Color Theory


COLOR WHEEL
twelve color wheel
A color wheel (also referred to as a color circle) is a visual representation of colors arranged according to their chromatic relationship. Begin a color wheel by positioning primary hues equidistant from one another, then create a bridge between primaries using secondary and tertiary colors.
COLOR TERMINOLOGY
primary colors
Primary Colors: Colors at their basic essence; those colors that cannot be created by mixing others.
secondary colors
Secondary Colors: Those colors achieved by a mixture of two primaries.
tertiary colors
Tertiary Colors: Those colors achieved by a mixture of primary and secondary hues.

Color Worqx

Color Wheel

twelve color wheelA color wheel (also referred to as a color circle) is a visual representation of colors arranged according to their chromatic relationship. Begin a color wheel by positioning primary hues equidistant from one another, then create a bridge between primaries using secondary and tertiary colors.

Color Terminology

primary colors Primary Colors: Colors at their basic essence; those colors that cannot be created by mixing others.
secondary colors Secondary Colors: Those colors achieved by a mixture of two primaries.
tertiary colors Tertiary Colors: Those colors achieved by a mixture of primary and secondary hues.
complementary colors - red and green Complementary Colors: Those colors located opposite each other on a color wheel.
analogous colors Analogous Colors: Those colors located close together on a color wheel.

Active & Passive Colors

The color wheel can be divided into ranges that are visually active or passive. Active colors will appear to advance when placed against passive hues. Passive colors appear to recede when positioned against active hues.
color wheel displaying active - passive ranges
  • Advancing hues are most often thought to have less visual weight than the receding hues.
  • Most often warm, saturated, light value hues are "active" and visually advance.
  • Cool, low saturated, dark value hues are "passive" and visually recede.
  • Tints or hues with a low saturation appear lighter than shades or highly saturated colors.
  • Some colors remain visually neutral or indifferent.
Complementary Colors: Those colors located opposite each other on a color wheel.
complementary colors - red and greenanalogous colors
Analogous Colors: Those colors located close together on a color wheel.


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