Color Theory

Color Palettes

Primary Colors

Red / Yellow / Blue

Primary Colors (Subtractive)

Used most often with paint to mix colors as a simplified version of Magenta, Yellow, and Cyan.

Red / Green / Blue

Primary Colors (Additive)

Used with light to mix colors

Cyan / Magenta / Yellow

Primary Colors (Subtractive)

Used in printers with ink for the widest range of color mixing

The primary colors of the most effective subtractive system are the opposites of red, green, and blue, which happen to be cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) reference

Split-Primary Color Palette

Optimal Color Mixing for Pure Hues

The specific color names can vary by brand. For more color name by brand see the list linked below.

Warm Primaries

  • Cadmium Yellow

  • French Ultramarine

  • Cadmium Red

Cool Primaries

  • Lemon Yellow

  • Cerulean Blue

  • Permanent Rose

Color Relationships

What type of conversation are the colors having?

Hue & Value

Saturation

Tinting, Shade, & Tone

Applied Color Theory

Interior Design

Nick Lewis explains the basic principals of color theory. Then shows how to use those principles and apply them to interior design.

Undertones and Color Shifts

Mixing Skin Tones

  • Choose a general skin tone.

  • Select a Midtone, Highlight and Shadow color from the skin tone set.

Primary Color Set Recommendations

Recommendations by Dr. Oto Kano

*** Daniel Smith Essentials Set ***

https://bit.ly/2FGUdO6

Warm Yellow: New Gamboge https://bit.ly/2PWQhxd

Cool Yellow: Hansa Yellow Light https://bit.ly/2zsvdV2

Warm Red: Pyrrole Scarlet https://bit.ly/2S7n2Ey

Cool Red: Quinacridone Rose https://bit.ly/2KwjHwh

Warm Blue: French Ultramarine https://bit.ly/2AnAoW7

Cool Blue: Phthalo Blue Green Shade https://bit.ly/2P1Xt66


*** Daniel Smith Alternative ****

Warm Yellow: Hansa Yellow Mid https://bit.ly/2P2xlI3

Cool Yellow: Lemon Yellow https://bit.ly/2DIydj8

Warm Red: Permanent Red https://bit.ly/2zs1Ylv

Cool Red: Quinacridone Rose https://bit.ly/2KwjHwh

Warm Blue: Ultramarine Blue https://bit.ly/2TKqUwN

Cool Blue: Phthalo Blue Green Shade https://bit.ly/2P1Xt66


*** Holbein ***

Warm Yellow: Permanent Yellow Deep https://bit.ly/2Ql6hbU

Cool Yellow: Aureolin (this one is lightfast) https://bit.ly/2Kyv4np

Warm Red: Scarlet Lake https://bit.ly/2AmZFQg

Cool Red: Quinacridone Magenta https://bit.ly/2P1CvnV

Warm Blue: Ultramarine Blue Deep https://bit.ly/2rcok61

Cool Blue: Phthalo Blue Yellow Shade https://bit.ly/2An5blN


*** Sennelier ***

Warm Yellow: Sennelier Yellow Light https://bit.ly/2TDh6Vz

Cool Yellow: Lemon Yellow https://bit.ly/2OZT9nJ

Warm Red: Sennelier Red https://bit.ly/2R8A18Z

Cool Red: Rose Madder Lake (this one is lightfast) https://bit.ly/2r3x3qR

Warm Blue: French Ultramarine Blue https://bit.ly/2DMUJrl

Cool Blue: Phthalocyanine Blue https://bit.ly/2BxtpLY


*** Schmincke ***

Warm Yellow: Pure Yellow https://www.jacksonsart.com/schmincke...

Cool Yellow: Lemon Yellow https://www.jacksonsart.com/schmincke...

Warm Red: Scarlet Red https://www.jacksonsart.com/schmincke...

Cool Red: Magenta https://www.jacksonsart.com/schmincke...

Warm Blue: Ultramarine Blue https://www.jacksonsart.com/schmincke...

Cool Blue: Helio Cerulean https://www.jacksonsart.com/schmincke...