The Colour Theory

The 'Colour theory' is a guide to using colours and the effects of combining them. Colours make up everything we see; they can help attract our attention, as well as conveying moods and temperatures. With the use of colours you can create anything.

The Colour wheel (Primary Colours)

 The 'Colour Wheel' is used as a guide for combining colours. Designed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, the wheel is made up of all the primary colours - red, yellow & blue - and enables you to combine any two colours to make a whole new range of colours known as 'Secondary Colours'

The Colour wheel (Secondary Colours)

There are three Secondary Colours created by mixing two primary colours together, these are green (made by mixing blue and yellow), orange (made by mixing yellow and red) and purple (made by mixing red and blue).

The Colour wheel (Tertiary Colours)

The remaining six colours are known as 'Tertiary Colours' and these are made by mixing a Primary Colour  with a Secondary Colour.

'Complementary Colours' are colours that lay opposite each other on the colour wheel and tend to be contrasting. These colours mixed together are designed to create a sense of vibrancy.

Red & Green mixed together would be an example of 'Complementary Colours'

Colours combined that are next to each other on the colour wheel are known as 'Analogous Colours'. They are designed to be well matched and create a more calming effect.

These three shades would be considered a 'Analogous Colour scheme' as they are well matched.