Color Theory 101
Color theory plays a significant role in design, as colors have a great impact on our mood and behavior. The appropriately chosen colors can improve the conversion and usability of a product. To employ colors effectively, you need to understand how colors are formed and how they relate to each other, which is why studying color theory is important. The color wheel helps designers understand how different colors relate to each other and how they can be combined. There are two different natures of color: tangible and produced by light.
Color has two color models: additive and subtractive. Additive is for digital screens and subtractive for print media. Color harmony is about arranging colors in the most attractive and effective way for users’ perception.
Additive Color
Additive color theory is a method of creating colors by adding different wavelengths of light together. The primary colors in additive color theory are red, green, and blue, and they can be combined in various ways to produce different colors, including white. This theory is used in devices that emit light, such as televisions, computer monitors, and projectors. Put simply, additive Color theory starts with black and adds different colors of light to produce the desired result.
Subtractive Color
Subtractive color module refers to the color mixing system that occurs when two or more colored pigments or dyes are combined. In this system, colors are subtracted from white light to produce the desired color. As more colors are added, the resulting color becomes darker and tends towards black. Subtractive color module is used in a variety of industries such as printing, where ink colors such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and kohl/black (CMYK) are combined to produce a wide range of colors. It is also used in art, where artists use paints and other colorants to create complex and nuanced color mixtures. Unlike additive color mixing, subtractive color mixing can result in color loss and reduced vibrancy, as colors are absorbed rather than added. Subtractive color theory is called so because it works by subtracting certain colors from white light to produce different colors.
Color Harmony
Color harmony is the art of combining colors in a pleasing and balanced way. It involves using a color wheel to identify complementary colors, analogous colors, triadic, monochromatic, and tetradic colors. By using these color relationships, designers and artists can create visually appealing compositions that convey a sense of balance and unity.
Examples:
- Complementary harmony: This involves pairing colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple.
- Analogous harmony: This involves using colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel, such as blue, green, and yellow or red, orange, and yellow.
- Triadic harmony: This involves using three colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel, such as red, yellow, and blue.
- Monochromatic harmony: This involves using different shades and tints of the same color, such as light blue, dark blue, and navy blue.
- Tetradic harmony: This involves using two sets of complementary colors, such as red and green, and orange and blue.
We know this is a lot, but this is just a crash course. We hope this has helped you better understand what color theory is and how it is used in different industries. Read more articles within our blog to dive deeper into color theory.