This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Laura Keung
Color is a key element of any kind of design. It can help you set the mood, emphasize certain aspects, and so much more. Let's learn about the characteristics of color and the two color systems used in design.
The 5 characteristics of color
Color has five different characteristics. Learning to identify each will help you achieve better results in your designs.
Have you ever wondered what hues are?
Hue is a color in its purest form. That means there's no white, black, or gray added to it.
Cyan, magenta, and green are examples of pure colors.
Hue
Now, what is shade in color?
Shade is the addition of black to a hue. The objective is to make a darker version of a color.
This can also add a lot of depth.
Shade
So, what is tint in color?
Tint is the addition of white to a hue. The goal is to create a lighter version of a color.
It also adds more dimension and depth to a shape.
Tint
Let's now define tone in color theory.
Tone is the addition of gray to a hue. When you blend gray in, the original color becomes a little bit more muted.
Sometimes, such muted colors tend to look muddy or dirty.
Tone
Last but not least, what is saturation in color theory?
Saturation is the purity of a color. It translates into intense and vibrant colors. When there's less saturation, it means the hue was mixed with black or white.
The use of different saturations can help create the illusion of shadows, depth, and other effects.
Saturation
Color systems in design: RGB vs. CMYK
Designers use two different color systems: RGB and CMYK.
The RGB color system is dedicated to digital design. The name of the system stands for red, green, and blue—the primary colors. Mixing them together is how you produce different RGB color combinations.
Designers work with the CMYK color system when they want to print their work. CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (black is the K for key color.)
And that's it for color! Keen to explore all the basic elements of design? Our complete course covers each of them with definitions, examples, and so much more.
Keep learning more about design here on Envato Tuts+. We have tutorials for both beginners and advanced designers!
You can also try Envato to get unlimited access to all kinds of creative assets: graphic templates, design software add-ons, 3D models—you name it! Moreover, the Envato blog offers handy resources where you can learn from real-world designers and take inspiration from them.
You can learn more about color theory in our tutorials below:
Advanced color theory: Why the color wheel is wrong
The 5 Problems With Fundamental Color Theory
What is the Bezold effect?
Simultaneous contrast: Make your colors work smarter
Vibrating boundaries: Making colors POP!
Now that you understand the characteristics of color, you're one step closer to becoming a master in design theory. Check out our other tutorials and get there faster!
This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Laura Keung
Laura Keung | Sciencx (2024-12-17T22:55:46+00:00) Color as a basic element of design. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2024/12/17/color-as-a-basic-element-of-design/
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