you can greatly enhance any graphic or sketch with the careful addition of colour. there are more...
TRANSCRIPT
You can greatly enhance any graphic or sketch with the careful addition of colour. There are more rules than you might think regards what colours should be used when. You will get to know what the main rules are by studying the following couple of pages.
These are the basic colours ; RED, YELLOW and BLUE.
These are made by mixing two PRIMARY colours together.
These are made by mixing a PRIMARY & SECONDARY colour.
These are colours which are opposite each other on the colour wheel.
These are colours which are near each other on the colour wheel.
The basic colour
Lighter or darker than the basic hue
The basic hue mixed with some white
The basic hue mixed with some black
When a colour moves through a variety of tones from light to dark, this is termed a gradient. This effect is used a lot to give the impression that an object is three dimensional.
Gradients can be stepped like the first example here or they can be more gradual as shown in the second.
MANDATORY
WARNING
SAFETY
PROHIBITION
There is no absolute right and wrong when it comes to selecting the right colour for a particular task. Colour is only unsuitable if it is used inappropriately or in combinations which are inharmonious.
The choice of colours and colour combinations often comes down to nothing more than personal taste. However, equally as often the choice is governed by a set of rules which will be explained on this page. Keep in mind you will have to say why you chose the colours that you did for every piece of work in your folio and you should rarely, if ever, break any of the rules on this page. So get to know them !
Here are some of the rules governing some colours. Do you agree with them all ?
WHAT COLOURS TO USE . . . AND WHEN !
BLACK
GREYBROW
N
VIOLETPURPL
E
GREEN
ORANGE
BLUE
YELLOW
REDGreat power of attraction but too much can be tiring. Hot, bold, exciting, festive, passionate, positive. Red can be associated with rage, aggression, danger, courage, masculinity and speed.
The colour which is most easily seen (luminous). Bright, pleasant, happy, sunny, lively and cheerful. Yellow is often associated with sunshine and holidays.
Blue is more formal than red or yellow. Cool, sophisticated, aristocratic, serene, passive, elegant and reliable. Rarely used in food because of its association with mould.
Sunny, cheerful, warm and happy. Orange is one of the appetite colours associated with flavour and energy.
Green is the most restful of all of the colours. Fresh, youthful, cool, soothing, natural and informal. It is also associated with safety, health and environmental concern.
Purple combines the courage of red and the nobility of blue. Rich, pompous, impressive and regal. Purple is also seen as the colour preferred by moody people !
Cool, negative, retiring, subdued and solemn. Violet is associated with peacefulness.
Safe, reliable, wholesome and natural. Brown is often associated with the earth.
Neutral, sedate, dignified, dull and inconspicuous. Grey is often associated with old age.
Luminous, positive, light, delicate, cold and clean. White is often associated with innocence and purity.
Subdued, solemn, heavy and profound. Black is often associated with death, sorrow and evil.
Symbolise ideasSymbolise ideas
Symbolise ideasCreate mood or interest
Symbolise ideasIdentify and organise
Symbolise ideasAttract attention
Symbolise ideasPromote business
Symbolise ideasPromote sales
Symbolise ideasGive information
Symbolise ideasGive instructions
Symbolise ideasPromote group identity
Symbolise ideasCreate illusions
SOME FUNCTIONS OF COLOURPolitical colours, National colours.
Interior decoration
Colour coding
Warning signs and advertising
Corporate identity
Packaging
International signs and symbols
Traffic lights
Army uniforms and team colours
Receding/advancing, Heavy/light
COLOUR
In Graphic Communication we use colour extensively. However, we do not simply use it for the sake of using it. We use it for specific purposes. We select certain colours to render, design and tone products to suit the individual environment.
The colour wheel is made up of every colour in the visible spectrum. Inside the colour wheel we have primary, secondary and tertiary colours.
THE COLOUR WHEEL
COLOUR ASSOCIATION
We are surrounded by colours everywhere and colours are involved in everything we do, both consciously and sub-consciously. In the following few slides we will take a look at what certain colours mean to us and how they are manipulated in every day life. . .
Red is associated with areas such as passion, danger, speed, stopping, blood, fear and warmth. Certain items will be coloured red due to this colour association.
COLOUR ASSOCIATION
Blue is a formal colour, it is associated with sophistication, elegance and reliability. It is a cool colour which is rarely used in foods as it is associated with mould! For this reason, chef’s sticking plasters are blue.
COLOUR ASSOCIATION
Yellow is an easily seen, luminous colour. It is associated with brightness, sunshine, holidays, being happy and cheerful.
COLOUR ASSOCIATION
Orange is similar to yellow in its associations. Orange is linked with areas such as warmth, fire, sun, being happy, cheerful and is also associated with flavour and energy.
COLOUR ASSOCIATION
Green is a very restful and peaceful colour. It is associated with areas such as nature, health, the environment, informal, youthful and cool.
COLOUR ASSOCIATION
Purple combines the courage of red and the nobility of blue. It is a rich, pompous, impressive and regal colour.
COLOUR ASSOCIATION
White is luminous, positive, light, delicate and clean. It is also associated with innocence and purity in our culture but with death in some other cultures.
COLOUR ASSOCIATION