THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING

Autonomous Institution Affiliated to VTU, Belgaum

Mysore.
Welcome to the Topic

Colours
 COLOUR describes those sensations produced in the brain as rays of differing wave
length impinge upon the eye’s retina.
 Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation and all the wavelengths to which the eye is
sensitive.
 It is said that, depending upon the light and the viewer’s visual ability, up to ten million
different colours can be detected.
 Colour plays an important, though often unrecognized part of product design. It may be
used to help ease product operation, to make the product acceptable in its intended
environment or to identify the product manufacturer.
 At the base colour detection depends upon three factors, namely:
1) The nature of the light falling upon the object being viewed.
2) The nature of object.
3)The viewer’s visual characteristics.
Violet 668–789 THz

Indigo 668–714 THz

Blue 606–668 THz

Green 526–606 THz

Yellow 508–526 THz

Orange 484–508 THz

Red 400–484 THz

Wavelength & Frequency of

different Colours
 White light or day light contains all the wavelengths in the visible spectrum.

 White light is composed of all the frequencies, it can be produced by an

appropriate mixture of red, green and blue light. These colours are usually
called the primary light colours.
 By varying the amounts of red, green and blue light in any mixture, all other
colours of spectrum can be composed.
 A mixture of red and green light produces yellow.

 A mixture of red and blue light produces purple.

 Since red mixed with green light produces yellow, a mixture of yellow and
blue light can, in appropriate quantities, produce white light.
 When light falls upon an object, some wavelengths will be absorbed and some
reflected, depending upon the nature or pigmentation of the object’s surface.
 The reflected wavelengths determine the object’s colour. Thus when viewed under
day light, an object looks red when it’s surface pigment subtracts all wavelengths
except “red wavelengths” which it reflects.
• A set of primary colours for pigments which is
different from the primary light colours.
• The primary pigment colours, with which the
artist or designer is more familiar, are red,
blue and yellow.
• These pigment colours can be united to
produce all other pigment colours, except
white.
For example
•blue mixed with yellow produces green
• while red and blue produce purple.
•But if red, blue and yellow pigments are mixed
together in appropriate quantities the result, in
theory though seldom in practice, will be black
• Bearing in mind the subtractive nature of
pigments, the effects of different types of light
falling upon an object can be assessed.

• For example a surface which is red under

daylight conditions will tend towards black
when viewed under green light since the
pigment absorbs green.
• The surface finish of an object can influence its characteristic
colour.
• If the object has a glossy surface it will, depending upon its
shape and the directional qualities of the incident light,
produce highlights which may overpower the object's
characteristic colour.
• All the light may be reflected and perhaps cause glare which
can impede a machine operator's vision. but those areas
where highlights do not occur may appear richer in colour
than if they had a matt finish.
• Colour can have a strong influence upon the
apparent form of an object.
In general,
• light colours will tend to make an object seem
light in weight,
• while dark colours may make it seem heavy.
These can be used to good effect in machine
design.
• Clearly different colours reflect different
amounts of light.
• The level of illumination in a room with dark
grey walls is less than if the walls were white,
though lit by the same light source.
AFTER- IMAGE
After-image may occur after the eye has been forced to concentrate upon an object
whose colour contrasts strongly with its background.
Concentrate on Below image for 20 seconds & then Click on this slide to view
after image effect.

Green colour absorbs all after-images. Hence, operation theatres in hospitals are painted
with green colour so that after-images after surgeons’ concentration on blood-coloured
areas is eliminated.
Colour-blindness refers to the inability of the eyes to recognize colours

Colour blindness is not a disease but is a syndrome

There are two types of colour-blindness:

Total Colour-Blindness:
Persons with this type of colour-blindness Cannot see/perceive any colour. They can only
See white, black and some shades of grey. This condition is rarely seen.

Red-Green blindness/Daltonism:
This is the main form of colour-blindness and is the inability to distinguish red and green.
This is also called ‘’DALTONISM’ (‘deuteranopia’ in medical terms) or Red-Green
blindness. Such persons may be either red-blind or green-blind.

Colour-blindness is generally hereditary in nature. About 8% of male population and

about only 0.07% of female population are affected by colour-blindness.
 Colour constancy is the phenomenon that most colour surfaces appear to retain
their approximate daylight appearance even when viewed under light sources
that differ markedly from daylight.
 Colour constancy is surprising since the spectral distribution of light entering
the eye from a surface can vary markedly from one light source to another.
 The phenomenon of colour constancy is only approximate, however, and
surfaces do not retain their daylight colours when viewed under certain
fluorescent light sources or when viewed under monochromatic radiation.
Certain surfaces appear to change markedly from one light source to another
and such surfaces are said to lack colour constancy;

Color constancy: The colors of a
hot air balloon are recognized as
being the same in sun and shade
The second card from the left seems to be a
stronger shade of pink in the first picture. In
fact they are the same color, but the brain
changes its assumption about color due to the
color cast of the surrounding photo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9Sen1HTu5o
 ? ?
Types of Colour

 Chromatic Colour

 Achromatic Colour
• Chromatic Colour is any Colour which Lies within
The Spectrum (Visible Light) Violet to Red.

