Color Theory are the studies and experiments related to the association between light and the nature of colors. Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Goethe and other scholars initially sought to know how the color formation process took place.
Over time, Theory became more extensive and today comprises several fields of observation regarding colors.
The studies range from understanding what colors are, how they are formed, how vision and brain are interpreted, to practical uses and the best ways to apply them.
the study of colors
The Italian painter and scientist Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519), in his researches and formulations portrayed in the book Treatise on Painting and Landscape – Shadow and Light, already stated that color was a property of light and not of objects.
Later, the English physicist Isaac Newton (1643-1727), in his experiments, studied in depth the influence of sunlight on color formation.
Newton's experiment
Newton studied the phenomenon of diffraction, which consisted of the decomposition of sunlight into various colors as it passed through a prism. To do the experiment, he used a glass prism.
By observing the passage of sunlight through the object, Newton noticed that the light decomposed into several colors, ranging from violet to red. He called the beam of light the spectrum.
Representation of the experiment carried out by Newton: sunlight decomposes when passing through the prism.
The spectrum visualized by Newton is formed by the union of the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. These are the seven colors that make up sunlight and the rainbow.
Chromatic circle
From this observation comes the chromatic circle. It contains twelve different colors, which help you visualize which primary, secondary, and tertiary colors make up the visible spectrum.
Chromatic circle: primary colors (red, yellow and blue), secondary colors (orange, green and purple) and colors tertiary (purple-red, orange-red, orange-yellow, greenish-yellow, purplish-blue and blue-green).
White and black: presence and absence of light
White and black (conventionally called colors) are simply a result of the presence or absence of light. The white color is pure light when there is a full reflection of the seven colors.
The black color, on the other hand, is nothing more than the total absence of light, because in this case the colors are not reflected, they are absorbed.
When sunlight falls on a white object, it reflects the sun's rays while a black object absorbs all the sun's rays.
Harmony of colors
Color harmony studies types of compositions between colors to understand which combinations may be more suitable and attractive for a particular use. Harmony analyzes the application of colors considering different tones, intensities and hues.
Combinations can be made between primary, secondary and tertiary colors, it is also important to consider whether the colors are warm or cool. The study of color harmony is based on the analysis of a color wheel.
Monochromatic harmony
In the monochromatic harmony, an initial color is chosen, which should be worked along with its hue variations, which result from differences between saturation and the amount of light and shadow, by example.
It is the simplest harmony and should be chosen when the contrast between the colors is not a fundamental point for the work, since the combinations obtained are characterized by simplicity and the balance between the shades.
Analogous Harmony
Analogous harmony is worked from the choice of a primary color (red, blue and yellow) which is used together with colors close to the color wheel.
The primary color chosen is the main color, while the following colors have the function of ensuring more harmony to the set of colors, and can be used in details or complements. Analogous harmony gives a little more contrast between colors, allowing more diversity of combinations, compared to monochromatic harmony.
complementary harmony
In this type of harmony, two complementary colors (combination of colors with more contrast) are used, located at opposite points on the wheel.
As with other types of harmony, you must initially define a predominant color, which will be used along with the complementary color. The use of this type of harmony is indicated when the objective is to emphasize a color contrast more clearly.
Learn more about the complementary colors.
triadic harmony
In triadic harmony, three different colors are used, chosen equidistantly on the color wheel. This type of harmony is indicated when the contrast between colors is an important point for the work, since the results have a balance between the contrast of colors and the harmony of the set.
As with the other harmonies, it is interesting that one of the colors is chosen as the main one, and the other two should be used for secondary effects.
Examples of color harmony.
Learn more about the meanings of primary colors, secondary colors and tertiary colors.
Goethe's Theory of Colors
German writer and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) published the book Color Theory in 1810. In the work, he described his impressions and studies on the phenomenology of color.
Goethe sought to understand the impacts that were caused by the use of colors, in addition to understanding how this knowledge could be better used with proper use in different areas. His studies gave way to a more subjective and profound perception of colors and their relationship with Psychology, for example.
Before completing the studies that led to the publication of the Theory, Goethe had already registered his first studies in the essay Contributions to Optics, published in 1791.
The color wheel created by Goethe: he determined which feelings could be associated with each of the colors.
Color Psychology
Color Psychology is an area of study that researches how colors are capable of motivating feelings, desires and emotions. Its function is to map the most likely symbologies that can be assimilated when a certain color is used.
Understanding the action mechanism of colors can have many different uses, being widely used in commercial, marketing and advertising actions.
Learn more about the application of Color Psychology.
What are colors?
Colors, as we see them, can be explained as a phenomenon resulting from the incidence and reflection of light on an object.
The human perception of colors happens through a process that is influenced by the amount of light that is received and reflected by an object, added to the impression that is registered by the human eye.
To learn more about colors, see also the meanings of Colors and hot and cold colors.
See also the meaning of the color blue.
