Color+vocabulary

** Color ** Color, effect produced on the eye and its associated nerves by light waves of different wavelength or frequency. Light transmitted from an object to the eye stimulates the different color cones of the retina, thus making possible perception of various colors in the object.

This color wheel shows the primary colors, secondary colors, and the tertiary colors. It also shows the relationships between complementary colors across from each other on the color wheel, such as blue and orange; and analogous (similar or related) colors next to each other on the color wheel such as yellow, green and blue. Black and white may be thought of as colors but, in fact, they are not. White light is the presence of all color - black is the absence of reflected light and therefore the absence of color.
 * Color Wheel **

Red, yellow and blue are the primary colors. Primary colors are the most basic colors. You can't make them by mixing any other colors. Orange, green and purple are the secondary colors. A secondary color is made by mixing two primary colors. For instance, if you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
 * Primary Colors **

Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. Colors mixed with white are called tints. Pink is a tint of red. Colors mixed with black are called shades. Burgundy is a shade of red. Paintings that use only one color and the tints and shades of that color are called monochromatic (one=mono; color=chromatic).
 * Value **

The lightness or darkness of a color is called its **value.** You can find the values of a color by making its tints and shades.
 * Value: Tints and Shades **
 * Tints ** are light values that are made by mixing a color with white. For example, pink is a tint of red, and light blue is a tint of blue.
 * Shades ** are dark values that are made by mixing a color with black. Maroon is a shade of red, and navy is a shade of blue.

Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel. They tend to look pleasant together because they are closely related. Orange, yellow-orange, and yellow are an example of analogous colors. They are blended nicely in //Sunflowers//, a painting by Vincent Van Gogh. How do you know that these colors are closely related? They share a color—each of them contains some yellow. Moods ** Colors are often associated with moods. For example, we say "green with envy," "a blue mood." Certain colors also look cool, such as blue, green and violet; and others look warm, like red, orange and yellow. Natural colors ** Artists use colors to create a variety of desired effects. When an artist paints a scene or objects realistically, colors are used in imitation of the things being painted. Color effects ** When small dots of pure color are applied close together, the viewer's eyes mix the colors. Notice that each dot of pure color the artist has used looks bright, but when your eye mixes them they are subdued, almost neutral.
 * Analogous Colors **

Idioms

Very clear and easy to understand In black and White

Having money In the black

The market not controlled by the government. The black market

To feel sad To feel blue

Something that is not true but causes no harm. A white lie

Special honors for a special or important person The red carpet

By surprise, unexpectedly Out of the blue

Owing money, in debt Be in the red

The OK to start something The green light

Jealous of someone else's good fortune Green with envy

Complicated official procedures and forms Red tape