Overview

Color Theory is the science of how colors interact. It explains why some combinations look great (harmony) and others make your eyes bleed (discord).

Core Idea

The core idea is Relationship. Colors change based on what they are next to. Red looks different next to green than it does next to orange.

Formal Definition

The study of color mixing and the visual effects of color combinations.

  • Hue: The color itself (Red, Blue).
  • Saturation: The intensity (Bright vs. Dull).
  • Value: The lightness (Light vs. Dark).

Intuition

  • The Color Wheel: A map of relationships.
    • Complementary: Opposites (Red/Green). High contrast.
    • Analogous: Neighbors (Blue/Green/Teal). Harmonious.
    • Triadic: Triangle (Red/Yellow/Blue). Balanced.
  • Temperature: Warm colors (Red, Orange) advance. Cool colors (Blue, Green) recede.

Examples

  • Impressionists: Used complementary colors in shadows to make light pop (e.g., purple shadows for yellow sunlight).
  • Branding: McDonald’s uses Red and Yellow (Hunger, Speed). Banks use Blue (Trust, Stability).

Common Misconceptions

  • Misconception: Black makes things darker.
    • Correction: Adding black “muddies” the color. Artists often use the complementary color to darken (e.g., add green to red to make a rich shadow).
  • Misconception: RGB and CMYK are the same.
    • Correction: RGB is Additive (Light/Screens). CMYK is Subtractive (Pigment/Print).

Applications

  • Graphic Design: Creating logos and layouts.
  • Interior Design: Mood setting.

Criticism and Limitations

  • Subjectivity: Color meanings vary by culture (White is purity in the West, mourning in the East).

Further Reading

  • Interaction of Color by Josef Albers