All About Color

Relationships between colors are described by the color wheel. Used by artists of various expertise, the color wheel introduces primary, secondary and tertiary colors as well as color complements. The primary colors are red, blue and yellow, and cannot be created by mixing other elements. Howevere, any two primary colors mixed together will yield a secondary color - orange, green or purple. Tertiary colors are created by mixing a secondary color with a primary color. For example, yellow-green is made by mixing the secondary color green with the primary color, yellow.

Color Complements are color opposites and contract each other, creating a vibrant, active color palette. They are located on opposite sides of the color wheel from each. An example of a pair of complementary colors is purple and yellow.

Definitions

Primary Colors Red (carmine), yellow and blue (phthalocyanine) from which all other colors may be mixed.

Secondary Colors Orange, green and purple, made by mixing adjacent primary colors on the color wheel.

Tertiary Colors Colors located between primary and secondary colors on the color wheel, created by mixing any adjacent primary and secondary color.

Hue The clearest form of any color, without the addition of black, white or its complement.

Chroma The intensity, strength or saturation of a color. The intensity of a hue can be reduced by its complementary. For instance, the intensity of green can be reduced by adding red -- the eventual result being a neutral gray.

Value The lightness or darkness of a color, E.g. light or dark blue.

Shade A color darkened by adding black.

Tint A color lightened by adding white.

Complementary Color Colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Mixing complementary colors will produce gray.

Monochromatic A color scheme using values of only one color. Sepia (reddish-brown) is a common choice in illustration.

Analogous A scheme using two or three adjacent colors on the color wheel. Example: yellow, yellow-green, green or blue, purple, violet. This scheme is equally useful in creating a simple palette for an illustration or a garden design.

Warm colors Generally thought of as yellow, orange and red, which seem to advance toward the viewer. However this distinction may also be made of blues and greens. Example: ultramarine blue is 'warmer' than cobalt blue. Willow green is 'warmer' than sage and Cadmium red is 'warmer' than carmine.

Cool Colors Generally, blues, greens and violets, which appear to recede.

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Examples

Source http://www.farrahphotos.com/colorstudy/cololwheel.jpg

Primary Colors	Red (carmine), yellow and blue (phthalocyanine) from which all other colors may be mixed.
Secondary Colors	Orange, green and purple, made by mixing adjacent primary colors on the color wheel.
Tertiary Colors	Colors located between primary and secondary colors on the color wheel, created by mixing any adjacent primary and secondary color.
Hue	The clearest form of any color, without the addition of black, white or its complement.
Chroma	The intensity, strength or saturation of a color. The intensity of a hue can be reduced by its complementary. For instance, the intensity of green can be reduced by adding red -- the eventual result being a neutral gray.
Value	The lightness or darkness of a color, E.g. light or dark blue.
Shade	A color darkened by adding black.
Tint	A color lightened by adding white.
Complementary Color	Colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Mixing complementary colors will produce gray.
Monochromatic	A color scheme using values of only one color. Sepia (reddish-brown) is a common choice in illustration.
Analogous	A scheme using two or three adjacent colors on the color wheel. Example: yellow, yellow-green, green or blue, purple, violet. This scheme is equally useful in creating a simple palette for an illustration or a garden design.
Warm colors	Generally thought of as yellow, orange and red, which seem to advance toward the viewer. However this distinction may also be made of blues and greens. Example: ultramarine blue is 'warmer' than cobalt blue. Willow green is 'warmer' than sage and Cadmium red is 'warmer' than carmine.
Cool Colors	Generally, blues, greens and violets, which appear to recede.