Whether you're a painter, a web designer or a photographer, your primary goal is to make
the observer/client feel good when
looking at your work. You don't want to “visually torture“ your spectator, unless
of course, it is your goal to induce dizziness. This is when knowing the Traditional Colour
Contrasts may come in handy.
This is the introduction of the series of traditional Colour Contrasts. For the part one, click here.
In this series I'll
share the essentials in color combining that I've learned from my painting classes and from the classic "The Art of Color" by Johannes Itten. However, if we intend to combine colors, we have to know how colors are made.
Why Traditional?
Because currently we use the RGB model, that is until our eyes evolve and we're Edit postable to see UV light and undergarments.
The traditional color wheel is a RYB color model. It's foundation is in the Color Theory, developed by Isaac Newton and Goethe. Despite its inaccuracy it is still used when we talk about pigments, because those haven't changed much over the years.
When we observe a
color, it is best to do so on a neutral, grey background. If you're one of the
Colour Lovers, you've probably noticed how grey their site actually is without the content. Itookia also kept
the background grey so the icons wouldn't interfere with your sight
while browsing.
Primary Colors
The three primary colors in this wheel are Yellow,
Red and Blue. You can see them here in the center triangle. A healthy
human eye (or is it brain?) is very much
able to recognise the three primary colors. That is, it can find a
Yellow that
isn't a bit red nor blue, a Red that isn't a bit yellow nor blue, and
the Blue
that isn't a bit red nor yellow. If we mix all three of primary
pigments in the same quantity, we'll get the black color. Opposing to that, if
we mix non-material, flash-light colors, we'll get white light.
Secondary and Tertiary Colors
When we mix the
primary pigment colors, we get the secondary colors: Yellow + Red =
Orange,
Yellow + Blue = Green and Red+ Blue = Purple. These three form the
hexagon inside the wheel. The whole wheel consists of 12
colors, which are the primary, secondary and tertiary colors. The 6
tertiary colors are a combination of one secondary and one primary
color.
Why Know It?
Because it'll make your life easier once you start mixing colors and exploring color contrasts. If you work in visual arts, The 12-part Color Wheel should be very clear in your mind's eye. It's one of those things you should know if someone wakes you in the middle of the night to ask you about it. I gave my best to crete this color wheel (used only web-safe colors), but it cannot posibbly be the accurate one. Computer colors have different values from pigment colors, but for me that just adds more space and excitement!
In my following posts we'll catch a glimpse of each one of the Itten's Seven Contrasts of Colour. These are:
Color vs. Color Contrast
Light vs. Dark Contrast
Hot vs. Cold Contrast
Complementary Contrast
Simultaneity
Quality Contrast
Quantity Contrast
Until then, rest your eyes and look at something green!