**Color Cognition**
**I. Classification of Colors**
1. There are two ways to classify colors. According to general conventions, they can be divided into two major categories: achromatic and chromatic colors. On the color wheel, hues can also be classified into cold and warm tones.
- (1) **Achromatic Colors**: Refers to black, white, and various shades of gray.
- (2) **Chromatic Colors**: Refers to red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, and all other colors derived from these hues.
2. **Color Classification on the Color Wheel**
- 1) **Cold Tones**: Colors such as blue and purple on the color wheel evoke a sense of coldness and are called "cold colors."
*(Note: The perception of warmth or coolness in colors is relative rather than absolute. For example, lemon yellow compared to blue is warm, but compared to medium yellow, it appears cooler.)*
- 2) **Warm Tones**: Colors such as red, orange, and yellow on the color wheel evoke a sense of warmth and are called "warm colors."
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**II. Primary Colors, Secondary Colors, and Tertiary Colors**
1. **Primary Colors**: Also known as first-order colors, these are the fundamental colors that can mix to create all other colors. In pigments, the three primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.
2. **Secondary Colors**: Also called second-order colors, these are created by mixing the primary colors in different proportions. Examples:
- 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 together. Compared to primary and secondary colors, tertiary colors have lower saturation.
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**III. Three Elements of Color (Hue, Value/Brightness, Saturation/Purity)**
1. **Hue**
- Hue refers to the appearance or name of a color. It distinguishes one color from another. For example, within the red family, there are variations like vermilion, deep red, and rose red, which differ in warmth or coolness but still belong to the red category.
2. **Value/Brightness**
- Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. It has a high degree of independence compared to hue and saturation and can be represented separately using black, white, and gray tones. Adding more white increases brightness, while adding more black decreases it.
3. **Saturation/Purity**
- Saturation, also known as purity or vividness, refers to the intensity or clarity 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.
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**IV. Principles of Color Coordination**
1. **Clear Color System**: A system where white is added to pure colors, resulting in high brightness and low saturation. This creates effects of relaxation, liveliness, youthfulness, and expansion. Suitable for people with fair skin and small body types.
2. **Muted Color System**: A system where black is added to pure colors, resulting in low brightness and a sophisticated, dignified effect.
3. **Analogous Colors**: Analogous colors are those that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. They form a harmonious and stable color palette when used together. *(The angular difference between analogous colors is usually less than 15 degrees, making them the weakest contrast in hue comparison.)*
4. **Adjacent Colors**: Adjacent colors are located between 30 to 60 degrees apart on the color wheel. They provide stability, harmony, and a sense of balance in color combinations. *(In the hue circle, this range generally does not exceed 45 degrees.)*
5. **Complementary Colors**: Complementary colors are positioned opposite each other on the color wheel, approximately 180 degrees apart. They create the strongest contrast in color schemes, producing vibrant, clear, and striking visual effects. When complementary colors are mixed, they result in a neutral grayish-black tone. *(Examples: Yellow and purple, orange and blue, red and green.)*
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**Related Articles**:
- Basics of Makeup – Understanding Color Cognition
- Fundamentals of Cosmetics – Perception of Colors