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Color vocabulary
Color Theory
Now that we have covered some of the technical aspects of color it is time to equipe you with some vocabulary. In order to understand how to use color we must learn what it actually is and some words used to describe it.

From the above we now understand that an objects ability to reflect, absorb or transmit light is perceived as color. On the computer monitor we are able to combine various intensities of the three waves of light; red, green and blue to simulate the range of colors we can see in our world. But how do we learn to work with color, and make effective color schemes when designing. By learning the vocabulary used to describe color, we arm ourselves with concepts and palettes that will form the basis of making deliberate color choices in our designs.

Color can be described using three characteristics; hue, value and saturation.

Hue
Indicates the name of the color {red, blue, yellow}. Hue is determined by the specific wavelength of the color in a ray of light.

Value
The relative degree of dark or light in a color. The characteristic of color determined by light or dark, or the quantity of light reflected by the color.When a hue is mixed with varying amounts of white, the colors produced are tints. Shades are produced when a hue is mixed with black.

Saturation
The strength or purity of a hue. A vivid color is of high saturation, a dull color is of low saturation.

Also called intensity or chroma. It also refers to the quality of light in a color. You can change the intensity or saturation of a color by placing one color next to its compliment. This will increase the color's intensity. For example if you place blue next to orange each will appear more saturated.

PLEASE download the pdf hand out available at the top to access more color terminology.

Read 'The Nature of Channels' in your One on One (CS 3) text
P. 46-47.

Color Handout