.

belye w w w t a e n i t onl check it ou

a.com

t_colo u o b a _ l l a / /svc

r. p d f

Who am I?

I got the blues

Experience and Emotions through color

PASSION

JOY

Depression

HARMONY

CREATIVITY

PEACE

MOURNING

Its a bird, its a plane...

What is color?

Color is a perceptual sensation created in the human mind in response to certain wavelengths of electromagnetic energy that constitute the visible spectrum of light. Human perception of and response to these wavelenghts is affected by many factors including physiology, psychology, language, and culture. Color Design Workbook
(Suggested reading for this class)

The quality of an object or substance with respect to light reflected by the object, usually determined visually by measurement of hue, saturation, and brightness of the reflected light. Dictionary.com

A phenomenon of light (as red, brown, pink, or gray) or visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects. Merriam-Websters Dictionary

Time to go all techy on yah

A technical look at color and the always popular visual spectrum

Technical Details Definition

Color is basically just a bunch of different wavelengths. Humans can distinguish between these wavelengths and therefore we see the world in bright, beautiful color. These wavelenghts come in all sorts of shapes and size, long wavelengths appear to us as red, while short wavelengths are violet.

Technical Details the human color space

Our eyes have three types of color receptors: Red, Green and Blue. Therefore, everything we see is reduced to these colors or combinations of them.

Technical Details VISUAL Spectrum

The Visual Spectrum is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. Ultraviolet and Infrared fall outside of the Visual Spectrum.

Technical Details Black vs. White

White = All colors

Black = No colors

So whats it all mean?

Color defined for the graphic designer

Color in the Design World Color systems

There are 3 primary color systems that the designer needs to be aware of: Additive or Pure Light Primaries (RGB) Subtractive or Printers Primaries (CMY) Subtractive or Artists Primaries (RYB)

Color in the Design World RGB Color system

Additive or Pure Light Primaries (RGB)

RGB is Red, Green and Blue. Since these 3 colors make up the Human Color Space, this color system is the most pure and has the most brightness or intesity. When these colors overlap, they create Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and White. White is acheived by seeing all colors. This system is called Additive.

Color in the Design World CMY Color system

Subtractive or Printers Primaries (CMY)

CMY is Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. This system has physical properties that absorb color. For instance, the sensation of color is when the paper absorbs all wavelenghts except those that the eyes perceive. When these colors overlap, they create Red, Blue, Green and Black. That is why this is called a Subtractive system, because it subtracts wavelengths.

Color in the Design World RYB Color system

Subtractive or Artists Primaries (RYB)

RYB is Red, Yellow and Blue. RYB is the most common color system in art classes and is the basis for most color theory. This color system is similar to CMY where when all colors combined create black. When overlapped, they create Orange, Green and Purple. This is also a Subtractive system.

The wheels on the color wheel go round and round

You guessed it! the color wheel

The Color Wheel 12 step Color Wheel

RYB Color Wheel

Color wheels can vary from the simple to the complex. This 12 step model is a good middle ground.

The Color Wheel 12 step Color Wheel

Primary Colors
Red Yellow Blue

The Color Wheel 12 step Color Wheel

Secondary Colors
Purple Orange Green

The Color Wheel 12 step Color Wheel

Tertiary Colors
Purple red Red orange Orange yellow Yellow green Green blue Blue purple

My a-capella group was sweet!

Color harmonies

Color Harmonies Complementary

Complementary
Colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel. These colors have the most contrast and will excite the eye.

Color Harmonies Split Complementary

Split Complementary
Three colors where one color is accompanied by two colors equadistant from its compliment. Less contrast than complimentary colors, creating a more sophisticated look.

Color Harmonies Double Complementary

Double Complementary
A combination of two pairs of complimentary colors. Using equal amounts of these four colors will be pretty intense and jarring.

Color Harmonies Analogous

Analogous
Two or more colors spaced equally from each other. Since they all have similar light wavelenghts, this color scheme is easy on the eyes.

Color Harmonies Triadic

Triadic
Three colors that are spaced evenly around the color wheel. Some of these combinations can seem garish, while others are quite nice.

Color Harmonies Monochromatic

Monochromatic
Made of shades or tints of the same color. Low contrast and very pleasing to the eye.

The nitty-gritty
properties of color

Properties of Color Hue

Hue
The description of the dominant wavelength of a color. Hue is also called the name of a color.
Blue Blue-Purple

Light Blue

Properties of Color Saturation

Saturation
A measure of the purity of the hue determined by the amount of gray it contains. The more gray the color, the lower the saturation. Saturation is also called chroma.
Mid Saturation High Saturation

Low Saturation

Properties of Color Brightness

Brightness
The amount of light reflected by a color. The more light reflected, the whiter the color (white is all light reflected). Brightness is also called value.
Mid Brightness High Brightness

Low Brightness

Part Deux

Battle Royale
CMYK vs. RGB

CMYK vs. RGB Which system do you use?

CMYK = Print

RGB = Monitor

Baby steps to the printer

inks

Inks CMYK

Inks SPOT

Layin it down
How to get ink on paper

Getting Ink on Paper PRINTING Processes

Engraving Very nice Thermography Cheap engraving Reprographics Copying stuff Digital Printing Cheap, quick, bad Letterpress Beautiful, classic Screen Think posters & t-shirts Flexography Like letterpress, but flexible Offset The one, the only

Getting Ink on Paper LETTERPRESS PRINTING

Getting Ink on Paper SCREEN PRINTING

Getting Ink on Paper OFFSET PRINTING

Getting Ink on Paper OFFSET PRINTING

water PLATE OFFSET PAPER

INK

IMPRESSION

Youre almost there

controlling color on press

Controlling Color on Press ways to control color

Paper Choice Dot Pattern Ink Draw Down Loose Color Proofs Composed Proofs Press Check

Controlling Color on Press Paper Choice

Paper
One of the most important decisions to make when choosing a paper is whether the paper is Uncoated or Coated.

Controlling Color on Press Dot Pattern

Dot Pattern
Conventional offset printing lays down dots is a grid pattern, increasing and decreasing the size of dots to control density and color. Stocastic printing uses a random dot placement and a random dot size.

Controlling Color on Press Ink Draw Downs

Ink Draw Downs

Used when printing with spot colors, this is like seeing a small sample of wall paint before you paint your house.

Controlling Color on Press Loose color proofs

Loose Color Proofs

This is great for previewing color before you send your files to the printer. It allows you to check builds, reverses and skin tones.

Controlling Color on Press Composed proofs

Composed Proofs
Last chance to make any changes before you go on press. Once on press your options will be limited, so be very diligent when reviewing your composed proofs.

Controlling Color on Press Press Check

Press Check
Your last chance to fine tune your final product. Trust your press people, they know more than you. Tell them what you desire, and they will make it happen.

Fin
practice makes prefect color

Resources
colorlovers.com kuler.adobe.labs.com mydesignprimer.com svcseattle.com

A majority of the photos in this presentation were from flickr.com, and used without permission. l am making no money off of this, so please dont sue me. Thanks, Nick.