Prism
• Achromatic Colour is white through all shades
of grey to balck.

Gray scale

Chromatic Achromatic
 A System for Colour Identification was Established in 1931 by
the Commission Internationale de l’ Eclairage (French Title)
 Also known as International Commission on Illumination,
generally known as C.I.E. System.
 It is based on upon defining a colour by comparing it with a
measured mixture of the three light primaries which would
produce the equivalent colour.
 The System is comparatively technical and is used for
accurate Colour Matching.
• This is a Form of Colour Chart first Devised by Sir Isaac Newton
• Newton Arranged the Colours of the Spectrum as shown in the
Fig.
• Others notably Ives, Ostwald, Munsell have also Produced Colour Circles.
• Newton based his circle on a 7 colours i.e (VIBGYOR)
• Ives used 3 colours, Ostwald 4, and Munsell 5. all these Circles have two
things in common.

Munsell Colour
Circle Newton Colour
Circle
Newton Colour Circle is Composed of 7 colours of Spectrum, When this Circle
is rotated at a constant speed, we see all colours disappearing to give a Whole
white circle.
• All these circles i.e. newton, Ives, ostwald & Munsell Colour
Circles have 2 things in common
– First, diagonally opposing colours are refereed to as Opposite
complimentary Colours.
– Secondly, all of these circles can be expanded at will by mixing
adjacent colours.
 Primary Colours

Colour
Circle

Primary + Secondary

Teritiary Colours Secondary Colours

 ? ?

Identify the colour of the inner rectangle, is it same colour or different in Both
The Pictures.
Introduction
Albert Henry Munsell (6 January 1858 – 28 June 1918)
was an American painter, teacher of art, and the inventor of
the Munsell color system.

• This system is related to C.I.E. system of Measurements.

•Colour Specification produced by the British standards Albert Henry Munsell

Institution are based upon the Munsell system of Colour
Notation

So What exactly is Munsell Colour Notation ?

Munsell Colour Notation is an Early attempt by Albert Henry Munsell in Creating

An accurate system for Numerically Describing the Colour.
• In the Munsell System a Colour is described in terms of Hue,Chroma and
Value.
• These terms are interpreted as follows

– Hue:- Distinguishes one Chromatic Colour from another.

– Chroma :- Describes the Purity of a colour in respect of the amount of

grey which may be present in it. a colour of strong chroma will have
little grey, while a colour with weak chroma will approach neutral grey.
This is analogous to Saturation of a Colour.
– Value:-Describes the Lightness or Darkness of a colour. The Lighter the
colour the higher its Value. This is Analogous to Lightness or Brightness
of a Colour.
Hue:-
Notation: 5.0 + letter
5.0 R = red
5.0 BG = blue green

Chroma:-
Fourteen levels of chromas
1 = dullest, most gray variation of the hue
14 = most intense, pure state of the hue

Value:-
placement along the gray scale
vertical axis (trunk)
5.0 R 5/10
 Reactions to Colour and Colour Combination
• Different Colours may be associated with or even Inspire different
moods.

Cool Stimulating Warm

• Colours may also be given Meanings, for example

Purity Danger
These Meanings are undoubtedly Acquired from past experience or from association with colours in
nature
Colour Preference

Colour Preference should always be treated with caution, a Colour is never seen
In isolation. It is bound to be related with other Colours. further it may have special
meaning for the observer.

For example:- I HATE THIS

COLOUR
A Girl might say she dislikes yellow, Possibly because
She feels that yellow clothing would not suit her facial
Or hair colouring.
Similarly A man Might express an aversion for Pink, but only because he may
regard it as a ‘feminine’ colour and thus not one which he would choose for his
Own attire.

Yet both Man and Women Would quite happily accept these Colours in what
they regard as their proper place.
• Theoretical Problems
– Numerous color concepts
– Different theorists organize properties of color into different
functional systems
• Leonardo da Vinci (15th Century)
• Newton – discovered spectrum and devised color circle
• J.C. Le Blon – observed primary nature of red, yellow, blue and
described hues from mixing (1756)
• Moses Harris – published first color circle in full color (1766)

Colour Combination plays an important role while deciding a colour for

Product ,
For example a Yellow
Yellow coloured
Text on a text
blackmight not be might
background Properly visible on
be Perfectly a White
visible.
background, but
 A Colour on a Dark background will look lighter.

