And since the modern generally accepted theory of color looks like, it must be understood that the theory, as explained by physiologists, has one form, and the way it is taught, for example, in art universities teaching traditional artistic techniques has a different form, and there where computer graphics are taught, the same theory may look different. For example, scientists who study the structure of the human eye argue that there are three types of so-called cones (these are such cells on the retina) that are most susceptible to different wavelengths, visually they can be identified as violet, green, yellow, that is, three types of cells the most susceptible to these colors, and the variety of colors that we see is already obtained in our brain after processing. Thus, we can say that the primary colors of which all the others are composed are purple, green, yellow. But any painter working with paints on canvas or paper will tell you that the main colors are blue, red, yellow. And a person working in computer graphics will most likely say that primary colors depend on the color space in which you work, and for example, they can be green, red, and blue.
How so why such confusion, in fact, everything is fine, the theory of color is quite well developed and unified, but physiologists are studying our body. And painters work with the perception that develops after the brain has processed all the data received from the senses using pigment dyes. A digital artist works with color spaces in which the primary colors were selected in such a way that it would be easier to perform the corresponding tasks on a specific equipment. And everyone works in their information field in their own coordinate system, which without conditionally intersect and interact with each other, but nevertheless have their own language for describing the ongoing processes and their own signature that is different from others.
In connection with all of the above, we will build on the theory followed by contemporary artists working in traditional art technologies, that is, when the primary colors are Yellow, Red, Blue, because it is closest to how we perceive and comprehend reality. But as necessary, we will draw analogies with color models that are used in computer technology.
And so colors are divided into two categories: chromatic and achromatic.
Achromatic colors differ only in lightness, from black to white, everything in between is shades of gray. In a variety of works visual arts compositions are often used, solved in the same scale, warm or cold, as a rule, restrained shades, such compositions are also sometimes called achromatic, in this case the term is more suitable monochromatic image... Formally achromatic colors are neutral blacks, white and all shades of gray in between these extreme colors. There is also a term Gray scale... It is such a tool, in the form of a table made up of the shades of gray used in a particular piece.
Used for all kinds of tests and others technological processes in different areas of visual arts, for example in etching, the etching scale is also a gray scale. But also, this term can be applied as a synonym for the term achromatic colors.
Chromatic colors this is the whole spectrum of colors except for neutral black and neutral white and neutral gray shades, although it should be noted that achromatic colors may well be present in the chromatic composition.
There are more differences in this group;
Color tone; the main feature of chromatic color is red, yellow, blue, and the rest of the spectrum.
Lightness; all colors differ in lightness, yellow is the lightest, purple is the darkest. And also colors can approach white, in traditional painting this is achieved either by whitening the paint with whitewash and it gradually loses its tone, approaching purely neutral white, or, for example, in watercolor, approaching white is obtained by means of the transparency of a thin layer of paint through which it shines through White paper. In computer graphics, this parameter is set by means of approximating the color coordinates on the color model to white. That is, the closer the specified coordinates on the color body to white, the more it will appear bleached. Although in device-independent models, the color does not lose purity and intensity when approaching white, much longer compared to device-dependent models and traditional whitening methods. For example, in the printing industry, the CMYK color model is used, on tables or on a monitor, colors may appear saturated, and in print they may appear much duller.
Saturation; the closer the colors approach achromatic, the more they lose their saturation, that is, the more black, gray or white they have, the less saturated they are. When mixing some chromatic colors, there is also a loss of saturation. As already noted, in some virtual color models, the process of loss of saturation is not so pronounced. Saturation affects the degree of perception, emotional mood
Purity; pure colors are, as a rule, spectral colors farthest from achromatic ones. Closely related to the concept dirty colors... In virtual color models, purity may not be lost over a fairly wide range.
Intensity; luminous flux, power indicator, for example, in lighting lamps. In relation to color, this is the degree of brightness of a color spot, how intensely the spot emits light colored in a certain color tone, reflecting it from a surface, or emitting, for example, from a monitor. Bright orange, considered one of the most intense colors.
If the hue and lightness can be determined accurately enough, then the saturation and purity are very conditional indicators, and they are not precisely measured, and only in virtual (device-independent) color models can they have unchanged indicators.
As we have already agreed, we will proceed from the fact that the primary colors are yellow, blue, red... They are called primary colors, because by mixing these colors you can get all the rest. Many artists do not have a wide variety of colors in the palette, but use a couple of shades of the main tones, plus white, and write all the variety of shades with such a set. In digital technologies, the whole variety of shades is already laid down in the color space in which you have to work, that is, the program itself generates the shades that you need.
