Table
of Contents
List
of Figures
1. Introduction to Color Concept and Color Theory
The use of color in graphic
design is one of the main principles to know when creating an artwork or a
design. If a designer wants to create the meaning of the design with the color,
designer must know the power of color in creating a design. The best color
combination and mixture of a design is the rich knowledge of color concept and
theory.
1.1.
Color concept
Color concept is built basically
with few working knowledge such as hue, Chroma (saturation) and value. These
components are leading to create some great color scheme for a design with
effective meaning and color combination.
1.1.1. Hue
Hue is the basic color terms
which is a designated color of the objects. Examples of hue color are “Blue”
“Green” or “Red”. When the designer use the hue color in the design, the
designer wants to deliver the message directly to the readers. The different
hues have different meanings. When hue color mix with light can create
different wavelength of the design.
1.1.2. Chroma
(Saturation)
Chroma or saturation is the
purity of color, can also specify as the strength of the solid color when the
color was added with the certain amount of grey color. Chroma shows how the
certain colors look like when it’s under different type of lightening. It can
define as different brightness of the color.
1.1.3. Value
Value is the overall description
of light and dark color. The dimension of color which exist in the color
itself. Value can be defined as luminosity with light and dark color along.
Value is the intensity of the color when it’s mix with white. Examples of light
color can be “Tint” and dark color can be “Shades”.
1.2.
Color Theory
Color theory is the guide to
start the color combination or creating the color scheme. The three most
important thing about color theory starts with three basic color, primary,
secondary and tertiary colors. The three basic colors are based on color wheel.
Color wheel is a tool to combine colors. The below figure is an example of the
color wheel.
1.2.1. Primary
color
Primary color is remained
original which can’t be formed by any combination from other colors. The
primary colors are “Red”, “Yellow” and “Blue”. All three colors derived from
their hues.
1.2.2. Secondary
color
Secondary color comes from the
combination of primary colors. “Green”, “Orange” and “Purple” are formed from
the mixture of primary colors.
1.2.3. Tertiary
color
Tertiary color was formed from
the mixture of primary colors and secondary colors. Example, yellow-orange,
red-purple and blue-green.
2.
Introduction
to Color Scheme
The word “Color Scheme” basically
comes under the theory of colors. Color scheme is a set of chosen colors from
any type of color to use it as a theme for the design.
Color scheme are a free form of
creation to express the meaning of designs or the artworks. In designing, color
scheme take part in expressing the meaning of design, creating style of the
artwork.
Colors are chosen to create the
design base on the meaning and logic of the design. The weak choice of colors
will not be able to express the meaning. Designer needs to have to knowledge of
color theory and concept to make the right choice of color scheme for a
particular design. Designer can either create the own set of color scheme or
use the set of color palette. Color schemes are created using the colors from
color wheel.
The basic color combinations are
from color wheel where the primary color and secondary color combines. The
second step of color combination take places with color scheme using the color
from color wheel. The color scheme combines the color logically with
visualizing the relations between colors. There are different types of color schemes
base on the usage of colors.
3.
Type
of Color Scheme
3.1.
Monochromic Color Scheme
Monochromic color scheme formed
from the single hue color. Single hue color mixed with the tint, shades and
tones will make the complete monochromic color scheme. Below figures are some
examples of monochromic color schemes.
3.2.
Analogous Color Scheme
The colors next to each other
from the color wheel which form the natural environmental color scheme. To
choose analogous color scheme, designer must have enough contrast in order to
harmonize the chosen color scheme. Following figures are different types of
visual examples for analogous color scheme.
3.3.
Complementary Color Scheme
Complementary
color scheme created with the color facing each other from the color wheel.
Complementary color scheme are to use with vibrant design contain high
contrast. It needs to manage well in order to have the perfect color matching.
Most complementary colors combination are not applicable to use for text.
Complimentary colors are appeared to use in logos and natural environment as
well.
3.4.
Split-complementary Color Scheme
The split complementary scheme is
a variation of the standard complementary scheme. Take one color on the wheel
and two colors adjacent to its complementary. The advantage of this scheme over
a complimentary scheme is that it can be a little more sophisticated while
still keeping a strong visual contrast. Split-complementary color scheme are
suitable to use in decorating the restaurant, coffee shop and fashionable
clothing as well.
3.5.
Triadic Color Scheme
Triadic color scheme uses the
color that are equal trio spaced around the color wheel. Designer should be
careful to use triadic color due to the balancing. Triadic color schemes are
use generally in interior decorations.
3.6.
Tetradic Color Scheme
Tetradic color scheme in other
word rectangle color scheme which uses four color and arranged into two
complementary color. This scheme is best to use when designer dominant one
color and balance the warm and cool color vibrant in design.
4.
Creating
Color Scheme
Far along the research, there are
different types of traditional color schemes can create from basic color wheel.
Every designers has their desire to use the colors out of predefined palettes
to express their own meaning. Color scheme can create out of traditions but
designers must know the ways of color interactions.
4.1.
Basic ways to create color scheme
Creating color scheme may need
some few steps which will lead to the quick and error less design. Apart from
the knowledge of color theory and concepts, these few tips are good to follow
up for creating the color scheme.
