Colour Theory

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As far as a designer is concerned, we all know that colour in design is very subjective. With colours, we can set a mood, attract attention, or..make a statement. We can use colour to energize, or to cool down. By selecting the right colour scheme, we can create an ambience of elegance, warmth or peace. Colour theory is a science in itself. (Sir Issac Newton was one of the first scientists to investigate colour theory.) Sometimes, something as simple as changing the exact hue or saturation of a colour can evoke a completely different feeling. Wondering what is hue? Saturation? Keep scrolling. :)

Hue

• A hue is any colour on the colour wheel.
• Hue defines pure colour in terms of "green, blue, red".
• Hue also defines mixtures of two pure colours like "red-yellow, blue-violet". 
• Hue is the name of the colour.

Value

• Value is the lightness or darkness of a colour.
• All hues can be made in all values.
• Adding white paint will make the pigment lighter; adding black paint will make most pigments darker.

Saturation

• Saturation can also be called a colour's intensity.
• A saturated colour is high in intensity, it looks rich and full.
• A unsaturated colour is low in intensity, it looks dull and grayish.

Secondary Colours

• Secondary colours are the colours formed by mixing two primary colours.
• Yellow + Red = ORANGE
  Red + Blue = VIOLET
  Blue + Yellow = GREEN

Tertiary Colours

• Tertiary colours are the colours formed by mixing a primary and a secondary colour.
• Yellow + Orange = YELLOW-ORANGE
  Red + Orange = RED-ORANGE
  Red + Violet = RED-VIOLET
  Blue + Violet = BLUE-VIOLET
  Blue + Green = BLUE-GREEN
  Yellow + Green = YELLOW-GREEN

Analogous Colours

• Analogous colours are colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel.
• An analogous colour contains one primary colour, one secondary colour and one tertiary colour.
• e.g. Yellow, Yellow-Orange, Orange

Tint

• A tint is a colour produced by the addition of white.
• The more white added, the lighter the tint.
• Tints are also known as pastels.

Shade

• A shade is a colour produced by the addition of black.
• The more black added, the darker the shade.

Monochromatic Colours

• Monochromatic colour schemes use a single hue (purple above) and then use various tints and shades of that original colour.
• They are very low in contrast.

Warm & Cool Colours

• The colour wheel also visually illustrates colour "temperature": warm vs cool.
• Vivid hues that bring about a sense of warmth are labeled as warm colours. This includes hues from yellow to red-violet.
• Hues that generate the exact opposite feeling are called cool colours. They tend to be associated with cool temperatures and relaxation. This includes hues from yellow-green to violet.

Colour Symbolism

1. Royalty

• The colour purple has been associated with royalty, power and wealth for centuries.
• Purple was the colour worn by Roman Emperors and magistrates, only wealthy rulers could afford to buy and wear the colour.

2. Freshness

• Green is the colour of nature and represents growth, harmony, freshness, hope and fertility.
• Green has great healing power and it is the most restful colour for the human eye, it can improve vision.

3. Passion

• Red is the colour of fire and blood.
• It is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire and love.