Chapter 11 Using Color Effectively
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Figure11-5picturesavaluescale.Theleft
column shows the range of tints obtained
by adding greater amounts of white to
the blue color. The right column shows
the range of shades obtained by adding
greater amounts of black to the blue.
Intensity
Intensity
refers to the brightness or
dullness of a hue. The middle ring of
the color wheel shows the normal inten-
sity of each hue.
One way to dull a hue, or lower its
intensity, is to add some of its comple-
ment. The
complement
of a hue is the
hue opposite it on the color wheel. For
instance, blue is the complement of
orange. To lower the intensity of orange,
you add varying amounts of blue, as
shown in 11-6. To lower the intensity
of red, you add small amounts of its
complement, green. Examples of high-
intensity colors include hot pink and
fire-engine red. Smoky blue and rust fi
are examples of low-intensity colors.
Another way to lower the intensity of a
hue is to add gray, making the color a
tone.
Neutrals
Although neutrals are not really
colors, they are usually classified as fi
colors when discussing design. Black,
white, and gray are neutrals. Black is the
combination of all colors when it exists
as a pigment. A
pigment
is a coloring
agent used in paint and printed materi-
als. In contrast to black, white used as a
pigment has no color. Gray is a combi-
nation of black and white. Brown and
its tints and shades are also neutrals.
Combining equal amounts of comple-
mentary colors forms a brown color.
By adding a neutral color to a hue,
the value of the hue changes to either
a tint or a shade. This makes the hue
less intense. With any of these changes,
neutralization of the hue occurs.
Neutralized hues blend better with
other colors.
11-5
tints to shades, are shown on this value
scale.
11-6
Adding blue to orange reduces the
intensity of orange, making it a duller
color.