When mixing primary colors, you get secondary colors... Mixing red with yellow, we get Orange. Yellow with blue, comes out green... Blue with red, it turns out purple.
If we arrange the colors in a certain order, namely red, orange, green, blue, purple, and connect opposite ends to each other, we get a six partial color wheel.
You can continue mixing and get tertiary colors and twelve private color wheel.
One of the most popular is the eight private color wheel, in addition to the seven spectral colors, magenta is added to it, the primary colors are red, yellow, green, and blue. Further, as in other circles, mixing of neighboring primary colors gives secondary intermediate colors orange, cyan, violet and magenta.
The colors that are located opposite each other on the circle are called complementary or additional, they are inextricably linked on their connection, all possible visual effects are often built, which are used in color compositions, for example consistent color contrast... O complementary colors we will talk more in the following articles.
A circle based on both primary colors red, yellow and blue are called RYB color circle. RYB is an abbreviation for the initial letters of the name of primary colors in English. Such a circle has become widespread, it is widely used by artists, because it makes it possible to predict what color will turn out when mixing pigment paints.
Also the color wheel is now widely known. RGB, in which red, green and blue are primary, is used in digital technologies, has gained popularity because it is an integral part of the color model of the same name, which is one of the most popular today. Almost every color model either has its own color wheel, or it can be partially described as a color wheel.
Sometimes a circle is made with gradations in lightness and saturation, for example, in the center of the circle they have White color, from it they make a stretch, sometimes stepwise from white to spectral pure colors, and from them they continue to stretch out the circle from pure colors to black.
Also, colors are divided into warm and cold.
Warm colors; red, orange, yellow and intermediate shades.
Cool colors; blue, cyan, green, and transitional - blue-violet, blue-green.
Thus, it turns out that the circle is divided into two parts.
Each color can be more or less warm or cold. Sometimes they say to take them to warm or cold ones, that is, relative to whatever conditionally neutral shade, or several shades, to make them more or less warm or cold.
There is such a concept warmth coldness as a rule, it is used by artists, it is indicated by the ratio of warm and cold shades in the composition. Warmth coldness is associated with many phenomena in the color composition. The volume in the picture can be built due to the relationship between warm and cold shades, for example, objects illuminated by an incandescent lamp have warm lights and cold shadows. The space in the composition can also be built due to the warmth of coldness, for example, the old European painters used such a scheme, they painted the foreground with warm, for example red, neutral, for example, green, and the background with cold, for example blue, and still this principle of construction aerial perspective relevant. In photography, warmth and coldness are also in demand, although the term itself is rarely used, more often they talk about white balance, but not every photographer knows that correct white balance settings can be tested by means of white balance control, that is, the correct ratio of warm and cold shades. I think we'll talk more about the warmth of coldness in more detail.
You need to understand that the color wheel is a useful tool that you need to be able to use, experienced artists keep it in their heads, but at the initial stage, many use it as a cheat sheet, there are computer programs based on the color wheel, in which you can carry out all possible tasks are mainly the selection of colors and the harmonization of the palette. There are mechanical color wheels in which, with the help of movement different parts devices, too, you can choose colors for different parameters. Although art schools often do not teach practical ways to use the color wheel, many professionals use the wheel. different ways, which I will tell you about.
In the meantime, as they say, to be continued.
Astronomer, writer, chemist, physicist, philosopher - Isaac Newton. And he once set up an experiment with a prism through which ordinary sunlight passed. Imagine the surprise of the natural scientist when he saw white light - a real rainbow. And then, in the course of further experiments, other scientists realized that in fact there are only three primary colors.
Every hunter wants to know ...
Everyone is Red
Hunter - Orange
Desires - Yellow
Know - Green
Where - Blue
Sitting - Blue
Pheasant - Purple
In this well-known mnemonic, all the primary colors of the spectrum are encrypted. Observant people have already noticed that there is no black and white here. But such states are usually not considered in the spectrum, therefore they did not get into the proverb.
However, from all this diversity, scientists have identified only three primary colors - blue, red and yellow. And all other colors, tones, halftones and shades are obtained from mixing these three colors. As is well known, for example, to artists familiar with the palette and mastering the art of achieving the desired shade on canvas.
Man and colors
The human eye is able to perceive colors because there are three types of specific cones in the retina that work independently. They contain various pigments that respond to specific colors, red, green, and so on.