4.1.1.
Set
the foundations
Every first steps are to set the
foundations. By choosing the right base color would be completing the step of
setting foundation. And yet, the right color means the color which will express
the basic meaning of the design right to the viewer from the first look. The
choice of base color will carry the meaning of the project that the designer is
working on, so choosing the right base color will take place as the foundation.
Different color has different
meanings and following are some hot color with their meanings.
Black – when users see black in a
design, the meaning of negative, darkness, silent or evil ideas will be the
first idea they get.
White – the color which always bring
the purity, perfection and cleanliness. White color is useful when the designer
needs a lot of negative spaces in his artwork.
Red – Red color is tricky to use
for. It means for fight and blood at the same time it represents passions and
love.
Orange
– the color
always chosen to show the fun and happiness. Tropical which comes with joy and
energy.
Green – main representing color of
Mother Nature.
Blue
– one fresh
color always represents water, freshness and peace.
4.1.2.
Color
harmony
Second step to create the
combinations of color from the base color chosen. To create color harmonies,
designers can apply the concept of color scheme types which mentioned above.
Color harmonies can create using tools as well.
4.1.3.
Polishing
the design
The last step to finish the work
is to adjust the harmonizing colors with tint, shade and tone. The color harmonies
are beautiful but with these small adjusting, they will perfectly express the
design with high and low feelings to the users.
4.2.
Tools to create Color Scheme
Various tools are available to
create the color scheme. Adobe has provided both online tool and software to
create color scheme.
Some online tools and software
below are useful to create color scheme.
(i) Adobe Kuler (online)
(ii) Color Schemer Online (online)
(iii) Color scheme designer (online)
(iv) Adobe photoshop (software)
(v) Color schemer (software)
(vi) Color lovers (online)
5.
Using
Elements in Color Scheme
Not only traditional color
schemes or tools are to create the color scheme but also by using some elements
in color scheme will make the palette lively.
5.1.
Tint, shades and tones
To expand the basic hue colors in
the color scheme, designers use some tint, shades and tones added to the color
palette. Using these elements can makes the design look professionally and
visual attraction to the users as well as it shows the rich of color in the
design.
5.2.
Photos
One other useful element to
create color scheme is by using photos. Tools has provided the function the
designer can import the photos and choose the colors from the photos to create
the color scheme. For example, by using Kuler, designer create the color scheme
with the mood features provided. Mood features include, colorful, bright,
muted, deep, and dark or designers can choose custom.
5.3.
Neutrals
There are some neutral colors in
color theory which plays important role. Colors like gray, brown, white and tan
are generally mentioned as neutral colors. Normally, black and white are the
common neutral colors to add in the color scheme to make the design visually
interesting. But some designers know very well of using brown, gray and tan
would make the scheme color becomes warmer and dark shade of gray can
considered as black or even white.
6.
Conclusion
From this research, I have
learned the very deep down knowledge of the role which color has taken in
creating a design.
First of all, creation is the
main root in designing. I’ve learned how creation brought us with today from
the respected founders of designing principle. All through my life I have never
had the knowledge that orange color is the creation from mixture of two basic
colors which are red and yellow.
The second knowledge I’ve learned
is every color used in one design are from the single color scheme that the
designer has created to express the meaning of design. And color do brings the
meanings as well as feelings. I’ve learned that the feelings and colors are
attached together from the visual of our eyes towards the natures. For example,
when a person see the crystal clear water, the feelings of freshness and clean
comes along. So when we see the blue color, it reflect back the feeling of
fresh and clean while seeing the water.
Lastly, I’ve started noticing
that the colors from color wheel, color schemes are nowhere far but it’s near
to us. We can see different types of color schemes in every objects we are
using in daily life.
Designing can amaze me by doing
research on color which is one of the part from the wide topic. I’m left with
no word to describe how much designing has taken place in our daily life with
their deep creative power.
My comments are:
ReplyDelete1. The content is well-organized with numbering, good for reading
2. where are all the citation? Please read the Harvard referencing guideline in Blackboard LMS, then show me how you can do this
3. There are many different sub-topics been studied, but lack of some supporting examples to describe? Suggest to focus on some important topics, and elaborate more, and look into how these can be used in your design later, do you understand?
4. Good to read your understanding and feeling about this study, but there's no explanation on how you will use your new knowledge assignment 2, why? You unable to tell any?
5. Please add a section in your assignment 2 report, explain how the colors are used, based on your study, and explain it in your presentation.
6. Some parts are incorrect in referencing format, please fix it, do you know how?
First of all, Thanks for ur comments and suggestion. Here's my doubts to the comments.
ReplyDelete2. I didn't copy the paragraph nor sentence that's why I didn't add cites but full reference is there. I will add cites when I combine my report in Assignment 2.
3. Most of the sub topics are supported with examples if I'm not wrong. Can u point out which topic I'm lack to support with example, so I can make it perfect for assignment 2 report.
4. Lack of preparation on assignment 2 is the reason I couldn't add any of the knowledge in report. One more to add on in assignment 2 noted.
5. Noted again.
6. Can u help me point out which are incorrect, So i can fix.