### Perception of Color
#### I. Classification of Colors
1. There are two methods for classifying colors. According to general conventions, they can be divided into achromatic and chromatic color systems. On the color wheel, hues can also be categorized into cool tones and warm tones.
- (1) **Achromatic Color System**: Refers to black, white, and various shades of gray.
- (2) **Chromatic Color System**: Includes red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, and all other colors derived from these hues.
2. **Color Classification on the Color Wheel**
1. **Cool Tones**: Colors like blue and purple on the color wheel evoke a sense of coldness and are called cool colors.
2. **Warm Tones**: Colors such as red, orange, and yellow on the color wheel evoke warmth and are called warm colors.
*Note*: The perception of warmth or coolness in colors is relative, not absolute. Even within the same hue, there can be variations in warmth or coolness. For example, lemon yellow compared to blue is a warm color, but compared to medium yellow, it appears cooler.
#### II. Primary Colors, Secondary Colors, and Tertiary Colors
1. **Primary Colors**: Also known as first-order colors, these are the basic colors that can be mixed to create all other colors. In pigments, the primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.
2. **Secondary Colors**: Also known as second-order colors, these are created by mixing the primary colors in varying proportions. Examples include:
- Red + Yellow = Orange
- Yellow + Blue = Green
- Red + Blue = Purple
3. **Tertiary Colors**: These are formed by combining two secondary colors or by mixing all three primary colors. Tertiary colors, also known as "third-order colors," have lower purity compared to primary and secondary colors.
#### III. Three Elements of Color (Hue, Value/Brightness, Saturation/Purity)
1. **Hue**:
Hue refers to the appearance of a color, distinguishing one color from another. It represents a specific category of color. For instance, red: pure red mixed with white creates different shades of pink with varying brightness and purity levels, yet still retains its original hue. Shades like vermilion, dark red, and rose red belong to the red family but vary in warmth or coolness.
2. **Value/Brightness**:
Brightness refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. Compared to hue and saturation, brightness has stronger independence and can be represented separately using black, white, and gray tones in the achromatic system. Adding more white increases brightness, while adding more black decreases it.
3. **Saturation/Purity**:
Saturation, also known as intensity or chroma, refers to the vividness or dullness of a color. Any color mixed with white, black, or gray will reduce its saturation. The more black, gray, or white added, the lower the saturation becomes.
#### IV. Principles of Color Coordination
1. **Clear Tone System**: Mixing white into pure colors results in high brightness and low saturation, creating effects that feel light, lively, youthful, and expansive. This suits people with fair, pinkish skin tones and smaller body types.
2. **Muddy Tone System**: Adding black to pure colors lowers their brightness and creates an elegant, solemn effect.
3. **Analogous Colors**: Analogous colors refer to a range of colors derived from any single color on the color wheel by adding black, white, or gray. This forms a stable, harmonious combination in color coordination (within a 15-degree range on the color wheel, making it the weakest hue contrast).
4. **Adjacent Colors**: Adjacent colors are those located between 30 and 60 degrees on the color wheel. They provide stability, harmony, and a sense of balance when used together (generally not exceeding 45 degrees on the color wheel).
5. **Contrasting Colors**: Contrasting colors are any two colors located between 120 and 150 degrees on the color wheel. When paired, they produce a vibrant, lively feeling (colors separated by over 100 degrees form strong contrasts).
- **Complementary Colors**: Colors located at opposite ends of the color wheel's diameter are complementary colors. These are positioned 180 degrees apart and create the strongest contrast in color combinations. When mixed, complementary colors result in a grayish-black tone (e.g., yellow vs. purple, orange vs. blue, red vs. green).
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