Color Wheel
 A tool
color.
to use to understand the uses of
Color Wheel
 Color-the
reflection of light from a
pigmented surface.
 Primary Color – natural colors; red,
yellow, & blue
 Secondary Colors – equal mixture of
two primary colors;
 Red
& Yellow = Orange
 Yellow & Blue = Green
 Red & Blue = Purple/Violet
Color Wheel
color – equal mixture of a primary
and secondary color. Example: red &
orange = red-orange
 Tertiary
 Intensity-brightness
 Value

or dullness.
– lightness or darkness of a color.
Change the value by adding white, gray, or
black.
Color Wheel
– Add white to make a color
brighter, pink is a tint of red
 Tint
Color Wheel
– add black to make a color
darker, burgundy is a shade of red.
 Shade
Color Wheel
– add gray to make a color dull;
dusty rose is a tone of pink.
 Color Harmonies – combinations of
color that are pleasing to the eye.
 Tone
Color Principles
– one hue with its tints,
shades and tones, ex. Red, pink,
mauve, burgundy.
 Analogous – three or more hues that
are next to each other on the color
wheel. Ex. Yellow – green, yellow &
yellow – orange.
 Monochromatic
Color Principles
– two colors opposite
each other on the color wheel. Ex. Red
and green.
 Split-Complementary – any color with
the two colors on each side of its
complement. Ex. Yellow with blue-violet
and red-violet.
 Complementary
Color Principles
– three colors that are equally
spaced on the color wheel. Ex. Yellow,
red and blue.
 Polychromatic – three or more unrelated
colors, select tints, shades & tones.
 Triadic
Cool and Warm Colors
 Cool-have
a
cooling and
receding effect
Ex. Blue, purple,
green
 Warm-red,
orange, yellow
Color Representation
 Red-love,
anger
 Orange-sun, radiance
 Yellow-happy, wealthy
 Green-foliage, no emotional effect
 Blue-softness, tranquility
 Purple-royalty, elegance
 White-innocent, pure