Definition of Color:

Color is the visual perception resulting from the way an object reflects or emits light. It's a
fundamental element of visual arts, design, and aesthetics, influencing human emotions,
perceptions, and behaviors.

Qualities of Colors:
● Hue: Refers to the basic color families such as red, blue, green, etc.
● Value: Describes the lightness or darkness of a color.
● Saturation/Intensity: Indicates the purity or vividness of a color, ranging from dull or
muted to vibrant and intense.
● Temperature: Colors can be perceived as warm (reds, oranges, yellows) or cool
(blues, greens, purples), affecting mood and atmosphere.
● Tint, Shade, and Tone: Tint is a color mixed with white, shade is a color mixed with
black, and tone is a color mixed with grey. These variations affect the overall
appearance and perception of colors.

Properties of Colors:
● Color Harmony: The pleasing combination of colors that work well together, often
achieved through understanding color theory principles like complementary,
analogous, or triadic color schemes.
● Color Psychology: Colors evoke emotional responses and can influence
perceptions, behaviors, and moods. For instance, red may signify passion or danger,
while blue often conveys calmness or trust.
● Color Symbolism: Colors can carry cultural or contextual meanings. For example,
white is associated with purity in Western cultures but symbolizes mourning in some
Eastern cultures.
● Color Perception: Color perception varies among individuals due to factors such as
cultural background, personal experiences, and even age or gender.
● Color Mixing: Colors can be mixed through additive (combining light) or subtractive
(combining pigments) processes, leading to a wide range of hues and shades.
● Color Application: Different mediums and surfaces interact with colors differently,
influencing their appearance. For example, colors may appear differently on screen
compared to print due to variations in light and color profiles.
● Color Physics: Colors are produced by the absorption and reflection of light by
objects. Understanding the physics of light and color wavelengths is crucial in fields
like optics and digital imaging.

The Prang Color System is a color organization system developed by the American artist
and educator Louis Prang in the late 19th century. Louis Prang is often credited as the
"father of the American Christmas card" and was influential in the development of art
education and the printing industry in the United States. Here are some key aspects of the
Prang Color System:
1. Primary Colors: The Prang Color System is based on a set of primary colors, which
include red, yellow, and blue. These primary colors are considered the foundation for
creating all other colors within the system.
2. Secondary Colors: By mixing the primary colors in pairs, secondary colors are
obtained. These secondary colors include orange (from red and yellow), green (from
yellow and blue), and violet (from blue and red).
 3. Tertiary Colors: Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color with a
neighboring
4. secondary color. For example, mixing red with orange creates red-orange, mixing
yellow with green creates yellow-green, and mixing blue with violet creates
blue-violet.
5. Color Wheel: The Prang Color System utilizes a color wheel to illustrate the
relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. The color wheel is a
circular diagram that arranges colors in a way that demonstrates their relationships
and harmonies.
6. Color Harmony: The Prang Color System emphasizes color harmony, which involves
selecting and combining colors in a way that is visually pleasing. This can be
achieved through various color schemes, such as complementary, analogous, or
triadic color schemes.

there are various charts, diagrams, and models used to represent and understand colors.
Here are a few examples:

1. CIE Color Space: The CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) color space is
a widely used model in color science. It provides a mathematical representation of
color based on human perception. The CIE color space includes diagrams such as
the CIE 1931 xy chromaticity diagram and the CIE 1976 Lab* color space.
2. Spectral Color Chart: Spectral color charts display the colors of the visible spectrum,
ranging from violet to red. These charts show the wavelengths of light associated
with each color and are often used in the study of light and optics.
3. Color Temperature Chart: Color temperature charts represent the color appearance
of different light sources, typically measured in Kelvin (K). Lower color temperatures
(e.g., around 2700K) appear warmer (reddish), while higher color temperatures (e.g.,
around 6500K) appear cooler (bluish).
4. Color Mixing Diagrams: These diagrams illustrate how colors can be mixed to create
new colors. For example, additive color mixing diagrams show how different
combinations of red, green, and blue light create various colors in digital displays,
while subtractive color mixing diagrams demonstrate how cyan, magenta, and yellow
pigments mix to produce different hues in printing.
5. Color Perception Models: Physicists also study color perception models, which
explore how the human eye and brain perceive and interpret colors. These models
can include diagrams and charts representing factors such as color constancy, color
contrast, and color blindness

Principle of design
1. Balance- when establishing balance consider visual weight created by size, colour,
texture and number of objects. It provides stability and structure to a design.It is a
visual concept and release to our physical sense of balance. Successful composition
consists of balance in one of the 2 ways:: symmetrically and asymmetrically.

Symmetrical balance- having equal weight on equal side of centrally placed element.
It is known as formal balance.
 Asymmetrical balance- it involves placement of object in a way that allow object
varying visual weight to balance one another around main element. Known as
informal balance.

2. RHYTHM- it refers to a regular repetition of elements to produce the look and feel of
a movement. It can be achieved through the careful placement of repeated
components. It can be directed for example: along edges and by means of shape
and colour. It can be categorise: random, regular, alternating,flowing

3. Emphasis: it creates a focal point in a

design composition. It is how we bring
attention to what's is important in it. It can
be achieved through placement, contrast,
colour, size, repetition, etc. it helps
readers determine the important
information on your display and allows
them to interpret the message faster.

4. Contrast: it is defined as difference. Difference between element or subjects within a

work of art or composition. Contrast can be used to create focal point or area of
interest in an artwork. It can be created by- contrast in- colour,texture,size and shape,
space

5. Harmony by variety: when multiple elements of design are used to add interest to a
design. Variety can be created using different elements and materials as long a they
are compatible to each other.
 6. Proportion and scale: scale refers to the size of an object to another object. Scales
relates to the size of a design in relation to the height and width of the area in which it
is placed. Placement- of object determine the size when compared to each either or
in other words we evaluate the size from the objects
surrounded by objects.

COMPLEMENTARY COLOURS: they are colors that are opposite

each other on the color wheel. A complement absorbs all the light
waves the other color reflects and is the strongest contrast to the
color.
Example: purple-yellow, blue orange

SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY- they are 3 colors that are

combined by ie hue plus the hues on each side of its
compliment.

DOUBLE SPLIT COMPLE.- it consist of 4 colors , two on

either side of the two complement but not original set of colors.

TRIADS AND TETRADIC - combination use geometric shapes (triangle and rectangle) to
combine 3-4 colors across the color wheel