As children, we spend time in school learning about the basics of colour. But few of us learn about the fundamentals of colour theory. There are traditional and modern theories. Modern colour theory is generally referred to as colour science.
The traditional theory is the historical body of knowledge describing colour mixing and artistic applications. Modern colour theory tends to be more objective and have functional applications, such as in chemistry, astronomy or colour reproduction.
Weather traditional or modern, colour theory can be a valuable tool to not only help us understand more about the world around us but also to create harmonious designs (or decorate your home). In this post, we’ll explain what colour theory is, why colour theory matters, the different colour models, and how you can more effectively use colour in your life via using a colour wheel.
What Is Colour?
We spend so much time around colour that we often assume we know what colour is without really thinking about its definition.
At its core, colour is perception. Our eyes see something, and the data sent from our eyes to our brains interprets it as a particular colour. Objects reflect light in different combinations of wavelengths (radio, gamma rays, and more). Our brains pick up on these wavelength combinations, interpreting them as a phenomenon known as colour.
What Is Colour Theory?
Colour theory is the art and science of using colour. It explains how humans perceive colour (both physically and psychologically) and how colours mix, match, and contrast with one another.
On a more practical level, colour theory also explains how specific colours can be replicated in printing, computers, art, and more. it’s an overarching, multifaceted field.
At its simplest, colour theory creates a logical structure to something we deal with every day but might not always fully understand or have the proper terminology to discuss in detail.
Basically, colour theory is the set of best practices for picking colours together for harmonious designs and contextual colour combinations. That is the idea that specific colour schemes are more appealing to the human eye and depend on the context.
Why Is It So Important?
No matter what capacity you work with colour in your daily life, having a working understanding of colour theory will always come in handy. Colour is vital to making a an impact in and on your home, your different room uses and general wellbeing of the occupants. When you consider that 90% of the information sent to the brain is visual, colour theory becomes essential to home decorating.
There are three different colour models using different primary colours. Primary colours are a group of colours from which all other colours can be obtained by mixing, whilst primary colours are “pure” which means you can’t create them from other colours.
RYB (Red, Yellow, Blue)
This is the colour model you properly learned as a child, mixing finger paints in school. Today, it’s known as the “traditional” colour theory and continues to be used by artists and designers to mix paints and create colour palettes. In this model the primary colours are red, yellow, and blue.
This is a subtractive colour mixing model. This means that you start with the white of a canvas or piece of paper, then subtract the light reflected by the paper by adding pigment colour (paint, crayon, marker, etc.) to it. Remember, white is a combination of every other colour.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
While the RYB model involves mixing pigments, the RGB model involves mixing light to create other colours.
This makes RGB an additive, rather than subtractive, colour model. Instead of starting with white and subtracting colour away from it, RGB begins with black and applies red, green, and blue light sources of varying intensities. The more light you add, the brighter the colour becomes. If you mix all three colours of light in equal amounts, you’ll get pure, white light.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key – or Black)
Any colour you see on a physical printed surface uses the CMYK colour model. This uses the same colour wheel as the RGB model, but these are two different colour models.
Unlike RGB, CMYK is a subtractive colour mixing model. Colours are produced by subtracting light from paper by adding pigmented ink to a white surface.
Unlike RGB, CMYK uses different primary colours because cyan, magenta,
yellow, and black let printers produce a wider variety of colours on paper.
Colour Wheel Theory
Sir Isaac Newton mapped the colour spectrum into a colour circle in 1666. Today, we call this circle, the colour wheel.
It’s based on the RYB model. It organizes these three primary colours, then when mixed together, they make secondary colours, comprising orange, green and violet.
These appear between the primaries on the wheel because they are formed when equal parts of the primary colours are combined. Tertiary colours, found between the primary and secondary colours on the wheel, are created when blending a primary colour with a secondary colour that’s next to them, the resulting hues becoming less vivid.
Harmonious colours sit next to each other on the wheel and create a coordinated, layered look. A tonal look uses tones of the same colour throughout, while contrasting colours lie opposite to each other on the wheel to create a more dramatic look.
The colour wheel is very useful for interior design, especially to understand the range within the colour spectrum and how each lead to other shades. It’s a good guide to use when planning your colour schemes. In our opinion colour choice for the home is much more of an emotive, rather than a scientific decision.
Contact Haven Decorators to discuss your decorating needs. We provide painting, wallpapering and decorating services in the Newark-on-Trent, South Lincoln, Woodhall Spa, Sleaford, Grantham and Southwell areas and surrounding villages.
Our services include interior decorating and exterior painting. We welcome both light commercial work and private clients. Our fee's are very competitive. We are not registered for VAT, so our quotes are VAT free for our residential clients!
Telephone: 01400 272536 or email: info@havendecorators.co.uk
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