In fact, each cone reacts to all light waves (except for ultraviolet and infrared), but the pigment feels "its own color" better. Further, the received signals are transmitted to the brain, and it already analyzes the information received and gives us an understanding of a particular shade.
Interestingly, the primary colors cannot be called a property of the color itself; rather, they are due to the ability of the human eye to distinguish them. In addition, this is influenced by various technical systems that reproduce color.
From the point of view of psychophysiology, scientists believe that there are actually four "pure" colors - red, green, yellow and blue. Among them, yellow and blue form one axis in color contrast, and red and green form another. However, there are people who cannot distinguish between primary colors or some individual shades. They are called color blind. Contrary to popular belief, they do not see the world as black and white photography, but simply cannot perceive specific colors well.
Passion for color
What is the color wheel for?
The color wheel shows how subtractive colors interact with each other.
It is the colourist's main tool for working with color.
The color wheel is a colorist's color model that allows you to understand how colors interact with each other and use this knowledge in your work. The better you understand the color wheel, the more you study it, the more and more interesting it becomes to work with color. Checked!
Studying the color wheel is the foundation of all further knowledge about hair coloring. Understanding the color wheel determines your perception of color.
The color wheel shows the primary and secondary subtractive colors and describes how they interact with each other. This makes it the main tool for working with color. We all studied the color wheel early in our careers, but not everyone paid enough attention to it, considering this information to be secondary.
Primary and Secondary Colors
Primary colors are colors that cannot be obtained by mixing others.By mixing these three colors, all other colors and their shades can be obtained. In the subtractive color model in question, the primary colors are Cyan, Magenta and Yellow.
In the description of color theory, in relation to hair dyeing, it is impossible to use pure cyan and pure magenta (they are not used in the production of dyes), therefore, the blue and red colors that are closest to them are used.
Secondary colors are obtained by mixing primary colors in equal proportions
These six colors form the base of the color wheel.
3. Tertiary colors
Mixing one primary and one secondary color in equal proportions gives a color called tertiary: yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green. These colors are also called intermediate colors.
Color circle
Primary colors do not have the same intensity On the color wheel, you can see that not all primary colors have the same intensity.
The effect of red on the color result of a composition will always be more noticeable than the effect of yellow.
There will be fewer intermediate colors visible to the eye in the yellow-orange spectrum than in the blue-green spectrum.
Colors that have different tones, all other things being equal, are perceived by us with different lightness. The yellow tone itself is the lightest, and the blue or blue-violet is the darkest.
Complementary colors have 2 conflicting effects: - Mutual neutralization
- Enhancing the brightness of each other
Each color has a complementary color to it. It is the color that occupies the opposite position on the color wheel.
Both effects can be used in color design. Knowing how to use these effects expands the colorist's options.
How it works?
1. If you mix 2 complementary colors of equal intensity, then they mutually neutralize each other, the color result should be neutral, gray-brown.
This effect is very useful in daily hairdressing practice and is often referred to as the neutralizing effect.
2. However, if you place these two colors next to each other in a sector coloring so that they do not mix, the effect will be the opposite: the colors will be visually perceived brighter than they are, and you will get maximum contrast. In this way, you can highlight one color as much as possible by placing it “on the background” of another color that is complementary to it.
Chromatic and achromatic colors
Chromatic colors are pure colors that do not contain white, black and gray. The color wheel only shows chromatic colors.
By mixing the 2 primary colors, a different chromatic color is obtained. Chromatic colors are colors that do not contain impurities of white, black and gray.
Achromatic colors
White and black are primary achromatic colors; all shades of gray obtained by mixing white and black are secondary achromatic colors. White and Black are achromatic colors. These colors are not included in the color wheel.
According to their characteristics, they have the status of primary colors.
All grayscale produced by mixing white and black are secondary achromatic colors. By using achromatic colors, we add depth to chromatic colors.
How is depth of tone created?
By mixing all three primary colors or two primary colors with black, the desired depth is achieved. We can get any shade by mixing chromatic and achromatic colors: red and yellow with black or gray.
By mixing three primary colors or two primary colors with black, the desired depth of tone is achieved. In theory, the end result of mixing the three primary colors at their maximum concentration is black. In practice (both in hair coloring and in printing) the result of this mixing will be a very dark gray-brown color, since the pigments used are not pure primary colors.
