Color Theory Reading Summary

Monochromatic: Variation on a single hue. Has a high level of unity-the colors are related.

Analogous: Adjacent colors on the color wheel. Wider range of hues provides variety

Complementary: Palette expands, opposites of general wheel, when mixed they lower intensity.

Split Complementary: Even wider range, use two colors on either side of the color wheel.

-The use of high and low adds complexity
-A wide range of hues captures richness
   -Defines detail
   -Each has different emotional effects

Triadic: Pushes choices farther apart and is in a triangular position.

Chromatic Gray: Mix of hues-grays vary widely.

Earth Colors: Pigments found in soil and creates harmony.

Disharmony: Effective, used when the subject is disturbing or unusual, and the visual approach is needed.


Composing with Color: Even distribution of color creates unified composition.

Accent Color: One dominating color (yellow) and five patches of blue-gray are the accent colors.
   -Equal balance tells a story
Color as Emphasis: Color used to emphasize critical information and creates a focal point.

Color, Emotion, and Expression:
Color Keys: Dominant color can heighten psychological impact. It heightens emotion instead of representing reality.

Symbolic Color: Colors can symbolize spatial location and geographic direction.

Expressive Color: Black and white value has simple eloquence, more developed drawing adds drama and definition.

Three Qualities of Color:
-Hue -Intensity -Value

*Colors are never emotionally neutral.