Orange on a Yellow Orange on a Red

Background will Background will
Look more red Look more yellow

While deciding a colour for a product, Colours should be compared either by putting
Together samples in the combination they will form on the product or by experiment
on a model.
When colour is put on a small model, the colour appear will generally look stronger
or purer than they will when applied to full sized unit, Hues which may seem too
Brilliant On a small model might become more acceptable when applied to full sized
unit. Hence these Parameters has to be considered while deciding a colour on a
Product.
 Colour selection on engineering equipment should begin with its use in an ergonomic
context.

 Better painted in light colours color since dark color cut down the illumination level.

 Too light colours may encourage glare, impossible to keep very light surfaces clean.
A change of colour between the structures of the machine and work areas helps in
obtaining ready identification.

 Excessive contrasts should be avoided.

For example, a light grey control area will provide sufficient contrast with a medium
grey .

 Structure of equipment and controls panels are painted in different color in order to
identify them.

 Visual indicators of equipments are painted by sufficient contrast color

 Danger parts of equipment are painted by red color.

 Equipments are painted by two or three colors. Avoid too many use of colors.

 If equipments are in hot environment, then such equipments are painted by cool colors.

 If equipments are in cold environment, then such equipments are painted by warmer
colors.

 Strong contrasts should be reserved for interpretations like visual indicators, printed
instruction etc. But both should not be used in equal amount.
A colour code is a system for displaying information by using different colors. Color codes
are often difficult for color blind and blind people to interpret.

The earliest examples of color codes in use are for long distance communication by use of
flags, as in semaphore communication. The United Kingdom adopted a color code scheme
for such communication wherein red signified danger and white signified safety, with other
colors having similar assignments of meaning.

The essential requirement - meaning given to the colour should be clearly understood.

 Colour code standards should be studied and used especially where questions of safety
are involved.

 Safety code colour should not be used excessively.

 In highly dangerous situation accounts must be taken of the incidence of colour

blindness when using safety colours.
Example - Resistor Colour Code, Colour Code disc.
 Geometric
Fire Class Colour Pictogram Intended Use
Symbol
Garbage can Ordinary
Green
A and wood solid
Triangle
pile burning combustibles
Fuel
Flammable
container
B Red Square liquids and
and burning
gases
puddle
Electric plug Energized
C Blue Circle and burning electrical
outlet equipment
Yellow
Burning Gear Combustible
D Decagon
and Bearing metals
(Star)
Black Cooking oils
K Pan burning
Hexagon and fats

Colour Code (Adopted by USA) used to indicate the Class of Fire Extinguisher
 Machine internals should be in light colours.

 The insides of cover panels and inspection doors must be painted in a bright hue.

 Colour coding may also be adopted to identify areas which have to be serviced at
different intervals of time.

 Since lighter keeps more light in circulation machine internals should be in light
colours.

 Inside the cover panels and inspection door must be painted in bright colours.
Colour Coded Composite AV Cable

25 Pair Color Code Chart

used in certain kinds of
wiring.
Colour Code used
in the Mother
Board of a PC
 Mobile equipment should be clearly discernible against its normal background. Cranes,
fork lift trucks, trolleys, trucks, and so in must be clearly seen. To create maximum
attention it may be necessary to use strong contrasts.
Example :- Black and yellow colors.
 Colours has a strong influence upon the apparent form of an object.
 Generally dark colours give the affect of weight.
 Light colours give the effect of light weight.
 Harmony in colour should be maintained.
 According to ergonomic advantages. The number of colours used should be
minimized.

Which of these boxes do you think is bigger/heavier?

In above figure, second figure seems to be heavier because Black is the densest
color and hence it creates perceptions of heaviness.
• It inspires mental control, clarity • Gives off an earth feeling that
and creativity. brings us comfort and support.
• It promotes a good imagination • Gives a sense of stability and
and a practical approach to life alleviates insecurity.

• Attention grabber and the • Associated with powerful, and

stimulator of the mind and body. sophisticated.
• Being surrounded by orange is • Purple balances the mind,
mentally and physically brings peace and combats fear.
stimulation.
• It has ability to stimulate the heart • It is emotionally soothing and
and blood circulation calming, warming color.
• economically stable, secure. • Pink takes on traits of red and
white.

• Color of freshness, peace, • Yellow is the warmest, most

freedom, relaxation, security cheerful, happiest, brightest and
most uplifting of all the colors.
and laziness.
• It stimulates the brain making
• Balancing quality that regulates people alert, clear-headed and
our circulation decisive.
• Very powerful color it is the • Color associated with
most sophisticated of all cleanliness, purity, coldness
colors. and peace.
• It makes things look smaller. • Well-balanced, optimistic

• It gives off the impression that you

are self-sufficient and have good
self control
References

• INDUSTRIAL DESIGN FOR ENGINEER

• By W.H.MAYALL

•Websites

•www.wikipedia.com

•www.youtube.com

•www.demonstrations.wolfram.com