Color psychology

OTHER APPLICATIONS
COLOR ILLUSIONS
▪ Color only starts to exist when our perception
systems produce the impression of ‘color’:
light is perceived on the retina as a stimulus
and is processed into a perception of color in
our brain. In substance, colors are already
illusions in themselves...
 Color is energy… in fact it is an electromagnetic
phenomenon, which depends on the way that
light is reflected on the objects. Every object
absorbs a part of the light which hits it and
deflects the rest towards our eyes: this reflected
light is interpreted by our brain as a particular
color. We shouldn’t, therefore, be surprised to
find that the word color comes from the Latin
root celare (i.e. 'that which covers, conceals').
▪ photo-receptors - the antennae that pick up
luminous signals – that fill in the background
of our eyes.
▪ The world surrounding us is sadly in reality
monochrome.
▪ But there is also another trick: to the eye color is
measured partly on the basis of the frequency of light
that hits it but above all in relation to colors nearby. A
color is perceived to be brighter, for example, if it is
surrounded by a complementary color (two colors are
said to be complementary if the sum of their radiation
equals or gives white) or lighter if the background color is
darker.
▪ There is then a mechanism that enhances the
contrast of the outline of an object relatively
to its background: it is called lateral
inhibition, because each group of photo-
receptors tends to inhibit the response of the
one next to it. The result is that which appears
to be clear appears even to be more so and
vice versa.
An alignment of grey bars allows us to
discover the effect of color assimilation: the
grey bars in contact with blue acquire a
similar tone, the same for the part that
touches the red color, giving the
impression of color gradation. However,
the grey is always grey!
 Complementary Contrasts
Which of the strips below, A or B,
corresponds to the green strip positioned
on the red and green field? This illusion is
based on the effect of simultaneous color
contrast.

The green strip in the field of red and green

is uniform, the answer being A.
Known as simultaneous brightness
contrast the perceptual phenomenon
Visual Weave
that appears to make a colored area
seem clearer when it is placed on a
dark background, as in the example
opposite. It is evident that the
lenticular forms at the bottom are all
equal. Note, though, how they appear
to be different when they are placed
on different backgrounds, light and
dark. The difference is accentuated
when we add an interwoven
background.
This phenomenon has puzzled
scientists and philosophers for two
millennia, yet there is still no
consensus as to exactly why it
happens. Interesting observations
and comments on this subject are
provided by scientists Edward
Adelson (lightness induction) and
Alexander Logvinenko (lightness-
shadow invariance).
Stare at the dot, moving
forward and backwards.
Both images have perfect circles in them
This image has two perfect circles
What’s inside and what’s outside?
 Impossible shapes

A five
legephant
These pictures have parallel lines
The purple squares are not crooked
Disappearing dots
How many yellow dots do you see?
Color movement
The 3 flowing rivers
Need new glasses?
 Disappearing colors
Stare at the center dots to see stuff disappear
Contrast illusions
Stare at the center of the following images for at least 30s
and then look at a white wall or a sheet of paper.
Upside down images
Hill or crater?
Impossible pictures
Same size illusions
Drawings
Cool images
Animated gifts (powerpoint only)
Which way are the ferris wheels
turning?
Stare at the center and the
purple dots will disappear
Cover you left eye and stare at
the left dot to see your
blindspot
Color Blindness or Color
Vision Deficiency
▪ Color blindness is an inaccurate term to describe a lack of perceptual
sensitivity to certain colors, a more precise term is Color Vision
Deficiency (CVD). Color blindness is, however, the most commonly
used term though it is misleading if taken literally, because
colorblind people CAN see colors, but cannot make out the
difference between some couples of complementary colors.
▪ Color vision deficiency is not related to visual acuity at all and is most
commonly due to an inherited condition. Red/Green color vision
deficiency is by far the most common form, about 99%, and causes
problems in distinguishing reds and greens. Another color vision
deficiency Blue/Yellow also exists, but is rare and there is no
commonly available test for it.
COLOR AND YOU

A FUN TEST
For Self-Reflection
To Know And Grow
 In this
Personality Test
Pick the One Color
You like best
 RED GREEN BLUE YELLOW

BROWN ORANGE PINK BLACK

 RED

A tough, strong-willed person you certainly are

Confident, energetic … you can go far
 RED

Outgoing, lots of
ideas brim in you.
Your interests,
including sex, are
not few !
RED You love to
argue and you
are bored
easily.
Your outspoken
nature can
bring much
misery.
 RED

Beware ! Your fast-paced life can be your foe.

Slow down and pay attention to
Life’s flow.
GREEN

You are relaxed and so easy going.

To some, this is a most wonderful thing.
 Original, you have an eye for art.
You are in a way, proud of yourself … BUT

GREEN
GREEN

You are quite aloof …with few friends near.

You’re an ‘escapist’, a dreamer , Dear.
 GREEN

Work hard to improve your life, Friend.

Be patient and work till the end.
 Praise to your honesty and generosity.
Such virtues are rare today – what a pity !

