Colour Theory
Colour Theory
Colour theories create a logical structure for colour. A colour wheel is a useful tool that can help identify colours that work well together.The 3-part colour wheel is the most a common model that web designers use.
Primary Colours
- Red
- Yellow
- Blue
In traditional colour theory (used in paint and pigments), primary colours are the 3 pigment colours that can not be mixed or formed by any combination of other colours. All other colours are derived from these 3 hues.
Secondary Colours
- Green
- Orange
- Purple
These are the colours formed by mixing the primary colours
Tertiary Colours
- Yellow-Orange
- Red-Orange
- Red-Purple
- Blue-Purple
- Blue-Green
- Yellow-Green
These are the colours formed by mixing a primary and a secondary colour. That’s why the hue is a two word name, such as blue-green, red-violet, and yellow-orange
Harmony
Harmony can be defined as a pleasing arrangement of parts, whether it be music, poetry, colour, or even an ice cream sundae. In visual experiences, harmony is something that is pleasing to the eye. It engages the viewer and it creates an inner sense of order, a balance in the visual experience. When something is not harmonious, it’s either boring or chaotic.
Extreme unity can lead to under-stimulation and extreme complexity can lead to over-stimulation. Harmony is a dynamic equilibrium and where Web Designers will start their journey.
Analogous colours are any three colours which are side by side on a 12 part colour wheel, such as yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange. Usually one of the three colours predominates.
Complementary colours are any two colours which are directly opposite each other, such as red and green and red-purple and yellow-green. In the illustration below, there are several variations of yellow-green in the leaves and several variations of red-purple in the orchid. These opposing colours create maximum contrast and maximum stability.
Nature provides a perfect departure point for colour harmony. In the illustration below, red yellow and green create a harmonious design, regardless of whether this combination fits into a technical formula for colour harmony.
Context
Context is how colour behaves in relation to other colours and shapes is a complex area of colour theory. Compare the contrast effects of different
colour backgrounds for the same red square.
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Red appears more brilliant against a black background and somewhat duller against the white background. In contrast with orange, the red appears
lifeless. In contrast with blue-green, it exhibits brilliance. Notice that the red square appears larger on black than on other background colours.
Do you see that the small purple rectangle on the left appears to have a red-purple tinge when compared to the small purple rectangle on the right?
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They looks like slightly different colours…
They are both the same colour as seen in the illustration below.
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This demonstrates how three colours can be perceived as four colours.
Warm colours appear to advance. Cool colours appear to recede. We can use this perception to add a feeling of dimension.
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Observing the effects colours have on each other is the starting point for understanding the relativity of colour. The relationship of values, saturation and the warmth or coolness of respective hues can cause noticeable differences in our perception of colour.