Use Color…
Don’t AbUse Color
Workbook
This workbook is intended to be used along side The “Use Color… Don’t Abuse Color” web
training located at http://ww3.govst.edu/hptadvanced/http/caryn/usecolor.htm
By Caryn Elm
10/23/2013
BEFORE YOU START
This workbook is intended to be used along with the
“Use Color … Don’t Abuse Color” Online Training.
Sources for both this workbook and online training can
be found at the end of the online training.
Each web page has corresponding workbook page(s). Use
this workbook to enhance the information from the web
page and take notes.
You will be prompted to go to the workbook online by a
statement similar to this:
*** Go to page ## in your workbook ***
You will be prompted to go to the website by this
(but do not go there yet)
Stop
This lesson continues online!
Table OF contents
Introduction
1
Background
2-5
Keep In Mind
6-7
Complementary Colors
8-9
Using Color Schemes
10
Monochromatic
11-13
Analogous
14-15
Triadic
16-17
Review
18-19
Summary
20
Introduction
In this training you will learn the basics of using color in your training documents. We
will go over complementary colors, three color schemes and how to use color to
create emphasis in each color scheme. For this training we will focus on using color in
PowerPoint presentations but once you learn the basics you can apply it to any part
of your training or consulting business.
There are many reasons to use color in your training presentations, you can create
emphasis, repetition, mood and much more. The benefit of using color are numerous
but the wrong use or “abuse of color” can be a huge distraction from the training you
are trying to present. It is important to learn the basics of color so you can enhance
your training not distract from it.
Throughout this semester you have learned how to write a contract and be a
consultant. You can use the information in this training to enhance your consulting
documents, marketing materials or your products.
Objectives
At the end of this training you will be able to:
• Name two outside factors that can affect the quality of color, in your training
presentations.
• Name the secondary complementary color to each primary color.
• Use one color scheme to create a PowerPoint slide.
• Use one color scheme with the appropriate emphasis to create a PowerPoint slide.
You will need
 Pen/ pencil
 About 1hr. and 30min.
 A computer with…
 Adobe Flash
 Adobe Reader
 Quick Time
 Internet
 Printer
Stop
This lesson continues online!
1
background
Terms and definitions
As seen in the video Primary colors are Blue, Red and Yellow. Primary colors cannot be
formed by mixing colors.
Blue
red
yellow
The primaries mixed together create SECONDARY COLORS Purple (Violet), Green and Orange .
+
=
Purple
+
=
Green
+
=
orange
2
background
The secondary colors mixed with an unequal amount of the primary create your intermediate
COLORS (tertiary colors) Blue Violet, Red Violet….
+
+
+
+
=
=
Primary, secondary and intermediate( tertiary) can be mixed with White or Black to create their
tints and shades.
Tints are formed by adding White to a color.
Shades are formed by adding Black to a color.
All the colors that you see around you, besides the primary colors, can be formed by adding
primaries with each other, White or Black.
3
background
Color is often displayed in a color wheel. A color wheel is made up of primary colors,
secondary colors and intermediate (tertiary) colors.
+
+
=
Sometimes Color Wheels will also show tints and shades.
4
background
ARE YOU READY TO MOVE ON?
1. Name the primary colors.
2. Name the secondary colors.
3. Label each color below as a (P) primary color, (S) secondary color, or (X) intermediate (tertiary)
color, tint or shade of color.
Color
P,S,X
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
Stop
check your answers online!
5
Keep in mind
As you can see below the online portion of this training looks very different just by
slightly adjusting your color setting on your computer screen.
Stop
this training continues online!
6
Keep in mind
ARE YOU READY TO MOVE ON?
Name two outside factors that can affect the quality of color, in your training
presentations.
Stop
check your answers online!
7
Complementary Colors
As a consultant complementary colors can be used to quickly add emphasis to a business
document without going overboard and becoming unprofessional. See the documents below
adding a touch of color and its complement makes the consultants name and slogan pop. While
the one color looks professional notice how your eye is pulled away from the consultants name by
the matching border.
Black and White
One color
Two complementary
colors
11
ComplEmentary Colors
Are you ready to move on?
1. Circle the logos below that use complementary colors.
2. Write each primary color and its complement.
Primary
Complement
____________
____________
____________
Stop
______________
______________
______________
check your answers online!
12
Color schemes
Definition
According to the creativity glossary, a color scheme is “an arrangement of colors based upon an
orderly arrangement of colors on the color wheel used within a piece of artwork.”
Consultants uses
As consultants your “art work” is your documents and training presentations. Whether you are
adding color to a training handout, your design documentation or website all the rules are the
same. When talking about color schemes, for consistency, we will be referring to PowerPoint
presentations for the remainder of this training, but do not forget where all the other areas this
knowledge can be used.