Adding depth to a color inevitably decreases the brightness of a relatively pure primary color. Therefore, colors that have depth can be called dull.
All artificial hair colors, as well as natural ones, are dull colors.
The more depth we add, the darker the result will be and the less brightness the tint will have.
Natural hair color is also a combination of chromatic and achromatic colors (pheomelanin and eumelanin).
On the color wheel, neutral chromatic colors are centered.
When dyeing your hair, you need to understand the effect of tone depth on color. The character of any color will change as its depth changes.
Hint: reproducing the Itten table helps to train color perception.
This table allows you to evaluate the change in shade with a change in its depth and compare different colors one tone depth. You can reproduce the table using cut cards or using strands of hair from the palette.
For example: the shade that we used to call Chocolate is essentially a dark orange.
Intense chocolate tone is a combination of color and depth. If there is not enough depth, the color will become close to orange.
If you apply Medium Chocolate Brown to a lighter base like 7-0, not having the depth you need will result in a brighter, more orange hue.
Green, blue and purple are conventionally referred to as cool (matte) shades. Red, orange and yellow - to the group of warm (trendy) shades.
Gray / Blue Violet = Sandre
Gray / Blue = Ash
Olive / Blue = Matte
Yellow = Golden
Orange = Copper
Red = Red
Magenta = Purple
The color wheel has been redesigned to reflect current terminology and practice to better reflect the rules for working with color. Some color names differ from the original names to match the results obtained. For example, staining with ashy shades produces a muted ashy result rather than a bright blue.
Knowing the exact positions of the shades in the color wheel helps in drawing up the coloring formula.
Once you learn how to work with this tool, you will be able to draw up color formulas, accurately predicting the final color result. But do not forget that the result of staining will be affected not only by the formula you have drawn up, but also by the lightening background, for the calculation of which you need to understand what will happen to natural pigments during the staining process.
Using a diverse range of shades, people do not think about such a category as color. It is formed by the refraction of ordinary light rays, which are electromagnetic waves of various lengths. Once in a different environment, they are refracted at different angles, decomposing into seven spectral colors.
What is color?
This was the first time such an experiment was performed by Newton. Rainbow after rain also represents the refraction of the sun's rays passing through water droplets. By running the spectrum through, you can see how these seven colors combine back into white.
Surprisingly, color does not exist in nature - it is a human visual sensation under the influence of electromagnetic waves that hit the retina. Color appears when an object reflects a certain wavelength, characteristic of the incident beam. And although this perception is quite subjective, it is the same for all people. A person sees a leaf of a tree green, because the surface of the leaf, absorbing rays of light of various lengths, reflects the waves of exactly that part of the spectrum that corresponds to green.
Significance in human life
However, the color is important characteristic subject, one of its physical properties and plays a huge role in human life... the object is decisive in many areas of activity: painting, trade, design, architecture. Its meaning was understood even in ancient times. This is evidenced by the wonderful architectural monuments of France and Italy, which have preserved magnificent stained-glass windows and wall paintings, which were distinguished by their brightness and durability. As early as the 12th century, Chinese ceramics were famous for their unusually beautiful shades of moonlight and sea waves. Canvases famous artists also striking unusual colors... Each of them in their own manner combined different colors, obtaining unique tones that are difficult to reproduce today.
A person draws up to 80% of information about an object with the help of color, which is also a factor of deep physical and psychological impact on the body. Some tones raise blood pressure and heart rate, while others calm the nervous system. In medicine, there is a section of color therapy, the essence of which is that colors affect the human body in different ways. According to the principles of oriental medicine, a specific tone is used to treat each disease.
Color classification
Since ancient times, attempts have been made to classify colors. The procedure consisted in bringing the variety of existing shades into a certain system. For the first time such an attempt was made by Leonardo da Vinci, highlighting four main color groups. The scientific basis for the concept of color was laid by Newton with his experiments on the refraction of light rays. The great poet Goethe, working on the systematization of this concept, proposed a color wheel in which three tones (main) make up an equilateral triangle - red, yellow and blue. If you mix them in equal proportions, you get a black tint. They were called primordial flowers.
The rest of the colors are formed from the three basic ones. But the main ones cannot be obtained directly by mixing some other shades, therefore they are called pure. To understand which colors are secondary, you need to mix the base in pairs in equal proportions. This produces second-order colors. They are located between the main ones. Orange, green and purple are secondary colors. In the same way, they form an equilateral triangle, only inverted in relation to the first.
