In the field of visual art, the theory of color can be described as an instrument of guidance for practical use in mixing colors along with the visible effects that occur from a certain combination of colors. Color terminology is based on the geometrical representation of color and the colour wheel differentiates the colors into primary, secondary and the tertiary color. The concept of color theory has roots in time of antiquity. Aristotle (d. 322 BC) along with Claudius Ptolemy (d. the year 168 CE) previously discussed the types of and how colors are created by mixing different colors. The effect that light has on the color of a room was explored and further analyzed by the al-Kindi (d. 873) and Ibn al-Haytham (d.1039). Ibn Sina (d. 1037), Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 1274) and Robert Grosseteste (d. 1253) discovered that contrary to the doctrines of Aristotle, there are many colors that can be used to transition across the black-white divide. Contemporary theories of color theory are discovered in the writings of Leone Battista Alberti (c. 1435) as well as the Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1490). The more formalization of "color theory" began in the 18th century. It was initially in a partisan debate about Isaac Newton's theory of color (Opticks 1704) and the origins of the primary colors. Then it evolved into an independent artistic tradition, with only a few hints of the science of color and vision. The use of color theory varies from ancient Egyptian applications to contemporary commercial advertisements. Colors impact our mood as well as perception. In ancient times colors were explored for their therapeutic properties. Photosynthesis (light therapy) was practised in ancient Egypt, Greece, China and India. The Egyptians employed light and colors to heal. Color has been studied as a healing tool since 2000 BC.
Colors are classified according to
The basis of the pre-20th century theory of color was based on "pure" or ideal colors, which were defined by various sensory experiences instead of attributes from the natural world. This has resulted in some inaccuracies within the traditional theories of color that aren't always addressed in contemporary formulations. Another problem has been the tendency to explain colors in a holistic manner or categorically, such as the difference between "yellow" and "blue", which are considered to be generic colors which is not the case. The majority of colors are a result of variations in three distinct characteristics that are the basis of each color:
The impact on visual impact of "yellow" vs "blue" colors in design is based on the intensities and lightness of hues. These confusions are mostly old-fashioned and resulted from research-based uncertainty regarding the perception of color that wasn't solved until the 19th century, in which the notions of art were already firmly established. They also stem from the effort to explain the extremely contextual and flexible nature of color perception as abstract color sensations that could be created with any visual medium.
Sir Isaac Newton established color theory by inventing the color wheel in 1666. Newton recognized colors as human perceptions, not absolute qualities of wavelengths of light. By categorizing colors in a systematic way, Newton identified three categories:
Based on Newton's discoveries, the studied color was expanded to encompass the characteristics of colors in their two forms--i.e. print/paint and screen/light, as well as in a range of fields, ranging from science to art. Color's properties include:
The field of user experience (UX) design requires a strong understanding of color theory in order to design coherent design concepts that are meaningful for your customers.
Concentrating on the psychological effects of color is an important aspect of understanding the concept of color. When you choose the UX color scheme that you're using for your business, you'll typically consider how things might appear, but it's equally important to consider what they feel like, too. Color has a significant psychological impact on the human mind, with each color having different emotions and meanings for your customers.
There aren't any universally acceptable meanings for colors; these are some general emotions that colors can evoke for the majority of people:
In the design of screens, designers employ this model, known as the additive colour model, which means that green, red and blue constitute the principal colors. As you must be able to strategically position photographs and elements within the visual design, your color selections will also affect your user's experience by providing beautiful interfaces that offer excellent user-friendliness. As you begin designing, you should think about using [DHM3] or any of these primary color schemes:
The colors you choose should reflect the purpose of your design and your brand's style. It is also important to use color theory to ensure a positive psychological impact on your customers. Therefore, you must carefully examine how your hue (i.e. the use of neutral, warm, as well as cool hues) conveys your message. For instance, you could create a neutral color like grey, cool or warm, depending on the factors that determine your company's personality and business.
The proper contrast is crucial to draw attention to your site initially. The intensity you choose for your design is important in triggering desired emotions from the customers. The way they respond to the color they choose is based on aspects like the gender of the user, their experience level, and even culture. In all instances, you must design your site to ensure accessibility, e.g. with regards to the color blindness between green and red. By conducting UX research, you will be able to adjust your color palette to be the most with specific users. The people who will see your style based on their expectations of what a design for a specific industry should appear like. Therefore, you need to create a design that meets your customers' expectations geographic. Blue, for instance, which is a norm for banking in the West, also is associated with positive feelings in different cultures. But, certain colors might cause conflicting feelings among certain nations (e.g. red is a symbol of luck in China, sadness in South Africa, and danger/sexiness in the USA). All in all, you must conduct usability tests to confirm the color you choose.
Do gender and gender affect the color preferences of people? One study by researcher Joe Hallock did find some major variations.
Below is a short outline of the study
Age also plays a part in the color preferences. Faber Birren, the author of Color Psychology And Color Therapy, discovered that younger people prefer hues that have more intense wavelengths (such as orange and red); however, older people favour colors that have lower ranges (such as blue). Joe Hallock's study regarding gender and color preferences confirmed the findings of Birren but also found that many of the age groups prefer purple.