Color_Theory_Presentation

1.

Color Theory & Design Terms
Vocabulary Presentation for English Homework

2.

1. General Concepts & Tools
• Color theory
The system of rules and guidelines that explains how colors interact and how they affect human perception.
• Color wheel
A visual tool in the form of a circle that displays the relationships between different colors.
• Color palette
The specific selection of colors used by a designer or artist in a digital or physical project.

3.

2. Color Classifications: Types
• Primary colors
The most basic colors (red, yellow, and blue) that cannot be created by mixing other colors together.
• Secondary colors
Colors created by mixing two primary colors together (such as purple, green, or orange).
• Tertiary colors
A third range of colors discovered by mixing secondary colors with primary colors.

4.

3. Color Classifications: Temperature & Balance
• Warm colors
Colors that evoke a feeling of heat, like fire or a sunset (reds, yellows, and oranges).
• Cool colors
Colors that evoke a feeling of water or cold (blues and greens).
• Neutral colors
Colors like black, white, and gray that help to balance a design and make other colors stand out.

5.

4. Color Characteristics & Properties (Part 1)
• Hue
Basically another word for 'color'; the specific family or name of a color.
• Saturation
The intensity of a color, which determines whether the color appears more subtle or more vibrant.
• Value
The property that has to do with how dark or light the color is, ranging from black to white.

6.

5. Color Characteristics & Properties (Part 2)
• Tone
The brightness, darkness, or overall feeling and mood that a color selection sends to the viewer.
• Shade
A darker variation of a color created by adding black to it.
• Tint
A lighter variation of a color created by adding white to it.

7.

6. Color Harmonies & Schemes (Part 1)
• Monochromatic
A color scheme that uses only variations (tones, tints, or shades) of a single color or hue.
• Analogous (Sympathetic) colors
Colors that sit closely together or next to each other on the color wheel.
• Complementary colors
Two colors that live on opposite sides of the color wheel and have high contrast.

8.

7. Color Harmonies & Schemes (Part 2)
• Split-complementary
A color scheme that uses a base color and the two colors on either side of its complement.
• Triadic
A color scheme that uses three colors that are evenly spaced, forming a perfect triangle on the wheel.
• Tetradic
A color scheme that forms a rectangle on the wheel, using two complementary color pairs.

9.

8. Technical Modes & Design Factors
• RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
The color mode of screens, commonly used for digital publishing.
• CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black)
The color format and mode used specifically for physical printing.
• Readability
An important factor in design ensuring that colors are legible, easy on the eyes, and accessible to everyone.