Navigating the World of Color
with the Theory Wheel!
In the visual arts, color theory is the body of practical guidance for color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination. Color terminology based on the color wheel and its geometry separates colors into primary color, secondary color, and tertiary color.
ADDITIVE
CREATED WITH LIGT; START WITHBLACK. ADD COLOR, RGB
SUBTRATIVE
CREATED WITH INK; START WITH WHITE, ADD COLOR, CMYK
COLOR TYPES
PRIMARY
SECONDARY
TERTIARY
COMPLEMENTARY
ANALOGOUS
Monochromatic
Complementary
Split Complementary
Double Complementary
Analogous
Traid
MEANINGS
RED: Intense, Fire & Blood, Energy, War, Bander, Love, Passionate, Strong.
BLUE: Sky, Sea, Depth, Stability, Trust, Masculine, Tranquil.
VIOLET: Royalty, Power, Nobility, Wealth, Ambition, Dignified, Mysterious.
YELLOW: Sunshine, Joy, Cheerfulness, Intellect, Energy, Attention-getter.
GREEN: Nature, Growth, Fertility, Freshness, Healing, Safety, Money
ORANGE: Warm, Stimulating, Enthusiasm, Happiness, Success, Creative, Autumn.
TERMS
CHROMA: How pure a hue is in relation to gray
SATURATION: The degree of purity of a hue
INTENSITY: The brigtness or dullness of a hue
LUMINANCE: A measure of the amount of light reflected from a hue
SHADE: A hue produced by the addition of black
TINT: A hue produced by the additino of white