13
Monochromatic
Martin (2013) list some pros and cons to using Monochromatic Color Scheme
Pros:
“A monochromatic palette is very easy to make. Simply choose your
color, then add white and black to it.
The colors can never clash, as there only is a single color. If choosing
colors frightens you, a monochromatic design is a relatively safe option
to choose.
The design feels more minimal. The simplicity of the color scheme
extends itself into the design. There is no contrasting and competing
between different colors, and that peacefulness builds towards a more
pleasant, minimal design. “
Cons:
“Less variation in your design. The lack of variety and contrast
lessens the visual interest of the design. Whilst aiming for a minimalist
design, you may just end up with a boring one. You have to ensure the
details in your design still look great.
Difficult to read the text. Often there is too little contrast between the
color of the text and the color of the background it is being read from.
Take care to ensure your page is still easy to read.
Frustration. The limited palette can be very frustrating when you first
work with it.”
14
Monochromatic
In a Monochromatic Color Scheme creating emphasis can be challenging. Notice the four
PowerPoint slides below. See how they all look balanced but where does your eye really go? As
consultants you want to make sure your trainees eyes are going to the text of your training. Look
at the dark background, the light text boxes really pop! The dark looks sharp but are your eyes
going to the words or the light box around it. Also what one is easier to read? The light box.
Similar on the boxes below the dark boxes still look nice but the light box is easier to read and still
draws your emphasis to the words. Out of all the boxes the top right draws you in the most to the
text box and words because of the dark background and the light boxes and easily read words.
So when dealing with monochromatic remember just because it looks good it might not be the
best fit for your training. Walk away and come back see if your eye is really drawn towards what
you want to be your focus. Try to pick one or two similar tints or shades to be your main colors a
supporting shade or tint, and an accent tint or shade.
The darkest blue is the supporting shade
The lightest blue is the accent tint
The middle blue is the main shade
15
Monochromatic
Are you ready to move on?
1. How many colors do you use in a Monochromatic Color Scheme?
2. To create emphasis you would use
A. The complement of the color you chose
B. Tints and shades of the colors you chose
C. Tints and shades of the color you chose
D. The complements of the colors you chose
Stop
check your answers online!
16
Analogous
Martin (2013) list some.
Tiger (2012) gives some hints to making an Analogous Color Scheme.
•
•
“Make sure you have enough contrast when choosing an analogous color
scheme.
Choose one color to dominate, a second to support. The third color is used
(along with black, white or gray) as an accent.”
Remember you can pick any color in the color wheel to start. Then just pick the two
right next to that color or the two to the left or right. Each color is included in three
Analogous Color Scheme. Let’s stick with Orange, above you see it paired with Red and
Red-Orange. Now look below as we spin the color wheel it is paired with….
Yellow- Orange
Orange
Red- Orange
and
Yellow
Yellow- Orange
Orange
17
Analogous
Are you ready to move on?
1. If you wanted to have Yellow in your Analogous Color Scheme what other colors can you
choose?
Yellow &….
A
I. Yellow ______ ________
II. Yellow ______ ________
III. Yellow ______ ________
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Stop
check your answers online!
18
Triadic
Martin (2013) list some.
Tiger (2012) gives some hints to making an Triadic Color Scheme.
•
•
•
“A triadic color scheme uses colors that are evenly spaced around the color
wheel.
Triadic color schemes tend to be quite vibrant, even if you use pale or
unsaturated versions of your hues.
To use a triadic harmony successfully, the colors should be carefully
balanced - let one color dominate and use the two others for accent.”
Remember to form a Triadic Color Scheme you can pick any color to start with then
draw an equilateral triangle so you pick three colors equal distance from each other.
Green
Orange
Purple
and
Yellow-Orange
Blue-Green
Red-Violet
19
Triadic
Are you ready to move on?
1. If you wanted to have Red-Orange in your Triadic Color Scheme what other colors can you
choose?
I. .
II.
Stop
.
check your answers online!
20
Review
Answer the following questions then check your answers online.
1. What are the primary colors?
2. What are the secondary colors?
3. Draw a line from the primary color in Group 1 to its complement in Group 2.
Group 1
Group 2
4. What example below is the BEST use of a Monochromatic Color Scheme emphasis for a
training purpose?
A
B
C
D
21
Review
5. Label what color scheme is being used if you choose the colors below.
A. .
B. .
Stop
check your answers online!
22
Summary
Great Job! You should now be able to…
•
•
•
•
Name two outside factors that can affect the quality of color, in your training presentations.
Name the secondary complementary color to each primary color.
Use one color scheme to create a PowerPoint slide.
Use one color scheme with the appropriate emphasis to create a PowerPoint slide.
There are more color schemes to explore, use the key terms like: mood and color, emotions and
color, and color psychology to learn about how to create a mood and emotions with your use of
color and much more.
I hope you had fun and choose to continue to learn more about COLOR!
Stop
check out the summary online!
23