Tertiary colors
There are colors of the third order - they are formed when three primary colors are mixed with secondary ones in equal proportions. Primary, secondary and tertiary colors together form a 12-color circle. This figure is called the 12-frequency circle by J. Itten, a Swiss art critic who proposed this innovation. The rest of the set of colors is obtained by mixing these twelve in the right proportions.
Colors can be categorized as warm and cold. If you draw a straight line in the middle of the color wheel, then the half in which the shades from yellow to green, including primary and secondary colors, will be composed of warm tones, and the other half of cold tones. This division is somewhat arbitrary, since in tertiary colors, where all tones are combined, the one in which yellow color more.
Coloristics
In painting, design, architecture, hairdressing, it is important to find one that causes a more positive perception of a person. colors, the art of combining them is called color. The ability to combine tones allows you to achieve At the same time, such a concept for each person individually is a subjective concept. Nevertheless, there are general rules for the harmonious combination of various shades, which must be mastered in some professions. For example, when decorating a production room, one should take into account what coloristics offers: primary and secondary colors of warm tones accelerate metabolism, increase muscle activity. As for the cold shades, they depress these processes. Some of them, with prolonged exposure to a person, tire him, and it does not matter which are secondary or primary colors. The most optimal in this regard are green tones with the addition of yellow.
A color scheme
Using the color wheel, you can choose the right combination of different tones. A combination of shades of the same color will be harmoniously compiled, since it has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. A contrasting composition is also possible. In this case, the tones are combined that are located on opposite sides of the circle (by the way, these can be secondary colors). They are called complementary or complementary. Such a system will be filled with energy. Harmoniously combined in the color wheel tones that are relative to each other at an angle of 90 degrees.
Three colors will look great together if you choose them correctly. A composition of three tones, spaced at equal distances from each other, will give a sense of harmony and vivid contrast. In such cases, secondary colors can be used. If you draw an isosceles inside the color wheel, or the tones located at the vertices of this figure are correctly combined. In color, there are clear rules for combining colors. Guided by them, you can independently create various combinations that differ in harmony and beauty.
Warm colors - these are the colors located in the chromatic circle, ranging from yellow to red-violet. However, given the phenomenon of the influence of one color on another, for example, red-violet may appear warmer if it is located next to a cool green color, and colder if there is a warm color next to it, such as orange.
Cool colors - these are colors from blue - purple to yellow - green. However, yellow-green can appear colder next to red and warmer next to blue.
Light or pale colors - these are colors containing one or another amount of white.
Dark colors - these are colors containing black or complementary colors.
Bright or saturated colors - these are colors that in principle do not contain white, gray, black or complementary colors. But this concept is relative, since, for example, the bright colors of the blue range do not end in pure blue; blue, containing white or black, are also referred to as saturated colors. In contrast, orange containing black is referred to as a dull tone as it turns brownish.
Dull colors - these are colors that contain some amount of gray or complementary colors.
Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors
Primary colors(Figure 1) the primary natural colors of light and the primary colors of pigments (used in painting and printing) are separated. These are colors that are not created by mixing. If you mix the primary red, blue and green rays, you get white light. If we mix the primary magenta, cyan and yellow - the colors of the pigments - we get black.
Figure 1 - Natural colors
(Figure 2) are obtained by mixing two primary colors. Secondary colors of light include magenta, yellow, and cyan (greenish blue). The secondary colors of the pigments are red, green and purple.
Figure 2 - Secondary colors
Tertiary colors: are formed by mixing primary and secondary colors. These include - orange, crimson, light green, bright blue, emerald green, dark purple.
Complementary colors (Figure 3): are located on opposite sides of the chromatic circle. So, for example, for red is complementary green (obtained by mixing two primary colors - yellow and cyan (greenish blue). And for blue, complementary is orange (obtained by mixing yellow and magenta).
Figure 3 - Munsell chromatic circle
Munsell's system describes color in terms of three indicators: tonality, lightness and saturation (Figure 4).
Tonality - it is, for example, yellow or blue.
Lightness shows at what level of gray gradations (vertical axis) the color is.
Saturation: shows the distance from the vertical axis in the horizontal plane is the tone.
Thus, in the Munsell system, colors are arranged in three dimensions and look like a tree. The barrel (vertical axis) represents a grayscale scale (black at the bottom to white at the top). The tones are located on the chromatic circle, which is, as it were, "planted" on the vertical axis. The horizontal axes show the saturation of the tones.
Figure 4 - Munsell system