Color Theory
& the Color Wheel
A Color Wheel
How do we “see” color?
How we “see” color:
Color
is a sensation. Its our eyes
reaction to wavelengths of light.
What are “wavelengths?
What are “wavelengths”?
When we see
color, we see
certain
wavelengths in
light reflected
back to our
rod and cones
in our eyes.
When
we see something white, all wavelengths are being
reflected back to our eyes. When we see black no
wavelengths are being reflected. Black and white are
not colors.
White light is what?
White light is

White light is
composed of different
wavelengths. A prism
can separate light into
these wavelengths. In
this sense, white is the
addition of all colors,
and black is the
absence of color.
a HUE is ??
a HUE
the name
of the
“color”
is ??
What are Color Schemes?
Color Schemes
are a systematic
way of using the
“Color Wheel” to
put colors
together.
VALUE is??
VALUE is??
how light
or dark the
color
appears.
 is

(think about if you
were to photocopy
it)
Tints are?
Shades
Tints & Shades
Tints are used to
lighten a color using
white.
Shades are used to
darken a color using
black or the color’s
opposite.
Saturation???
Saturation???
Is
the
brightness
& dullness
of a color
Contrast is???
Contrast is???
 Is
the
difference
between the
colors,
textures,
value &
shape
What are these colors?
RED
YELLOW
BLUE
Primary colors:
RED
YELLO
W
BLUE
What are these colors?
ORANG
E
GREEN
VIOLET
Secondary colors:
ORANGE
GREEN
VIOLET
Monochromatic
means?
onochromatic
is a color
scheme made
of one
color and all
its tints and
shades.
Mono = One
Complementary colors are?
Complementary
are colors
that are
opposite
each other
on the color
wheel.
Split Complementary are??
Split Complementary
is a color
and the two
colors on
either side of
its
complement.
Analogous colors are??
Analogous
colors are
colors that
are next to
each other
on the color
wheel. They are
also known as
color families.
Triad colors are?
A Triad
is made of
colors that
are equally
spaced
apart on
the color
wheel.
Warm and Cool
The color wheel
can be equally
divided into warm
and cool colors.
Warm colors are
the colors found
in fire and the
sun. Cool colors
are the colors of
water and shade.
Cool
Warm
What are these colors?
RED
ORANG
E
YELLO
W
Warm
RED
 ORANGE
 YELLOW

What are these colors
called?
BLUE
GREEN
VIOLET
Cool
BLUE
GREEN
VIOLET
Neutrals are what?
Neutrals
Neutrals are
black,
white, &
browns. They are
not considered “colors”.
Browns are all primaries mixed
together, black is the absence
of color and white is the
reflection of all color.
Final Exam Slide Show

Starting on # 51 on your scan-tron sheet