LECTURE 2 COLORS IN TEXTILE:

AN INTRODUCTION

Color Science
 Human Visual System (Eye)
2
 Functions of Eye Parts
3

• Protect Eye
Cornea • Allow to properly focus on light
• Provide structure and safety for inner
Sclera
working of eye
• Takes in light so that eye can focus on
Pupil
objects
• Allow the eye to take in more or less light
Iris
depending on surrounding brightness
Fovea • Responsible for our central, sharpest vision
 Functions of Eye Parts
4

Lens • Focuses the light pupil takes in

• The light focuses by the lens is
transmitted onto the retina. This
Retina
is made of rods and cones
arranged in layers
Ciliary • It holds and controls the
Body movement of the eye lens
Choroid • Provide blood supply to the eye
 Range of Visible Spectrum
5

Frequency
Color Wavelength (nm) Energy (eV)
(1014 Hz)

Red 620 – 750 4.00 – 4.84 1.91

Orange 590 – 620 4.84 – 5.08 2.06

Yellow 570 – 590 5.08 – 5.26 2.14

Green 495 – 570 5.26 – 6.06 2.25

Blue 450 – 495 6.06 – 6.68 2.75

Violet 380 – 450 6.68 – 7.89 3.10

 Retina
6

 Retina contains rods and cones (RGB)

 Three types of cones, used for different
wavelengths
 Short-wavelength cones, S cones, or blue cones
used to view blue light,
 Middle-wavelength cones, M cones, or green
cones is most sensitive to light perceived as green
 Long-wavelength cones, L cones, or red cones;
 Reflection and Refraction
7

 Reflection
 Change in direction of a wavefront at an interface
between two different media so that the wavefront
returns into the medium from which it originated.
 Can be specular or diffused
 Refraction
 Change in direction of a wave due to a change in
its medium.
 It is essentially a surface phenomenon.
 Reflection, Absorption and Passing
8

As the light
strikes an
object, like a
piece of cloth,
it may be in a
whole or part:

Reflected

Absorbed

Pass through
the material
 Color Wheel
9

The color
wheel shows
relationships
between the
colors.

Color wheel is
divided into
three color
areas:

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary
 Color Wheel
10
 Complementary Colors
11

 Colors opposite from

one another on the
wheel.
 These colors will
provide the most
visual contrast.
 Contrast is the
noticeable level of
difference between
two colors.
 Complementary Colors
12

 When a color is looked at, the corresponding

nerves are excited
 If the gaze is continued for a considerable time, the
nerves become fatigued, while the other nerves are
resting.
 When the eye is transferred to another surface the
rested nerves produce sympathetically an after-
image which is complementary in color to the first
color
 Complementary colors
13

 The exhaustion of the color nerves can cause a

color to appear duller or even change the
appearance of a color
 Causes problem in examining dyed cloths
 we should switch from one color to another, i.e.
from red to green to avoid color disturbance
RED

14 Primary Color
High energy
Exciting
Increase blood pressure
 Red
15

 A brilliant, powerful and cheerful color

 Gives the impression of warmth and appears to
advance slightly towards the observer.
 Enhances human metabolism
 Raises blood pressure.
 High visibility
 Used in Stop signs and Fire equipment
YELLOW

16 Primary Color
Eye catching
Bold
Encourages memory recall
 Yellow
17

 Very luminous and vivid color

 Conveys the idea of purity
 Not so warm looking as red
 Appears more distinctly.
BLUE

18 Primary Color
Peaceful
Relaxing
Reduces appetite
 Blue
19

 Blue is a cold color

 Symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence,
intelligence, calmness and truth
 Slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect
 Used to promote products and services related to
cleanliness (filters, cleaning liquids), air and sky
(airlines, air conditioners), water and sea (mineral
water).
 When used together with warm colors like yellow or
red, blue can create high-impact, vibrant design
GREEN

20 Secondary Color
Natural
Soothing
Well balanced
 Green
21

 A retiring and rather cold color

 Appears cheerful and fresh
 Symbolizes growth, harmony, and freshness
 Green has strong emotional correspondence with
safety
 Used for traffic lights
ORANGE

22 Secondary Color
Friendly
Social
Lively
 Orange
23

 Very strong color

 Possesses warmth and brightness
 Not so intense as yellow
 Encourages appetite
 Friendly, bold and social
Purple

24 Secondary Color
Imaginative
Royal
Dramatic
 Purple
25

 Combines the stability of blue and the energy of

red
 Associated with:
 Wisdom,
 Dignity
 Independence
 Creativity
 Mystery and magic
 Color Contrast & Harmony
26

 When two or more colors blend in well, color

harmony is produced.
 A combination of hues which is pleasing
 When two or more colors oppose each other, or
appear dissimilar, a contrast is created
 Orange is a contrast of blue whereas magenta will
harmonize with blue
 Additive Mixing
27

 Additive color is color created by mixing light of

two or more different colors.
 When some digital video projectors project discrete
red, green and blue images that are superimposed
in register on a projection screen
 Red
 Green
 Blue
 Additive Mixing
28

Additive Colors
Combined in Equal Parts

Blue + Green = Cyan

Red + Blue = Magenta

Green + Red = Yellow

Red + Green + Blue = White

 Application of Additive Mixing
29

 Computer monitors and televisions are an

application of additive color. These devices use a
mosaic of red, green and blue dots. Our eyes do not
distinguish the dots. Rather, the dots stimulate the
color receptors of our retina (called cones) by
adding or blending the light together creating a
composite color.
 Subtractive Mixing
30

 When the source of color is pigment or dye, the

result of combining colors is different from when
the source of color is light. Subtractive color mixing
occurs when light is reflected off a surface or is
filtered through a translucent object. For example, a
red pigment or filter only appears red because
it absorbs (subtracts) all of the light that is not red
and only reflects or allows the red light. A green
pigment only reflects green light and a green filter
only passes green light.
 Subtractive Mixing
31

Subtractive Colors Mixing

Combine Absorbs Leaves

Cyan + Magenta Red + Green Blue

Cyan + Yellow Red + Blue Green

Magenta + Yellow Green + Blue Red

Cyan + Magenta +
Red + Green + Blue Black
Yellow
 Subtractive Mixing
32

 Used when we mix color paint together

 When a printer combines several different colored
inks on top of each other on paper.
 When transparent photographic layers are
sandwiched together to produce color images
 Technique is used for dyes and pigments
 Additive vs Subtractive
33
.
34
 Warm and Cool Colors
35

 Colors are classified

as warm colors or cool
colors.
 Warm colors make
something seem
warmer, while cool
colors make a room
feel cool and more
roomy.
 Warm and Cool Colors
36

Warm Colors Cool Colors

 Warm colors make  Cool colors make a

something seem warmer, room feel cool and more
closer and cozier than it roomy.
actually is.  Many blues and greens
 Colors like reds and are cool colors.
apricots.  They are often used in
 Used to make a cold rooms that get a lot of
room feel warmer or sunlight so that they
cozier. don’t feel as hot.
 Warm and Cool Colors
37

 Warm colors, such as yellow and red, tend to

advance and make the walls seem closer.
 They are good for large, uninviting rooms you want
to make cosier and welcoming.