ColorConceptsIntroduction to basic color concepts

Color Associations

If one says “red” and there are fifty people listening, it can be expected that there will be fifty reds in their minds. And… all these reds will be very different. Colors present themselves in continuous flux, constantly related to changing neighbors and changing conditions.

• Josef AlbersArtist, visual theorist, and educator, from Interaction of Color, Yale University Press

Color Systems

• Subtractive color space – CMYK color system

• Additive color space – RGB color system

Ford, Janet L. http://www.worqx.com/about.htm

Color Associations• Color communicates

• Color Psychology: the study of the emotional and behavioral effects produced by colors• Color therapy

• Color Symbolism• Cultural - western culture, eastern cultures, African (zulu beads), etc.

Ex: White around the globe

• White is the traditional color worn by brides in the western world, as well as in Japan.• White is a color of mourning in China and parts of Africa.• It was the custom for the Queens of France to wear deuil blanc or "white mourning"• White was the color of deepest mourning among medieval European queens was white rather than black. This tradition survived in Spain until the end of the fifteenth century.• In Chinese culture, colors corresponded with the five primary elements, the directions, and the four seasons. White was associated with metal, west, and autumn.• A white flag is universally recognized as a symbol of truce.• The Japanese have six distinct terms to define whiteness.• The ancient Greeks wore white to bed to ensure pleasant dreams.

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/color2.htm

http://www.sensationalcolor.com/color-messages-meanings/color-meaning-symbolism-psychology/all-about-the-color-white.html

Color Associations• Red: stimulates brain wave activity, increases heart rate, blood pressure (love, passion, anger)

• Blue: calming, lowers blood pressure, openness, intelligence, faithful (water, sky, air) Conveys a sense of stability (corporate)

• Yellow: energizes, relieves depression, improves memory(Active and visible: taxi, bus, caution signs)

• Orange: energizes, active

• Green: soothing, relaxing mentally & physically, soothes depression anxiety, nervousness (Nature, growth, freshness, hope)

• Black: self-confidence, power, elegance, strength

• White: clean, perfect, light, pure

http://www.learnitanytime.com/2273/10-infographics-about-web-design/

Color

Color

Color

Color

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Color

Color TemperaturesWarm Colors

Ford, Janet L. http://www.worqx.com/about.htm

Color Schemes warm

Color Schemes warm

Color SystemsPrimary

ColorsSecondary

Colors

Tertiary Colors Complementary Analogous

Ford, Janet L. http://www.worqx.com/about.htm

Color SchemesMonochromatic

ComplementarySplit-Complementary

Double-Complementary

Analogous Triad

Ford, Janet L. http://www.worqx.com/about.htm

Color Schemes Analogous

Color Schemes Complementary

Color Schemes Complementary

Complementary Colors next to

each otherSimultaneous

ContrastVibrating

Boundaries

Color CombinationsAchromatic

color scheme (without color)

http://www.subtraction.com/

Color Schemes

Color Schemes

Color Schemes

Color Schemes

Color Schemes Audience??

Color Schemes Navigation

Color Schemes

Color Schemes

Color Schemes

Color Resources• Kuler by Adobe Labs

http://kuler.adobe.com/#

• COLOURlovershttp://www.colourlovers.com/

http://www.colourlovers.com/web/trends/websites

• Design Melt Downhttp://www.designmeltdown.com/default.aspx

worqx.comhttp://www.worqx.com/about.htm