Overview to Colour Theory

 Introduction
 Classification of colours
 Terms related to colours and colour wheel
 Introduction to Color Theory
 Additive Colour Theory
 Subtractive Colour Theory
 Synthesis of Colours
 Uses of Colours
 Introduction:
★Colours plays an
important part in Graphic
Communication.
★Colour can make a
graphic look realistic
★Colour can create a
mood or feeling
Primary Colours
Primary colours are:

• Yellow
• Red
• Blue
These are mixed together to make
all possible colours.
Secondary Colours
Secondary Colours are:
• Orange
• Violet
• Green
These colours are produced by
mixing two primary colours in equal
proportions.
Tertiary Colours
These tertiary Colours are produced
when a primary colour and secondary
colours are mixed in equal quantities
and they take their name from two
mixed colours.
Colour Wheel

- Was designed as a way

of showing how colours
relate to each other.
-The outside ring shows
3 primary,3 secondary,6
tertiary Colours.
Terms related to Colours

TINTS SHADES
Add white to make a tint Add black and grey to make
Pale pastel colours give the a shade
impression of softness Dark shades make objects
appear heavy
• Hue Refer to a colour
• Complementary
Colour Opposite colours
on the colour wheel

• Analogous colour
Colours that sit side by side
on the wheel
Colour Theory

 Isaac Newton first fully developed a theory of colours based on colour

wheel
 Mother of the colour – WHITE that contains all the colours of
Visible spectrum
 Objects that absorbs all visible light appears black
 Objects that reflects all visible light appears same colour as the light
 Additive Theory
★ Deals with radiated light
★ Primary colours in additive Theory are:- (RBG)
RED
GREEN
BLUE
★Primary colours add together to make white
★ Also called light theory
★Used in TV,Theater lightning,computer monitors.
Red + Green = Yellow
Green + Blue = Cyan
Red + Blue = Magenta

Red +Green +Blue = White

 Subtractive Theory
★ Deals with absorbed light
★ The primary colours in
subtractive Theory :- (CMYB)
CYAN
MAGENTA
YELLOW
BLACK
★ All the primary colours add
together to make black
 Subtractive
colour
Theory
Magenta + Yellow = Red
Yellow+ Cyan = Green
Magenta + Cyan = Blue
Cyan +Magenta +Yellow = Black
Synthesis of Colour

• Method of creating colours by mixing various proportion of two or more

distinct colours of light
• Equal proportions of two primary colours create secondary colours
• Example : Red +Blue = Magenta
 • As a symbol (Flag)
• Colour coding
Uses of colours • Instructions (traffic signals)
• Promote sales
 1. The three additive colours
come together to
produce ...............
2. The three subtractive colours
Open questions? come to together to
produce.................
3. Additive Theory also known
as...............