Understanding the Color Wheel

UNDERSTANDING THE COLOR WHEEL
Worksheet C

Open: M:\STUDENTS\SHARED\U5 Visual Design\vd_Ppt_understand_color.pps while viewing the PowerPoint fill-in the missing information. Hint: As you view the PowerPoint slides check under the slide in the notes window for additional information.

A color is described in three ways:

·  by its ______

·  how pure or de______it is

·  and its value or lightness.

Primary Colors at their basic essence;
those colors that cannot be created by
mixing others. On the computer: r____,
g______and b______. In Paint or
otherwise: red, y______and blue.

Secondary Those colors achieved by a
mixture of ______primaries.

Intermediate/Tertiary

Six colors created by mixture of a
p______color and its adjacent
s______color: for example:
blue and green make blue-green;

yellow and orange make yellow-orange… etc.

Shade and tint are terms that refer to a variation of a hue

·  Shade - A hue produced by the addition of ______.

·  Tint - A hue produced by the addition of w______.

Complement Those colors located o______each other on a color wheel

Note: Know that color can have an emotional impact. Also, use symbolic color designations
as they relate to the cultural experience of the audience.

THE SIX COLOR HARMONIES or RELATIONSHIPS (COLOR SCHEMES)

·  ______chromatic - Variations of shades or tints of the same hue.

·  Complimentary - Those colors located opposite each other on a color wheel.

·  Split-complimentary - A split complimentary color scheme combines a color with the colors on either side of its compliment.

·  ______- Those colors located close together on a color wheel

·  Triadic - The triadic color scheme features three colors equally spaced around the color wheel.

·  Tetradic: (or double complimentary): a complimentary pair of colors (opposites), then a second pair to use in tandem.

THE THREE PROPERTIES OF COLOR

·  Hue (e.g. blue, red, yellow, green, etc.)

·  Value (i.e. light/dark)

·  Chroma (i.e. intensity) - How pure a hue is in relation to gray. In other words, the brightness or dullness of a hue. One may lower the intensity by adding white or black.

COLOR USAGE

Color Can Be Used to:

Enhances a message

·  ______a presentation

·  Adds richness and depth to screen design

·  Distinguish between like and unlike elements on a screen.

·  Indicate the i______or progression of data by increasing value and saturation level.

·  Emphasize or draw a______to elements by using lighter or brighter colors.

·  Set a m______.

Color Tips- DO:

·  Use color conservatively.

·  Use color to draw attention to elements.

·  Use a color pallet of 3 to 4 major colors to establish c______and a uniform feel to a project.

·  Be sensitive to cultural biases and associations with some colors.

Color Tips - DON’T:

·  Sacrifice r______for pleasing color.

·  Use too many colors in one project.

·  Use red/______combinations. They will not be visible to those with red/green color blindness.

·  (Note: You can use these combinations if---when you print in black and white there is a lot of difference between the two colors. Lots of contrast means that the person with red/green color blindness could still distinguish the different objects/words.)

Check your Understanding of Color

Without the help of a PowerPoint complete these questions to asses your understanding.

A. Chroma G. Neutral M. Tetrad

B. Tint H. Monochromatic N. Split complimentary colors

C. Value I. Complementary O. Hue

D. Analogous J. Shade P. Harmony

E. Intensity K. Secondary Q. Primary

F. Tertiary L. Triad

MATCHING: Fill in the blanks with the letter corresponding with the most appropriate answer. Not all answers will be used. Some answers may be used twice.

1. _____ Colors opposite each other an the color wheel

2. _____ Colors which naturally go together in some way

3. _____ This is achieved by adding black to any color

4. _____ Intensity or brilliance of a color

5. _____ A color harmony utilizing mostly one color and various tints and shades

6. _____ Colors which appear adjacent or next to each other on the color wheel

7. _____ Red, yellow, and blue

8. _____ Another name for color

9. _____ Lightness or darkness of a color

10. _____ Three colors equal distance on the color wheel

11. _____ Made by adding white or letting the white of the paper show through

12. _____ Made by mixing a primary with a primary

13. _____ Their temperature depends upon which colors you place them next to

14. _____ Made by mixing a primary with a secondary

15. _____ Orange, green, and violet

SHORT ANSWER:

1. What are some possible colors that are analogous with red? ______, ______, ______, ______

2. What is the complement of orange? ______

3. What is the tetrad with blue? ______, ______, ______

4. What is the triad with green? ______, ______

5. What is the split complement of violet? ______, ______

6. When you want to decrease the chroma of a color you should add its ______.

7. List the primary colors and briefly explain why they are called the primary colors.

______, ______, ______