Art

additive color

color created by combining projected beams of chromatic light.

Afterimage

a ghostly image that continues to linger after the actual image has been removed. often used to demonstrate various aspects of color theory

analogous color

a color scheme based on hues that are adjacent on a color wheel

chroma

the purity, intensity, or saturation of a color

chroma gray

a gray made from a mixture of colors rather than using black and white

chromatic value

every color in itself has a value. Pure yellow is very light in value, while pure purple is dark in value. Mixing white, black ,gray, or other colors to create a new value can create further values. Value and color are related.

complimentary colors

hues that oppose one another on a color wheel. when juxtaposed, they create contrast, when mixed, they neutralize each other

color key

a color that dominates an image and provides an overall visual or emotional effect

hue

the name of a color, such as red or yellow, that distinguishes it from others and assigns it a position in the visual spectrum and on the color wheel

intensity

the purity, saturation, or chroma of a color.

monochromatic color system

a color system based on variations in a single hue.

primary colors

the additive primaries are red, green, and blue. the subtractive color primaries are yellow, magenta red, and cyan blue

secondary colors

hues mixed from adjacent primaries. in pain, the secondary colors are violet, green, and orange

shade

a hue that has been mixed with black

simultaneous contrast

the optical alteration of a color by a surrounding color.

spatial illusion

when colors are used, high contrast values comes forward visually, whereas areas of lesser contrast gernerally recede into the background. usually bright colors and warm colors will come forward in space and the dark and cool will reced into space

split complementary

a complimentary color plus the two colors on either side of its compliment on the color wheel.

subtractive color

color created when light is selectively reflected off a pigmented or dyed surface.

symbolic color

a color that has been assigned a particular meaning by a society

temperature

the physical and psychologiacal heat generated by a color. an aspect of hue

tertiary color

a hue that is mixed from a primary color and an adjacent secondary color

tint

a hue that has been mixed with white

tone

a hue that has been mixed with black and white

triadic harmony

a color scheme using three colors which are equidistant on a color wheel

value

the lightness or darkness of a color, the relative lightness or darkness of a surface

balance

equilibrium between interacting and/or opposing forces in a visual composition

asymmetrical balance

equilibrium among visual elements which differ in size, number, weight, color, or texture. dramatic and dynamic

module

a standardized unit or compositional component

system

a group of interrelated elements of parts forming a collective entity. the way you place your modules next to each other.

symmetrical balance

a form of balance that is created when shapes are mirrored on either side of an axis, as in a composition that is vertically divided down the center

radial symmetry

a form of balance that is created when shapes or volumes are mirrored both vertically and horizontally, with the center of the composition acting as a focal point

visual weight

the inclination of shapes to float or sink based on their solidity and compositional location. the relative importance of a visual element within a design

emphasis

special attention given to some aspect of a composition which gives it prominence

accent

a line, shape, or color that has been emphasized.

anomaly

an obvious break from norm in a design. often used to emphasize an idea

contrast

the degree of difference between compositional parts or between one image and another. tends to be eye catching, and is used to create dynamic, highly readable images