Unit 2: Colour theory & psychology
Elements of Design notes · PTU syllabus (BSTD 103-20)
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Unit summary
Colour is the most powerful design element. This unit covers hue, value and intensity, the colour wheel, colour schemes, simultaneous contrast and the psychology of colour.
After this unit you can
- Define hue, value and intensity
- Draw and explain the colour wheel
- Prepare tints, tones and shades
- Select colour schemes and describe moods created by colour
PTU syllabus topics
- Hue
- intensity and value
- saturated and de-saturated hues
- tints
- tones and shades
- the colour wheel
- simultaneous contrast
- change in hue/brilliance/luminosity
- using colour to evoke mood
Monochromatic
Tints and shades of one hue
Analogous
Neighbours on the wheel
Complementary
Opposites: red and green
Split complementary
A hue and two neighbours of its opposite
Triadic
Three equally spaced hues
Topic 1
Hue, value and intensity
- Hue
- The name of the colour, such as red or blue
- Value
- Lightness or darkness of a hue
- Intensity (chroma, saturation)
- Brightness or purity of a hue
- Tint
- Hue plus white (lighter)
- Tone
- Hue plus grey (duller)
- Shade
- Hue plus black (darker)
- Saturated hue
- Pure, vivid colour
- De-saturated hue
- Muted, greyed colour
Adding white gives a tint, adding black a shade, adding grey a tone
Topic 2
The colour wheel
The colour wheel arranges hues in a circle. Primary colours (red, yellow, blue) cannot be made by mixing; secondary colours (orange, green, violet) are mixed from two primaries; tertiary colours (such as red-orange or blue-green) are mixtures of a primary and a neighbouring secondary.
Unlabelled circles are the tertiary hues (yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green). Colours opposite each other are complementary (red–green, blue–orange, yellow–violet); neighbours are analogous
| Scheme | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Monochromatic | One hue in different values | Calm, unified |
| Analogous | Neighbouring hues | Harmonious, natural |
| Complementary | Opposite hues | Strong contrast, vibrant |
| Split complementary | One hue and the two beside its complement | Contrast with less tension |
| Triadic | Three hues evenly spaced | Balanced, lively |
| Warm and cool | Reds–yellows versus blues–greens | Warm advances; cool recedes |
Topic 3
Simultaneous contrast and colour psychology
Simultaneous contrast: a colour looks different when placed next to another — a grey square on red appears greenish, and the same square on blue appears yellowish. Neighbouring colours push each other towards their complements.
- Red
- Energy, passion, danger, festivity
- Yellow
- Cheer, warmth, caution
- Blue
- Calm, trust, coolness
- Green
- Nature, freshness, growth
- Violet
- Luxury, mystery, creativity
- Black
- Power, elegance, mourning (in some cultures)
- White
- Purity, simplicity, peace
Exam tip
Colour meanings differ across cultures: white is worn for mourning in India but for weddings in the West. Check the target market before choosing a palette.
Change in hue, brilliance and luminosity: hue changes when a colour is mixed with a neighbour; brilliance changes with intensity; luminosity (lightness) changes with value. Designers adjust all three to obtain a mood.
Key terms
- Hue
- Name of a colour
- Value
- Lightness or darkness
- Intensity
- Purity or brightness of a hue
- Tint, tone, shade
- Hue with white, grey, black
- Complementary
- Colours opposite on the wheel
- Analogous
- Colours next to each other on the wheel
Quick revision
- Primaries: red, yellow, blue; secondaries: orange, green, violet.
- Tint = + white; tone = + grey; shade = + black.
- Schemes: monochromatic, analogous, complementary, split complementary, triadic.
- Simultaneous contrast shifts a colour towards the complement of its neighbour.
Important exam questions
Practice questions written to the PTU exam pattern for this unit's syllabus: short answers (Section A style) and long answers (Sections B and C style).
Short-answer questions
- Q1.Define hue, value and intensity.
- Q2.What is a tint and a shade?
- Q3.Name three primary colours.
- Q4.What are complementary colours?
- Q5.What is simultaneous contrast?
- Q6.Name a colour that signifies calm.
Long-answer questions
- Q1.Explain the colour wheel with primary, secondary and tertiary colours.
- Q2.Describe the colour schemes with textile examples.
- Q3.Explain simultaneous contrast and the psychology of colour.
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