Understanding Color Theory in Digital Art
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Color Theory in Digital Art
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ScribdTranslationsCOLORTHEORY
DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION
Color is one of the most important characteristics of the
digital compositions. It is a phenomenon of our perception-
response of the sight to the stimuli of the different
wavelengths of light, which the brain then interprets.
In the form of pigments, colors seem to have a
physical and real form. To develop a color scheme,
we can spread pigments on the paper as samples
of color and arrange them next to each other to examine their
effects. Any adjustment of the colors usually requires
to remix the pigments. The process can take
a long time. On the other hand, digital colors are the
effect of digital signals that cause electrical energy
nica emitted from a cathode ray tube (CRT) incident
on a glass screen coated with fluorescent phosphor-
it, which emits light in the form of colors.
THEORY OF COLOR
The primary colors are blue, red, and yellow;
secondary colors, orange, green, and purple. The mixture
from red and yellow creates orange; that of yellow and blue,
green; or the blue one.
Within color theory, we refer to the harmony of the
color like the organization of colors in a way
organized and pleasant. When the colors are organized or
organized in the right way, the spectators feel TONO:
a feeling of calm, something like a visual peace. For the Simply it is the name of a color, for example: red.
on the contrary, when there is a lack of color harmony, the design SATURATION: refers to intensity, that is, whether the color
it evokes a sense of chaos and provokes rejection. is it more subtle or stronger.
VALUE OR BRIGHTNESS: Whether it is light or dark, that is to say if the
The primary colors are called that because they are not obtained from which color is more white (lighter) or more black (darker)
no mixture, but they originate all other colors.
HARMONIES
COLOR
HOW TO GET SHADOWS AND LIGHTS
TONALGAMES?
1
Lights and Shadows
TONALRANGE
MONOCHROMATIC
TONAL RANGE is a term used to describe
how light or how dark a color appears and refers to
to the amount of light perceived. Regardless of
the eigenvalues of colors, because they can be
change by adding white that brings the color to
higher brightness values, or from black to values
lower darker. The colors that have a value
light (clear) reflect more light and those of low value (dark-
curves) absorb less light.
When we merge the tonal scale (whites, blacks and
grays) with any tone, we will obtain values
higher or lower than the base pitch, with which
We will be able to create lights and shadows respectively.
As we know, monochromy is a type of harmony, so the idea of choosing a
color of the circle and from this create variations of the same tone by combining it
With total scales (grayscale) we have the guarantee that they will combine.
2
Lights and Shadows
TONALRANGE
ANALOG
TheANOLOGOUS colors are the colors that are next to each other.
bothsidesofanother,thatistosaytheyresembleeachotherenough
so that we can go together in harmony. This happens
because they are colors that we are used to seeing together in
nature. For example, a pure blue next to a blue
more turquoise and one darker in the sea.
Therefore, these combinations can serve to
when we want to make denotative representations.
Within the color wheel, yellow is the color
of greater brightness (closer to white) and the
blue the one that is least (closest to black). Because
so many analogous combinations in direction
to the yellow we will obtain lights and if we go in direc-
By adding blue, we will obtain shadows.
BASE TONES 3 4
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
This range can be noticed as it is worked only
with neighboring tones of the base tone, are already found at
the same height of the tonal scale or that start from
base tone
ANALOGUES + GRAY SCALE
BASE TONES 2 5
1 2 3 4 5 ANALOGS + BLACK
1 2 3 4 5 ANALOGS + BLACK
As can be seen in the image, it also
you can combine the base tones with your tonal range
monochromatic.
3
Lights and Shadows
TONALRANGE
COMPLEMENTARY
One of the fundamental concepts for obtaining
professional results in the representations is the
of complementary colors.
Its handling is essential to achieve magnificent
with contrasts, shades and darkening the tones of
appropriate manner.
The use of complementary colors next to each other
another, generates harmony, vibration, drama, and movement
Well, they intensify among themselves. But so that it is not created
a chaotic and unpleasant sensation to the sight,
one of the two colors must prevail over the other
another. The opposite or complementary colors are
those colors that are found in a posi-
In impressionist techniques, one can put oneself at opposite color within the color wheel.
side by side, where one is the light and the other represents-
the shadow.
If we mix a color with its complementary, they neutralize.
they blend together obtaining gray, brown, colors
land or broken, as they are also called.
They can also be used to achieve contrast in the
temperature as long as the color of the
represented temperature.
Similarly, it is not required to apply the colors.
exactly pure, that is to say a pure blue next to a
vibrant orange, different shades can be used
these colors, to achieve more subtle results.
OPPOSITES + GRAYSCALE
Tonal Base 3 3
OPPOSITES + WHITE
1 2 3 4 5
OPPOSITES + BLACK
This range may be noticeable as not only...
low with opposite tones but these to their
they can be combined with the tonal ranges
monochromatic of each one.
ADOBE COLOR Color Palette Generator
The Adobe Color service helps you combine colors harmoniously and attractively in your design projects. Adobe Color
it is integrated into Photoshop itself. It is an extension that allows you to create, save, and access your color themes.
ADOBE COLOR Extract Colors from a Photograph
ADOBE COLORExtract Gradient
