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Color theory is the sum of current philosophies of using color in ways that affect human moods, emotions, opinions and behavior. Color theory includes the basic principles of color, how colors relate to each other, popular color schemes, and limitations on how we perceive color - color blindness, for example, and "web safe colors."
Color can be pleasing or displeasing, depending on how it is used. Knowledge of the color wheel and common combinations of colors are helpful to beginning web designers as they explore how the use of color can enhance their designs and make their web sites more successful.
Below are a few links to websites that offer useful resources for exploring colors:
Colors from the Fashion World 2009-2010
Answers to Exploring Web Design Chapter 4, Review Questions pg. 95
1. The color wheel is a diagram of the 12 best known colors, including 3 primary, 3 secondary, and 6 tertiary. The color wheel helps us understand how colors are made from each other, and how they work together to create an effect.
2. Name the Primary Colors: red, blue, yellow
3. Name the Secondary Colors: green, orange, purple
4. Name the Tertiary Colors: red-orange, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green, red-purple
5. The term "value" refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. Pink is a lighter value of red, for example.
6. Pink would be considered a "tint" of the color red.
7. Darker values are called "shades." "Shades" of gray, for example.
8. Three color schemes:
9. Monochromatic is defined as different shades or tints of the same color, a very simple color treatment.
10. Examples of complimentary colors are green and yellow.
11. Examples of analogous colors are yellow orange, orange, and red-orange.
12. Examples of warm colors are red and yellow.
13. Cool colors are colors like blue and violet.
14. Color psychology refers to the effect that colors have on the human mind and emotions. For example, the color green is connected in our minds with health, tranquility and money. The colors red and orange are likely to make us hungry - which is why restaurants typically use shades of orange red and brown for their interiors.
The designer must think about the culture of his/her audience and make color choices that will be appropriate based on the meaning that those colors have for them.
