|
Last week we began talking about color theory
and we discussed analogous color. Let's talk about this more.
Last week, we mentioned the beginning stages of
what analogous color is. I mentioned that we can have several
colors that are similar to one another, but yet different.
That's almost right, but not quite. What we looked at last week
is really what is called "monochromatic". I didn't want to
confuse you with the term monochromatic, because a lot of people
that hear that think that we are talking about a single color.
What we are really talking about when we say monochromatic is a
single hue, but several tints or shades. This is what we looked
at last week. Remember, as a scheme, this is monochromatic.
Now to truly discuss analogous color schemes we
have to break out the color wheel. The color wheel is a circular
pattern of colors that go from one hue to the next in a
continuum. Take a look at the next image.
You see that there is an arrow going accross a
series of hue values. These would be analogous to one another.
As monochromatic was the use of a single hue with different
shades, this is the use of two or more hues to provide a color
scheme. In other words, you use two different colors next to
each other on the color wheel. So this could be purple and blue
or red, purple and blue etc... Take a look at the next color
scheme to see what I mean.
You can see that we have a couple of actual hues
here. I am being subtle, so that you can see the usefulness of
the idea. I don't particularly like the combination of a fully
saturated yellow coupled with a fully saturated green. But when
you desaturate the two, you get a nice combination. Compare the
next two images.
While the first one is sort of light and
Springish (as in the season of Spring), the second one actually
makes me feel a little queasy. That's just my opinion, but you
may feel the same way. That doesn't mean that the second
combination doesn't have its place in the world. A few colleges
have chosen green and yellow for their school colors. And you
all know about those Oakland Athletics right?
Just to recap, let's go over what we have talked
about. We have spent the last two weeks talking about designing
using analogous color. Analogy means that things are alike, or
have something in common. We talked last week about
Monochromatic color schemes using a single hue with several
shades. See the image below.
This week we talked about using two or more
colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. See the
image below.
I hope you have soaked this all in. I know it
can be a little confusing if you have never been exposed to
this, but practice at home playing with these colors and others.
You might also go out on the web a see what people are using as
color schemes. Next week, we will continue with more color
theory. |