Color Theory Cheat Sheet

Color mixing and color theory are different.

Color theory refers to the locations of generic colors on the color wheel and their relationships based on
their locations.

Color mixing deals directly with the mixing of actual pigments which can produce different results based
on the pigments used.

Color Characteristics

Hue - refers to actual color - “red” for example is a hue.

Chroma - refers to the intensity or saturation of a color. We change the chroma of a

color by adding gray to the color. Any time we mix a color, we lessen its chroma.

Value - refers to the darkness or lightness of a color. We when add white to a color,
we create a tint. When we add black, we create a shade.

The Color Wheel

The color wheel is the color spectrum bent into a circle. The color spectrum, in this case, is based on the
colors found within white light. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet or you may remember
it as ROY G. BIV.
The Color Wheel

Colors on the color wheel are designated by how they are made and are categorized as primary,
secondary, or tertiary.

Primary Colors - Red, yellow, and blue. These

colors are made of pigment and cannot be
mixed. All other colors can be mixed using these
three colors.

Secondary Colors - Green, purple, and orange.

These colors are mixed when equal parts of two
primaries are combined.

Tertiary Colors - Blue-green, yellow-green, red-

orange, yellow-orange, blue-purple, and red-
purple. These colors are mixed when equal
parts of a primary and a secondary are mixed.

ALL mixtures of blue and red will create a purple. BUT, the actual color that is created depends on
the pigments of the blue and red. In other words, alizarin crimson mixed with ultramarine will
produce a different purple than cadmium red and cobalt blue. Both combinations are blue and red,
but each will produce a different purple.

Color Schemes

Color schemes are arrangements of colors within a work based on the locations of colors on a color
wheel. Using a specific color scheme within a work creates harmony and unity.

Popular color schemes include: monochromatic, complimentary, analogous, primary, secondary,

split-complimentary, and color tetrads.
Color Schemes

Monochromatic - literally means one (mono) color (chroma). So a monochromatic color scheme is
made up of one color and it’s shades and tints.

Complimentary - colors found directly across from each other on the color wheel. Complementary
color schemes provide strong contrast. Ex. Blue and orange
Color Schemes

Analogous - colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. When used as a color scheme,
analogous colors can be harmonious. Ex. Blue, blue-green, green, and yellow-green

Primary - the primary colors - red, yellow, and blue.

Color Schemes

Secondary - the secondary colors - orange, purple, and green.

Tetrad - four colors that are equidistant from each other on the color wheel.
Color Schemes

Split-complimentary - three colors - a single color and its compliment’s closest analogous colors. Ex.
orange, blue-green, and blue-purple.