Podcast #2: Color Theory

The right use of color can do what?

Maximize productivity, minimize visual fatigue, relax the body,

Within the electromagnetic spectrum, which waves allow us to see color?
Visible light

Describe white light?
It is made up of equal parts of colors in the visible spectrum

How do we see color if objects "have no color of their own"?
Because objects absorb and reflect certain colors of the visible spectrum; The reflected color is the one we see

What is a glass prism?
A transparent triangular object that breaks white light into al of the colors of the visible light spectrum

What seven colors result when white light is refracted through a prism?
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet

Describe hue?
The color itself; each different hue is a different reflected wavelength

When does white light occur?
When all wavelengths are reflected back to your eye

When does black light occur?
When no light is reflected back to your eye

How color is perceived depends on what?
It depends on the type of light it is seen with

What is a color wheel?
A visual tool that shows the relationship between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors

What are primary colors? Name them?
Primary colors are colors that cannot be created by using other colors; they are red, blue, and yellow

What are secondary colors? Name them?
Secondary colors are two primary colors mixed together; they are orange, green, and violet

What are tertiary colors? Name them?
Tertiary colors are primary colors and secondary colors mixed together; they are red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet

What are neutral colors? How can they be created?
Colors of very low saturation; they can be created by mixing complimentary colors

How can a neutral color help a design?
They help put the focus on other colors to tone down overpowering colors

What are complementary colors? Name them?
Colors positioned opposite of each other on the color wheel; they are red and green, orange and blue, and yellow and violet

What is color value?
The lightness and darkness of a hue or color

What is a shade?
Adding black to a hue producing a low value color

What is a tint?
Adding white to a hue producing a high value color

What is saturation/intensity?
Brightness of a color

What happens when you mix complementary colors together?
A dull tone is produced

Describe color harmony?
Something that is pleasing to the eye and engages the viewer and creates a sense of order

What is a color scheme?
It is used to create style and appeal, based off of the arrangement of colors on the color wheel

Describe a monochromatic color scheme?
Easy on the eyes, uses tints and shades of one color, and is clean and elegant

Describe an analogous color scheme?
Uses 3 colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel, one color is dominant while the others enrich the scheme, often found in nature and is pleasing to the eye, gives a bright and cheery effect, and it can accommodate changing moods

Describe a complementary color scheme?
Uses two colors opposite each other on the color wheel, draws a lot of attention, and works best when you need high-contrast compositions

Describe a split-complementary color scheme?
Uses 3 colors: one color and the 2 colors adjacent to its compliment, and will draw attention without the tension of a complimentary scheme

Describe a triadic color scheme?
Uses 3 colors equally spaces around the color wheel, and offers a strong visual balance

What colors are considered to be warm colors?
Yellows, oranges, and reds

Describe a warm color scheme?
Vivid in nature, expresses anger, excitement, and danger, strong and welcoming, overpowers other colors in a design

What colors are considered to be cool colors?
Greens, blues, and violets

Describe a cool color scheme?
Expresses passiveness and nurturing, calm, used to provide illusion of depth

Why is important to consider which colors are being used within a design?

So that your design is more appealing to the viewer