Jason Kwiatkowski
CEP 810
Educational Application of Word
One way that I have used Microsoft Word in the previous school year to address an educational concern was when I create a handout on color theory for my composition class. They were working on graphic design projects that teach them skills needed to create the yearbook. The use of color was one key area that I wanted to help them understand.
I noticed that their first attempts at laying out their yearbook pages lacked an understanding of color, or at least how to use it effectively. I created this handout to help them understand some of the main ways that graphic artists use color to control the viewer’s experience. I knew that many of them had never learned about color, so I thought that this document could help in two ways. First, I wanted them to hear and see (I showed some examples) different ways that artist use color. I was hoping this would open up their eyes to the important role color plays in graphic design. Second, the handout was meant to be a reference that they could keep with them for the course referring back to it when necessary.
The ultimate effectiveness of this document, and my implementation of it, was the students’ yearbook pages. This year, I did the project using color after the yearbook was complete, because I noticed that they needed some help with color, but next year I will start with the project so I can front load the information and ideas before they start their yearbook pages. As the yearbooks role out next year, I will be looking for some growth in the different ways students use color in their layouts.
P.S. I attached the handout to the end of this document.
Color Theory
Basic Color Types
Primary Colors: Three colors that make up all others, when mixed together, but no color(s) mixed together can make these. RED, BLUE, and YELLOW.
Secondary Colors: These are made by mixing two primary colors together.
Color #1 / Color #2 / Secondary Colorred / blue / VIOLET
blue / yellow / GREEN
yellow / red / ORANGE
Tertiary Colors:One primary color mixed with a related secondary color.
Color #1 / Color #2 / Tertiary Colorred / orange / RED-ORANGE
red / violet / RED-VIOLET
yellow / orange / YELLOW-ORANGE
yellow / green / YELLOW-GREEN
blue / green / BLUE-GREEN
blue / violet / BLUE-VIOLET
Complementary Colors
Complementary Colors:
A color scheme consisting of two colors directly across form each other on the color wheel. They represent the strongest contrasts of color, but when mixed together, they neutralize one another, lowering intensity and forming gray (or approaching gray).
Split Complementary Colors:
A color scheme consisting of one color, plus two colors directly across from it on the color wheel.
Double Complimentary Colors:
Two colors, plus two colors directly across from them on the color wheel.
Analogous or Harmonious Colors:
A color scheme consisting of three to four colors next to each other on the color wheel. Often they have a hue in common that makes them harmonious.
Color Effects
Warm Colors:
- Tend to advance from a picture plane.
- Are related to fire, heat, highlights.
- Express feelings of warmth, action, even anger
Cool Colors:
- Tend to recede in a picture plane.
- Are related to shadows.
- Express feelings of calm, crispness, even sadness, jealousy, and peace.
Colors and Neutrals
Neutrals: WHITE, BLACK, and GRAY
Tint: A hue (color) plus white.
Tone: A hue plus grey.
Shade: A hue plus black.
Monochromatic: One color plus black and white to create all the range of that color.
Three Properties of Color
Hue: the name of the color
Value: the degree of lightness or darkness of a color
Saturation (Intensity): the brightness or dullness of a color. The strength of a color based on its value.