WEEK THREE / DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO / CE 2404 / continuing education / fall 2006
COLOR THEORY
Color is an enormous topic. We are constantly processing visual information based on color references. In understanding color theory it's helpful to break it down into three parts: IMPRESSION / visually, EXPRESSION / emotionally and CONSTRUCTION / symbolically. This initial class on color deals with the more objective principles.
Since 1676, when Issac Newton analyzed sunlight through a glass prism and the color it produced, many color theories have been put in place. It should be mentioned that color theory is just that, theory. For centuries people came to understand and use color based on their inherent perceptions and emotional responses. Theory helps us to understand their practices and our own perceptions. I like to teach from a book by Johannes Itten called THE ART OF COLOR. Again, this is a highly theoretical text, but it serves as a well organized place to start.
The Color Wheel
The first is produced with primary colors. These are to be the basic building blocks and therefore, all color extends from mixtures of these three colors. Conversely, this means that these colors cannot be produced by any other color.
Primary colors: red / yellow / blue
Secondary colors are the result of the combination between the primary colors
Secondary colors: orange / green / violet
Tertiary colors are the colors the fall between the different grades of primary and secondary colors
Tertiary colors: yellow orange / red orange / red violet / blue violet / blue green / yellow green.
The twelve tone scale: yellow / yellow orange / orange / red orange / red / red violet / violet / blue violet / blue / blue green / green / yellow green
Examine the various forms of color and color contrast:
Hue, Saturation, Brightness, Cold-Warm, Complementary and Simultaneous.
Below is a diagram of color value created in Adobe Illustrator.
OUT OF CLASS WORK
For the first part of the assignment, create 2 grid studys with colors. Create them by using either primary colors, secondary colors, analogous colors or cool & warm colors.
For the second part, find the structure of a photo (line and shape) and define it with color in Photoshop. You can do this by selecting an image and defining the shapes with the pen tool. Once you have created the path, save it in the path pallette. Then convert the path into a selection (also done from the path pallette). Once selected, go to the IMAGE menu ADJUST>HUE/SATURATION. This brings up the HUE/SATURATION dialogue box. Click COLORIZE. this allows you to adjust HUE, SATURATION and BRIGHTNESS. You can now create your composition. Like the grid studies, make your color selections and treatments based on our discussion of color theory. Work to make the compositions balanced, and thoughtful.
SAMPLE IMAGES
