The document discusses various color schemes and color harmonies that can be used in art and design. It describes simple harmonies like monochromatic, analogous, and achromatic schemes. Contrasting harmonies include complementary, warm/cool, double complementary, and split complementary. Balanced harmonies include triad and tetrad schemes. It also discusses keyed color harmony and provides examples of how different color schemes are used in various works of art and design.
1. Color Harmonies
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Color Schemes
• Scheme / Palette = selection of specific
base hues
• Vary these hues through value, intensity,
proportion
• Goal = Harmony
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2. Color Schemes
• Simple Harmonies
• Opposing / Contrasting Harmonies
• Balanced Color Harmonies
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Simple Harmonies
Achromatic
• Use of Black, white,
or very low saturated
hue.
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3. Simple Harmonies
Monochromatic
• Use of a single hue
with varying values
and saturation.
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Simple Harmonies
Analogous
• Color Family
• Beside each other on
a color wheel
• Includes same hue.
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4. Simple Harmonies
Analogous
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Contrasting Harmonies
Complementary
• Perfectly balanced
• Opposite in the color
wheel.
• Distinctive Strengths:
– V+Y = wide value range
– R+G = extreme agitation
– O+B = wide temperature
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5. Contrasting Harmonies
Warm / Cool
• 4 hues = neighboring
pair of warm and cool
• Cool = V ⇒ G
• Warm = R ⇒ Y
• Either way = RV &
YG depending on
what it is paired with
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Contrasting Harmonies
Double
Complementary
• More structured than
Warm/Cool
• 2 adjacent
complementary pairs =
4 hue contrasting
scheme
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6. Contrasting Harmonies
Split Complementary
• 3 hues
• 2 = surrounding colors
of a complement
• Can also be considered
as a Balanced Color
Harmony
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Balanced Harmonies
Triad
• Color Chords
• Equilateral Triangle in
color circle
• High Hue variety and
balanced.
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7. Balanced Harmonies
Triad
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Balanced Harmonies
Tetrad
• Balanced 4 Hue
Scheme
• Square or rectangle
within color wheel
• High Hue Variety and
Flexibility.
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8. Balanced Harmonies
Tetrad
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Keyed Color Harmony
Color Keys
• describe a range of
value and saturation
• A palette can be
created with all the
same value or
saturation keys.
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9. Additional Color Harmonies
• Simple: Variation of 2-4 hues
• High and Low Saturation: all high or low saturation
hues
• Neutral with accents: Achromatic with 1 or 2 accent
strong hue
• Light and Dark Value: hues keyed to same value
• Limited Hue Saturation: 1-3 hues + greys (tones)
• Chromatic Gradation: pure hues + gradation between
• Value Gradation: 2-4 hues + light to dark value
variations
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Color Harmony
in Art & Design
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10. Analogous Scheme with
Phenomena Shield and Green
touches of Complementary
Paul Jenkins, 1969 color
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Tetrad Scheme
Emile Nolde, 1969
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11. Complementary Scheme
AIGA Atlanta Big Night Poster
Ted Fabella, 1969
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Monochromatice Scheme
Two Little Circus Girls
with touches of achromatic for
Auguste Renoir, 1879 emphasis
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12. Chromatic Gradation,
Kansas City Events Posters
Analogous, Triad Schemes
Jon Muller
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Monochromatic Scheme
Thoughts of Summer
Robert Lazuka, 1999
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14. Split-Complementary
Spring in the Chateau du Repas
Scheme
Noriyoshi Ishigooka, 1987
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Varying Schemes
Hafele America Company Ads
Charlie Elberson
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15. Varying Schemes
Briarwood Mall Billboards
Perich & Partners
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Resources
Color Workbook Becky Koenig
Minimal Graphics Catherine Fishel
Art Fundamentals Ocvirk, Stinson, Wigg, Bone
Launching the Imagination Mary Stewart
Fresh Styles for Web Designers Curt Cloninger
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