – – one colour plus the one colour plus the two colors on either side of its complementtwo colors on either side of its complement

5.5.TriadicTriadic – three colours equidistant – three colours equidistant from one another on the colour wheelfrom one another on the colour wheel