COLOR
DESIGN’S
MOST EXCITING
ELEMENT
COLOR HAS THREE
DIMENSIONS OR QUALITIES:
• Hue
• Value
• Intensity
HUE
The name given to a color.
RED YELLOW VIOLET
VALUE
The lightness or darkness
of a color
TINT
Made by adding white to a color
so that it is lighter.
+ =
HUE WHITE TINT
SHADE
Made by adding black to a
color so that it is darker.
+ =
HUE BLACK SHADE
INTENSITY
The brightness or dullness
of a color.
FUSCHIA - HIGH INTENSITY
OLIVE - LOW INTENSITY
NEUTRALS
(NOT REALLY COLORS)
White
No color
Black All colors
Gray White + Black
Beige
Can be used with most colors
COLOR WHEEL
A GUIDE TO STUDY
HOW TO CHOOSE AND
COMBINE COLORS
PRIMARY HUES
RED YELLOW BLUE
•Pure and basic
•Cannot be made from any other colors
•All other colors are made from these
•Equal distance from each other on color wheel
SECONDARY COLORS
•Made by mixing equal amounts of 2 primary colors
•Found halfway between the primary hues on the wheel
+ ORANGE
=
+ = GREEN
+ = VIOLET
INTERMEDIATE (TERTIARY)
HUES
Made by mixing equal amounts of adjoining primary
and secondary colors.
THE COLOR
WHEEL CAN BE
DIVIDED INTO
WARM AND
COOL COLORS
WARM COLORS
Appear hot like the sun or like fire
Give feelings of gaiety, activity or cheerfulness
Appear to advance-they make body look larger
Can give a nervous impression if overdone
COOL COLORS
Remind us of water or sky
Give feelings of quietness or restfulness
Appear to recede and make body look smaller
Can be depressing if overdone
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR
SCHEME
This is a one-color plan that uses different tints, shades and
intensities of the color
BLUE
ANALOGOUS COLOR SCHEME
This color scheme uses related, or neighboring colors on the
color wheel with varying values and intensities of the colors.
COMPLEMENTARY COLOR
SCHEME
This color scheme uses opposite hues on the color
wheel. These colors are across from each other on the
wheel and have great contrast.
SPLIT-COMPLEMENTARY
COLOR SCHEME
This color scheme uses three colors, one color with the two
colors on each side of its complement.
VIOLET
TRIAD COLOR SCHEME
This color scheme combines three colors equidistant on the
color wheel and has a great deal of contrast.
ACCENTED NEUTRAL COLOR
SCHEME
This color scheme combines white, black, gray or sometimes
beige with a bright color accent.
All colors are beautiful, depending on
personal taste.
If not used wisely or combined well, color
can cause apparel to look too gaudy or very
drab.
Harmony results when hues, values and
intensities are combined in a pleasing way.