3. FUNCTIONAL COLOURS
• Colours must have a communicative
function, and should:
– Attract through colour strenght.
– Create atmosphere with the help of cold or
warm colours for example.
– Inform, as in a hospital where yellow indicates
infection.
– Structure, as in a newspaper where different
sections are colour coded.
– Teach, for instance through tint blocks which
emphasize and clarify certain parts of the
material.
4. Natural Colour Theory
• The most common system of describing
colours is the NATURAL COLOUR
SYSTEM (NCS), which is based on
research into how humans perceive
colour.
• This system is described in the COLOUR
SPACE, the COLOUR CIRCLE and the
COLOUR TRIANGLE.
5. Colour Combinations
• The four quadrants (quaters) of the
COLOUR CIRCLE provide a general
template for combining colours.
• Combinations of colours in the same
quadrant produce whispering colours.
• Colours from adjoining quadrants give
speaking colours.
• Shouting colours are obtained by putting
together colours from two quadrants which
are opposite each other in the colour
circle.
