Basic

Color Theory Part 1 Welcome to Basic Color Theory, within this lesson I will be talking about the color wheel, and how we use it. Colors can evoke lots of different emotion, based on how they are used, so it is important that we understand when and how to use them. To start, we will analyze where our colors come from and how to use them together. First, lets take a look at the basic color wheel: The basic color wheel has 6 parts, primary and secondary colors.

Primary Colors: Primary colors consist of red, blue, and yellow. These 3 colors are the base colors for any other color on the color wheel. Meaning, you mix 2 primary colors, you get a secondary color, and if you mix a primary color with a secondary color, you get a tertiary color. RED YELLOW BLUE Secondary Colors: Secondary colors consist of orange, green, and purple. Mixing 2 primary colors will make your secondary colors. Blue and red make purple, blue and yellow make green, and red and yellow make orange.

 ORANGE GREEN PURPLE

Tertiary Colors: Tertiary colors are quite simple; they are made by combining a primary color with a secondary color. When you see colors like red-orange or blue-green, those are tertiary colors. RED-ORANGE ORANGE-YELLOW YELLOW-GREEN GREEN-BLUE BLUE-PURPLE PURPLE-RED Now that we have covered the basics, here is the 12-part color wheel, displaying all of the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.

Using either the 6 or 12-part color wheel, we can take a look at complimentary colors. Complimentary colors are across from one another on the color wheel. Red and green, purple and yellow, and orange and blue. These colors may not sound, or even look like a great combination, but they make each other pop. Take the colors purple and yellow for example. If you were to place yellow text on a purple

background, the yellow would instantly pop, almost to the point of being a little too much of a contrast. Analogous colors are just the opposite. The colors are usually right next to one another on the 12-part color wheel and have very little contrast. Take for instance orange and red. If you were to do the same thing as above, only use red for your background and orange for your text, it would be difficult to read the text, because the orange and red would almost blend. Part 2 Cool Colors, Warm Colors, and Neutral Colors: Cool Colors: Cool colors consist of green, blue and purple. They are considered cool because the colors make us feel cool. What do you think of when you think of these colors? Grass? Water? Grapes? What does it make you feel? BLUE GREEN PURPLE Warm Colors: Warm colors consist of red, yellow, and orange. The colors are considered warm because they remind us of things like fire, or the sun. How do warm colors make you feel? RED ORANGE YELLOW Neutral Colors: Neutral colors are just that, neutral. The two neutral colors, although not pictured on the color wheel, are brown and grey. They evoke very little emotion, and are not complimentary or analogous colors. How do these two colors make you feel? BROWN GREY