Colour Theory

Light-Dark Contrast11. Blacks, greys, whites

12. Monochromatic (blues)

13. Colours of equal brilliance

14. Colour of equal darkness

Cold-Warm Contrast

16. Strongest cold/warm contrast (red-orange/ blue-green)

17. Inversion of above

18. Red-violet seems warm relative to blue

19. Red-violet seems cold relative to orange

20. Checkered composition contrasting cold and warm

21. Cold-warm modulation in red

22. Cold-warm modulation in green

Complementary Contrast

23- 28. Mixture of bands of six complementary pairs

29. Composition in the complementary pair red/green and mixtures

30. Mixture square of two complementary pairs, orange/blue and red-orange/blue-green

Simultaneous Contrast• the effect where contrast between colors is enhanced by the eye. With tight

patterns of complementary colors, such as red/green or blue/orange, the contrast is so strong that it vibrates and is disturbing to look at.

• To demonstrate this phenomenon, stare at a red square for at least 30 seconds. Then move your eyes to white. You will see the color green - its complement.

Simultaneous Contrast

31-36. Each of six pure colour squares contains a small neutral grey square, matching the baackground colour in brilliance. Each grey square seems to be tinged with the complementary of the background. The simultaneous effect becomes more intense, the longer the principal colour of a square is viewed.

37. Three small grey squares, surrounded by orange. Each grey is distinct: first, bluish, stronger simultaneous effect; second, neutral, simultaneous modification; third, addition of orange, no modification.

Colour Agent and Colour Effect

58. Yellow squares of equal size look bigger on white than on black

59. Red squares of equal size look smaller on white than on black

60-71. Combinations showing how the same yellow, red and blue are altered in expression by different juxtaposed colours

Optical IllusionWhat is the effect?

How is the effect created?

Optical IllusionWhat is the effect?

How is the effect created?

Optical IllusionWhat is the effect?

How is the effect created?

Retinal Fatigue• after image: colors are not perceived accurately.

• occurs because as you look at bright colors for long periods, the cones in your retina become depleted and your eye needs to rest for them to be rejuvenated. 

Retinal Fatigue

Poor Color Memory • unless we see two colors side by side at the same time, it is

difficult to remember slight differences. • If those two colors are placed side by side then we can see the

differences between them

Poor Color Memory

Poor Color Memory