Color Theory

We explain what color theory is and what the properties of color are. Additionally, RYB, RGB and CMYK color models.

What is color theory?

It is known as color theory. a set of basic rules that guide the mix the interaction, properties and perception of colors. This theory is fundamental for various disciplines, including graphic design, painting, photography, printing and audiovisual production.

There is no single theory of color but a set of approaches to color and its dynamics. Many of them are part of the history of art and optics (a branch of physics), and have been developed by different scientists and artists.

The color wheel

One of the main elements of color theory is the color wheel. It is a circular graphic representation that displays the colors of the spectrum in an organized sequence, based on the relationships between them.

The color wheel is usually arranged so that complementary colors face each other and analogous colors are placed next to each other. In addition, primary or pure colors are distinguished from their derivatives, which are combinations between them.

Color attributes

The following properties are attributed to color:

• Hue Also called tone, it is the essential characteristic, which allows one color to be distinguished from another. The tone or hue is present on the color wheel and is named after the color itself. For example: purple, blue, yellow.
• Brightness Also called value, it refers to the amount of light present in the color, that is, its level of lightness (closeness to white) or darkness (closeness to black).
• Saturation It is the intensity or purity of the color. It refers to the amount of gray with which it is mixed. The grayer, the less pure the color and the lower its saturation; On the contrary, the less gray, the more purity and the more saturation.

The RYB color model

The RYB color model (red, yellow, blue or red, yellow, blue) has been used since the 18th century to mix and create colors. It was proposed by Isaac Newton based on the idea that three primary colors (red, yellow and blue) They could be mixed to produce all the other colors. It is a subtractive model which means that as pigments or inks are applied, light is subtracted and black is achieved.

The RGB color model

The RGB color model owes its name to its primary colors: red, green and blue (red, green, blue)from which the rest is composed. It's a additive color system that is, each color combination adds light until reaching white, which combines all the colors of the spectrum. This system is used in devices with screens, such as televisions, computer monitors and video projectors, among others.

The CMYK color model

The CMYK model owes its name to its primary colors: cyan, magenta, yellow and black (cyan, magenta, yellow, blackin English, where black is designated with a K of key plate or master board).

This is a subtractive model which composes the color from the absorption of light, so that the mixture of colors tends to black, which is the total absence of light. It is used for printing techniques, since paper does not have the lighting properties of monitors or projectors. This is why, when working in digital design programs for printing, the conversion from RGB to CMYK must be done.

Applications of color theory

Color theory allows you to use colors strategically to create specific visual effects. It is a tool that makes it possible to select and generate harmonious combinations of colors and is used in very diverse disciplines, such as:

• Graphic design Color theory is applied to create visual materials such as logos, infographics and web pages.
• Marketing and advertising. Color theory is used to choose shades that can influence consumer purchasing decisions.
• Architecture and interior design. Color theory is used to provide specific sensations (energy, warmth, freshness) through color in spaces and the elements that compose them.
• Fashion design. Color theory is applied to create visually appealing combinations in clothing and accessories.
• Audiovisual arts. Color theory is used to create atmosphere and evoke emotions in scenes and shots.
• plastic arts.Color theory is fundamental in the plastic arts to harmonize or contrast elements in a work.
• Psychology. Color theory is used in a branch of psychology called color psychology, which studies how the presence of color can influence perception and mood.

Color theory in history

Isaac Newton described in his work Optics, or treatise on reflections, refractions, inflections and colors of lightfrom 1704, the result of his experiments on the decomposition of the visible spectrum into the colors that make it up. In this treatise, he proposed that the primary or pure colors were red, yellow and blue, and that all other colors were created from the mixture between them. This proposal by Newton gave rise to the RYB model, which is still used in the fine arts.

In 1810, the famous German writer, philosopher and naturalist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) published a treatise called color theory. This work was based on the principles that Newton had previously developed and reflected on the nature of colors and the way of perceiving them. In his book, Goethe proposed and popularized a color wheel with red, yellow, and blue as primary colors, and green, orange, and violet as secondary colors.

Later, at the beginning of the 20th century, the German chemist and philosopher Wilhelm Ostwald (1853-1932) formulated a theory that described color based on its psychological perception. Unlike other color theories, Ostwald's was based on subjective experience and divided colors into cold and warm.

Thus, Ostwald proposed a circle composed of 24 tones and placed the warm colors (from red to yellow) on the left side and the cold colors (from blue to violet) on the right side. This distinction is still used in many disciplines, such as design, psychology or marketing.

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References

• Albers, J. (2010). The interaction of color. Alliance.
• Nassau, K. (2024). Colour. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/