BLUE
 You’re sociable,
loyal and
optimistic.
To many, such
qualities work
like magic !

BLUE
You seem to lack
firmness BLUE
many a time.

Be wise and learn

where you must
draw the line.
 BLUE
You appear to be a quiet one indeed.
But all your friends know that “Still Water
Runs Deep.”
 YELLOW

You are cheerful

and friendly.
You just want to
be happy.
 YELLOW
Calm, relaxed and creative you can be.
Many say you are “Happy-Go-Lucky” .
 You trust others much too greatly.
Beware lest you fall painfully.

YELLOW
YELLOW

You fall in and out of love easily.

Be focused to face life successfully.
Reading and writing are things you fancy.
You have honesty and reliability.

BROWN
A quiet life is what you desire.
Your orderliness many admire.

BROWN
 BROWN

In life, you’re
quite a
Perfectionist.
This trait will
disturb your
mental peace.
 BROWN
People find you
rather
conservative.
You’d be
happier if you
‘Live and Let
Live...’.
ORANGE

You do well career-wise or socially.

Sweet success smiles upon you constantly.
 Many friends like you and you feel great.
But you must not let this swell your head !

ORANGE
 ORANGE
Alas! Failure
you cannot
take.
You need to
change for
goodness
sake.
ORANGE
You’ve a
rebellious
nature
inside.
Check that
each step
you take is
alright.
PINK

You have the ability for clever thinking.

No wonder many people find you interesting.
 PINK
You are kind,
confident
and charming.
People find you
rather
amusing.
PINK

You have a tendency to gossip.

Beware ! This many bring others hardship.
 PINK
You tend to
spend
money
wastefully.
This is a
weakness
most
certainly.
BLACK
When others
are rattled,
you are still
steady.
This is
naturally a
good quality.
 BLACK

You prefer what

is natural, not
artificial.
Perhaps you
know what in
Life is really
essential.
BLACK

Around you is
an air of
mystery.
At times some
do find you
rather eerie.
 BLACK

A Dream World you seem to be living in.

You need to start doing things, don’t you think?
ROOM COLOR SCHEMES: GREAT
INTERIOR DESIGN COLORS &
DECORATING COLOR SCHEMES
EXAMPLES
OF ROOM COLOR SCHEMES:
9 INTERIOR COLOR SCHEMES
WITH BLUE PAINT COLORS
▪ Interior color schemes with blue paint colors
are easy to accomplish because
▪ Blue is incredibly versatile: plenty of colors
go with blue!
▪ Blue color palettes are reliable crowd
pleasers. Everybody likes blue.
Blue and white bedroom color schemes
are beautifully refreshing and serene.
Psychologically, both white and blue are
'happy' colors that clear the mind and calm
the nerves.
How to get the look:
Keep the background (walls,
flooring) very light.
Blond wood floorboards are
perfect for a Skandinavian look.
Alternatives: carpets in light sand
colors or in white, or limed / white
painted floorboards.
Use fabrics in mostly geometric
patterns, and mix different
hues/tones of blue for variety. But
don't be timid: if in doubt, go for
bold patterns over delicate ones.
 Bedroom Styles: Blue And White
Bedrooms With Personality
1. Italian Elements For A Romantic, Old-
World Look

2. Urban Blue And White Bedroom With

Vintage Accessories
3. Midcentury-Inspired Blue And White
Bedroom

The most eye-catching feature of this

bedroom is the asymmetrical 'headboard'
stripe that extends across the entire
ceiling. Any additional pattern would
distract from the striking bedroom walls, so
most textiles are kept in solid colors.
Instead of pattern, the designers used
texture to add interest and a tactile
element to this bedroom:
tufted upholstery,
a deep pile rug, and
wall-to-wall curtains.
4. Southern Colonial Bedroom In Aqua
Blue And White

5. Raw & Rustic Blue And White

Bedroom Ideas
BLUE BEDROOMS: BEDROOM
COLOR IDEAS
FOR A COOL, CALM SANCTUARY
 Dark Blue Bedrooms

Blue Bedrooms, From Regal To Rustic

Historically, blue is a 'royal' color, and blue

silk damask or velvet makes for fabulously
rich, elegant canopy beds.
Accent Colors For Blue Bedrooms
1. Orange
 Accent Colors For Blue Bedrooms
2. Yellow

Accent Colors For Blue Bedrooms

3. Brown
 Accent Colors For Blue Bedrooms
4. Green

Accent Colors For Blue Bedrooms

5. Red/Purple
INTERIOR COLOR BY DESIGN
BASIC COLOR THEORY
ARCHITECTURAL
CONSIDERATIONS IN COLOR
DESIGN
COLOR HEIRARCHY AND
PROPORTIONS
DOMINANT CHROMA- Purer color advance and
dominate while muted or grayed tones of the
same color recede.
COLOR PLACEMENT IN PERIOD
INTERIORS
COLOR SCHEMES AND DESIGN
EXAMPLES
COLOR SAMPLES