COLOUR
THEORY
PROJECT
The Science Of Colour
Newton 1676
• Newton proved his
theory that light
travelled in straight
lines not waves as
previously thought.
• He also proved that
light is made of
particles not waves.
Subtractive Colour
• A subtractive
color model shows the
mixing of a set
of colourants to create a
wider range of colours.
• Subtractive colour
systems use white light
between the viewer and
the light source
which subtract waveleng
ths from the light, giving
it colour.
Additive Colour
• Additive colour is color
created by mixing light of
two or more colours. The
additive primary colours
are normally used in
additive colour system.
• It used darkness in the
light sources of different
wavelengths that are
added in proportions to
produce a range of
colours.
Johannes Itten’s Colour Wheel
• Ittens Colour Wheel is an
abstract illustrative
organization of colour
hues around a circle that
shows the relationships
between primary,
secondary and
complimentary colours.
• Itten established the colour
wheel in the 1920’s.
The Qualities Of Colour:
Hue, Value & Saturation
• HSV is most common cylindrical coordinate
representations of points in an RGB colour model.
• It was developed in the 1970s for computer graphics
applications, and today is used in colour pickers
in image editing software, and in image
analysis and computer vision.
Primary Colours
• Primary colours are
colours that can be
combined to make a
range of secondary
colours.
• These primary
colours are red,
yellow and blue.
Secondary Colours
• Secondary colours are
made up from the
primary colours.
• These secondary
colours are green,
orange and purple.
Complimentary Colours
• Complimentary
colours lie opposite
each other on the
colour wheel.
• Complementary
colors are pairs
of colours that are of
opposite hue.
Mixed Complimentary Colours
• In colour theory, two
colours are
called complementary
when mixed in the
right proportion and
they produce a neutral
colour.
Contrast Of Hue
• Contrast of hue
is the interaction
of two or more
different
colours.
Contrast Of Value
• Contrast of value
is the interaction
of lightness or
darkness.
Cold Warm Contrast
• The spectrum is
divided into two sets of
hues based on the
temperature
commonly associated
with the hues.
• This contrast has been
called cold and warm
contrast, contrast of
temperature, or
humidity contrast.
Complimentary Contrast
• Complementary
Contrast is the
interaction of one set
of complement
colours.
Simultaneous Contrast
• Simultaneous
Contrast is the effect
of colours upon each
other, gray or black
can shift toward the
complement of the
colour with which
they're placed.
Colour Harmonies
• There are many theories for
harmony. There are 3
colour shemes that present
the basic colour harmony
formulas.
• 1. A colour scheme based
on analogous colors
• 2. A colour scheme based
on complementary colors
• 3. A colour scheme based
on nature
Monochromatic
• Monochromatic
colour relies on only
one colour family to
create a design.
• It uses a combination
of tints, tones, and
shades from the same
family to achieve the
desired effect.
Analogous
• Analogous colour
schemes use colours
that are next to each
other on the colour
wheel.
• They usually match
well and look natural
and comfortable.
• Analogous colour
schemes are often
found in nature. They
are harmonious and
pleasing to the eye.
Tints
• Tints are the lighter value of a pure hue, made
by adding white.
Shades
• Shade has a darker value of a pure hue, made
by adding black.
Warm Colours
• Warm colours are
colors starting with
yellow and
continuing to redviolet on the color
wheel, which convey
warmth to a viewer.
Cool Colours
• Cool colours are
colors starting with
yellow-green &
including violet that
give a cool feeling.
Triadic Colour Scheme
• A triadic colour
scheme uses colours
that are evenly spaced
around the colour
wheel.
• Triadic colour
harmonies tend to be
quite vibrant, even if
pale or unsaturated
versions of hues are
used.
Tetradic
• The tetradic colour
scheme makes use of
a combination of four
colours, which sit
opposite each other
on the colour wheel
in two
complementary pairs.