THE ELEMENT OF COLOR Architecture Forum（色建筑论坛的元素）.pdf

CREATING BASIC GEOMETRIC FLORAL DESIGNS 8946-B THE ELEMENT OF COLOR Color  the dynamic language of design  the element of design that speaks messages of joy, com- fort, warmth, love, seasons, and holidays! Knowledge of the element of color is a powerful tool in the hands of a designer. Understanding the dimensions of color includes discovering its qualities and the emotional impact it creates through various combinations. Exploring the scientific basis of color is necessary to creatively use color through design to express human emotion. Color* is the reflection of light from a pigmented surface transmitted to the brain by the eyes. To experience color, light must be present to provide the visual sensation. Color does not provide physical properties such as touch or taste. Instead, it is psychological. Color stimulates various emotional responses. These emotional responses vary, depending on each person’s exposure to specific colors. THE SCIENCE OF COLOR When passed through a prism, “white” light separates into a color spectrum. Careful observation of the color spec- trum reveals twelve major colors. The three primary colors of the spec- trum are red, yellow, and blue. Mixing equal parts of the primary colors cre- ates the three secondary colors of or- ange, green, and violet. Mixing equal parts of a primary color with a secon- dary color results in six tertiary or in- termediate colors. The names of the six tertiary colors consist of two words. The first word is the name of the primary color. The second word is the name of the secon- dary color. Tertiary colors include red- orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet. The color wheel