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Color Theory

#1 User is offline   Skysurge 

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Posted 16 November 2008 - 01:48 AM

I usually just pick my colours by what looks right, by trial an error. I've read many people talk about color theory and it sounds like there's a lot more to colours than I'm aware of.

Please help me become knowledgeable with colours! Links, tutorials, anything. Thanks :)
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#2 User is online   BlueDreamer 

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Posted 16 November 2008 - 02:05 AM

Wikipedia is always a good starting point - http://en.wikipedia....ki/Color_theory
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#3 User is offline   Skysurge 

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Posted 16 November 2008 - 03:00 AM

Yeh I could have done that, but something about colour theory and how it relates to design would be nicer :)
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#4 User is online   BlueDreamer 

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Posted 16 November 2008 - 05:52 AM

How about these...

http://www.webdesign...s/color-theory/
http://www.colormatt...olortheory.html
http://webdesign.abo...olorharmony.htm
http://www.poynterex...ject/color.html
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#5 User is offline   wizely 

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Posted 16 November 2008 - 09:29 AM

Or learn from how not to do it!:

http://www.globalaigs.org/
http://www.longscycle.com/
http://www.fabricland.co.uk/

:lol:
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#6 User is offline   Helen 

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Posted 16 November 2008 - 10:08 AM

I did colour theory at college. I really enjoyed it. There were books we used to use, so have a look at the library.
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#7 User is offline   BrownWarrior 

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Posted 16 November 2008 - 07:27 PM

colour theory is something that particularly interests me and something that i feel is really essential if you are a designer helping you develop a better understanding of what is happening in your designs and develop a better approach to designing.

i can recomend a couple of books that i have read.

firstly and most importantly.

The Art of Color by Johannes Itten. the single most imporant book on colour theory of contemporary times. i also have a copy of the shortend version 'the elements of colour' and i can tell you the full version 'the art of colour' is better with lots of examples.

also The Interaction of Color by Josef Albers is also pretty good taking a very hands on approach to learning colour theory.

Both Johannes Itten and Josef Albers were members of the Bauhaus In Weimar, and if you know about the Bauhaus then you should know that although it was founded by Walter Gropius the most important teacher there was Johannes itten who developed most of the course and matteial taught and who really made the bauhas. it was Ittens experimental teaching that brought so much unwanted attention from the Nazis and because of the Nazis was made a scapegoat and had to leave the bauhaus to set up his own school which was then also later shut down my the Nazis. Both Itten and Albers were also highly influectial painter in there own right also.

and this site makes a good introduction http://www.worqx.com/color/index.htm
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#8 User is offline   Skysurge 

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Posted 16 November 2008 - 08:57 PM

View Postbluedreamer, on Nov 16 2008, 06:52, said:



Very good! Thank you. Webdesign.org looks great to, a good link :)

View Postwizely, on Nov 16 2008, 10:29, said:



Oh god. Yeah I can usually tell when colors look bad, those are just obvious.

Wish I could get my hands on some of those wonderful animated gifs :lol:


View PostHelen, on Nov 16 2008, 11:08, said:

I did colour theory at college. I really enjoyed it. There were books we used to use, so have a look at the library.


I have a way to get into the Niagara College library, maybe I'll look there for some design books :)

View PostBrownWarrior, on Nov 16 2008, 20:27, said:

colour theory is something that particularly interests me and something that i feel is really essential if you are a designer helping you develop a better understanding of what is happening in your designs and develop a better approach to designing.

i can recomend a couple of books that i have read.

firstly and most importantly.

The Art of Color by Johannes Itten. the single most imporant book on colour theory of contemporary times. i also have a copy of the shortend version 'the elements of colour' and i can tell you the full version 'the art of colour' is better with lots of examples.

also The Interaction of Color by Josef Albers is also pretty good taking a very hands on approach to learning colour theory.

Both Johannes Itten and Josef Albers were members of the Bauhaus In Weimar, and if you know about the Bauhaus then you should know that although it was founded by Walter Gropius the most important teacher there was Johannes itten who developed most of the course and matteial taught and who really made the bauhas. it was Ittens experimental teaching that brought so much unwanted attention from the Nazis and because of the Nazis was made a scapegoat and had to leave the bauhaus to set up his own school which was then also later shut down my the Nazis. Both Itten and Albers were also highly influectial painter in there own right also.

and this site makes a good introduction http://www.worqx.com/color/index.htm


After some searches I'm left with nothing but excellent feedback on that book, I will definitely get it :)


Thanks for your help everybody.
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#9 User is offline   Sam Christy 

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Posted 16 November 2008 - 09:43 PM

View Postwizely, on Nov 16 2008, 09:29, said:


my EYES! :wacko:
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