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Digital Media Productions
Color
What is color theory?
Color theory is a set of rules that directs artists, designers, and everybody else who wishes to use color with intention and purpose. It is sometimes referred to as the language of colors. The complex relationships between colors, their psychological and emotional effects, and how to use them to create compositions that are both visually arresting and emotionally impactful are all revealed. Color theory is often learned using a Color or Chromatic Map which is the foundation of color theory. The main colors are red, yellow, and blue and they fill the cardinal points in the map, their brightness serves as the foundation for all other colors. When combined, these primary colors provide secondary hues that include bright orange, rich green, and cold violet. The spectrum is further expanded by tertiary hues, which are produced when a primary and a secondary color combines to form the third. The wheel serves as a visual reference, showing the relationships as well as the contrasts of these hues.
I have decided to analyze a few logos and art pieces that will showcase what color theory looks like in practice. First I have decided to go with the classic instagram logo (shown below).
Instagram's vibrant community and wide variety of material are reflected in the app's bright gradient logo, which changes from orange to yellow to pink. Users are encouraged to share and discover by the warm tones, which provide an exciting and friendly vibe.
Next I have decided to go with the Spotify logo as it's one of the apps I mostly use and see on a daily basis. Spotify logo is shown below, it's vivid green logo sticks out in an ocean of technological blues and blacks. This unexpectedly cold color, which is linked to growth and peace, goes well with the brand's emphasis on playlist personalization and music discovery.
Next I have decided to analyze Vincent Van Gogh's famous and widely known painting, Starry Night, which in my opinion it's not only a piece of important art but also a piece of history and it's meaning its quite powerful. This post-impressionist masterwork's swirling blues and yellows mirror the artist's emotional state via the use of similar tones to create a sense of movement and turbulence.
Next I have decided to create two color pallettes for two different case studies by using Adobe color and my knowledge in Color Theory. The first case study is " Someone experiencing anonymous online bullying". I have thought about this case study a lot and honestly can think of times where I have been a victim of online bullying, all I can think of are dark, gloomy and cold colors that subdued you of all your breath and just make you feel like you are fighting invisible people that somehow can control you by using their horrible words.
And for that I have used a lot of blue to really further explain and showcase the feeling it gives people, it's the same color as the sea because it makes you feel like you are by yourself in a big pool of water, not knowing what to do; confused at all times.
The following case study I have selected is "a walk along a beautiful beach at sunset in the summer", as this is quite exactly what I like to do during summer, have a long walk along a beautiful beach at sunset. When I first thought about the case study and read it a couple of times I wanted to pick colors like blue and yellow, but I felt like they would clash and not work together as they should; so I have decided to instead, pick, the colors shown below and further explain them.
I have decided to instead go with lot more warmer colors that do not include blue or any color of water as since it's at sunset the color of the sun would be mirrored on the water making it all a warm image.
The colors convey the idea of warmth and fun.
Using the skills gained from trying to create color palletes for a couple case studies I have decided that I would like to try create my own color palette and create a color sketch using the picked colors.
If you have yet to notice, I have decided to go with the "a trip to Alton Towers theme park full of thrills and adrenaline" case study as in my opinion is the best as it should be quite a colorful creation.
First I started with a hand-made pen and paper sketch which I have then scanned into my computer and it looked something like this
It looks pretty good in my opinion as it contains the main attractions at a theme park, an ice cream truck to cool down on a hot summer day, a cat-head entrance and an incredible roller coaster.
I have then decided to color it using the selected color pallette theme but also using darker and lighter shades of the colors to enchance the drawing and make it look better. I ended up with something that looked like this
This is a screenshot I have taken whilst working on it on Adobe Photoshop. I used Photoshop to add color and really work my best on this sketch. Below I have showcased the final product and a small part about my opinion on it.
The 1500 x 800 sketch project using color pallette inspired by Alton Towers theme park looks very good in my opinion as it follows all the rules and meets all the needs the from the client's brief.
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