Lecture Notes 2 - Hiran Wijesekara Design Academy
Lecture Notes 2 - Hiran Wijesekara Design Academy
Lecture Notes 2 - Hiran Wijesekara Design Academy
color wheel is based on primary colors (red, yellow and blue), secondary colors and tertiary
colors:
The three core color properties are hue, saturation and brightness:
Hue: Where a color falls on the color wheel (for example, maroon would have a reddish
hue).
Saturation: The intensity of the color (how pure or washed out a color is).
Brightness: The lightness or darkness of a color.
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Color Relationships
Monochromatic
The word “monochromatic” means one color and a monochromatic color scheme is made from
the various tones, shades and tints that are surprisingly possible within a single color.
Monochromatic colors work well together, producing a harmonizing and soothing effect.
A monochromatic color scheme is created by choosing a single color from any of the
twelve colors found on the color wheel, then using it along with its various tints, shades and
tones. The example below is a monochmatic family.
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Complementary
Complementary colors (a.k.a. color opposites) are those that are located directly opposite each
other on the color wheel. For example: violet is the complementary of yellow since it is
located opposite of yellow on the color wheel.
The complementary or color opposites are:
2) When color opposites are placed next to each other, especially when fully saturated, they
create the strongest contrast between them and will even create the optical illusion of
appearing to vibrate. This illusion is most evident between red and green.
Split-Complementary
Analogous
Analogous colors are groups of three colors that sit next to one another on the color wheel.
One being the main or dominant color and two supporting colors. The effect of this color
scheme can be quite dramatic as these hues usually work very well together in creating a sense
of unity or harmony within the composition.
When using this color scheme, choose one as the dominate color (usually a primary or
secondary color), a second color to support, and a third as an accent.
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Accented Analogous
A triadic color scheme is made up of three colors which are equally spaced from one another on
the color wheel forming an equilateral triangle. Thus every fourth color on the color wheel will
make up part of a triad.
Some examples of triadic color schemes could be:
Red / Yellow / Blue
Orange / Green / Violet
Yellow-Orange / Blue-Green / Red-Violet
Yellow-Green / Blue-Violet / Red-Orange