The

of

Swatches
COLOR

Isaac Moeckly

Table of Contents
The Color Wheel and RGB vs. CMYK

Hues and Saturation

Shades and Tints

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors

Compound Colors

10

Warm and Cool Colors

11

Neutral and Monochromatic Colors

15

Index

17

About the Author

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The Color Wheel

The color wheel is a shape or combination of shapes with
different colored sectors that shows the relationship between colors.
Every color wheel includes at least the primary colors red, blue,
and yellow. Others include the secondary colors that result from a
mixing of at least two of the three primary colors, and still others
show the relationship between different secondary colors, which
result in tertiary colors. The color wheel below displays primary
colors, secondary colors, and tertiary colors.

When taking photographs,

painting, or completing digital art,
choosing the right color is important.
It could mean the difference between
an extraordinary piece and a
mediocre piece. Choosing the right
color to have dominance in your
work is important, because it can
set the mood and ambient feel to the An example of a color wheel
piece.
On the next page are examples of how color is used in
photography and digital art. The mood of each piece is heavily
based on the colors chosen. Detail like this is very important
when capturing a moment with a camera, painting it on canvas, or
digitally constructing one on the computer.

The digital art to the

right focuses more
on bleak, neutral
colors such as grey,
black, brown, and
white. These colors
create a mood that
is dark and helpless.
The
photograph
on the bottom of
the page focuses
more on a contrast
of warm and cool
colors, balancing
out the inclusion of
oranges and blues.
This creates a mood
that is more inviting.

RGB

RGB stands for Red, Green,
Blue. Its an additive color model
where the colors red, green, and
blue are added together to create
an array of other colors. Its one
of two color models used in Adobe
Photoshop to print a piece or
display it on a computer screen.

The RGB color model

CMYK

CMYK stands for Cyan,

Magenta, Yellow, Black. Its a
subtractive color model where the
colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and
black are subtracted from each
other to create an array of other
colors. Its one of two color models
used in Adobe Photoshop to print
a piece or display it on a computer
screen.

The CMYK color model

Hues
Hue

Saturation

A hue is a color or shade;

more specifically, the attribute
of a color which is dependent
on its dominant wavelength
and independent of intensity or
lightness. Hue can be tied back to
the visible light spectrum, and is
directly related to saturation.

Saturation
Saturation is one property of a color to determine the
vibrance of a color, and is measured as a percentage value. Its
how much white is mixed with a primary, secondary, or tertiary
color if the color model being used is RGB. If the color model is
CMYK, saturation is measured in how much black is mixed with
a color.

On the next page are examples of hue and saturation being
used in digital art and photography.

The saturation of this photo

of the Eiffel Tower has been
modified to appear black
and white; however, some
color remains on the greens
below the tower. The boats
full of Chihuly glass below
have a lot of vibrance and
color. Sometimes, choosing
the right saturation, as
with color, can make or
break a photo or digital
art. Learning to be wary
of this detail is a must for
professional photographers
and graphic designers.

Shades

Shades are varieties of color. Its the mixture of a color with
black, which reduces lightness. It helps add value to a photograph
or painting. A mediocre photograph will not bring out the shades
of the piece in their entirety. Great photographs work with and
mold shades and shadows to add immense value to the subject.
Take the following photograph and digital art, for example:
Notice how in the photograph, the
sun, its reflection in the water and the
outline of the tree against the suns light is
the main focal point in the piece. The main
theme of the photo is heavily based on the
shadows and how they fall around the
environment. This is due in part to how the
lighting was chosen. Taking photographs
in harsh light is not usually recommended,
as it creates an unwanted washed-out look
to the photo.
Sometimes, subtle
shadows are all thats
necessary. As shown
in this speed drawing,
minimalistic attention to
shade can make a piece
look better.

Tints

Tints are the opposite of shades. It is the mixture of a color
with white, increasing the lightness. Like shade, it can add value
to a piece. Balancing the two out is the basis of what extraordinary
photographs are. A photo is not made great because of its subject;
its how the subject is portrayed. If a photo is taken in harsh light
with little to no tints or shades, it will not turn out great. If a photo is
taken with soft, natural light,with the shades and tints accentuated,
it will become a great photograph.

An example of tint is shown
to the right. The fog in the back
blocks out the sun, creating a
nice, calming background that
separates it from the darker rocks
in the foreground.
Learning to balance tints
and shades as such can turn
anyone into a great photographer.
The science of photography is
not difficult, but if one does not
understand it, one can never hope
to capture a stunning photograph.

Primary Colors

Primary colors consist of the
colors red, blue, and yellow. They
are the colors from which all other
colors can be obtained by mixing.
Mixing two primary colors together
produces a secondary color.

Secondary Colors

Secondary colors consist of the
colors green, purple, and orange.
They are the product of mixing two
primary colors together in equal
proportions. Mixing two secondary
colors together or a primary and
secondary color together results in
a tertiary color.

Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are colors
that result from a mixture of two
secondary colors or a secondary
and primary color. Examples of a
tertiary color include pink, lime, or
cyan.

Below is an example of how primary, secondary, and tertiary
colors work together to create stunning photography. The outer
part of the car combines a soft yellow and dark blue, and in the
side mirror is a mixture of the colors of a sunset: orange, yellow,
purple, red, and pink.

Compound Colors
Compound colors are colors
that are on opposite ends of the color
wheel; for example, the primary
color red and the secondary color
green are opposite of each other on
this color wheel. Therefore, they are
complementary of each other and
work well together in digital art
and photography.

The same goes for the tertiary
color purple-blue and the tertiary
color yellow-orange.
The color wheel is set up so
that a primary color will never
complement another primary
color, nor will a secondary color
complement another secondary
color or a tertiary color. A primary
color will always be complementary
to a secondary color, and a tertiary
color will always be complementary
to another tertiary color.

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Warm Colors

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Warm colors are those that can invoke a calming or aggressive
mood to the photograph or digital art, depending on the subject of
the piece. Warm colors include those with red, orange, and yellow
tinges.

A calming mood can be achieved with a subject of a sunset,
sunrise, or bonfire. These are subjects that most people associate
with a nice picnic, a walk on the beach, or roasting marshmallows
with friends; therefore, they induce soothing memories and create
an inviting mood, almost as if one could walk into the photograph
or art.

An aggressive mood can be attained by using a subject that
most associate with fear or a will to fight. Examples are a dragon
breathing fire, a fallen warrior in a burning village, or a demon.
The colors red and orange naturally make someone feel
more aggressive, but when mixed with a soothing subject, the
connotation fades away. When these colors are paired with a
subject that invokes fear or a will to fight is when the connotation
returns and one feels inclined to be more aggressive.
Mastering the difference between a calm mood and an
aggressive mood is necessary for a photographer or digital artist.
When a mood is designed to be specific, the colors and subject
need to reflect that to create an amazing piece.

Examples of warm colors in digital art and photography are
provided on the following page.

 The digital art above

creates an aggressive mood,
since the subject is one that
many people would associate
with fear. The fire in the
background also invokes a
negative connotation.
The photograph to the
right uses warm colors like
orange and red to create a
calming mood. The subject,
the tree, is something that
people would enjoy eating a
picnic under.

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Cool Colors

Cool colors are the opposite of warm colors; they are colors
that are calm, and include blue, green, and lime. Like warm colors,
cool colors can also create an aggressive mood depending on the
subject. However, they are not used very often to do so.

A calming mood using cool colors could include a subject of
the beach, a water drop on a leaf, or fog over the Chicago skyline.
Like warm colors, people associate these subjects with good or
happy memories, and therefore the piece invokes a calmer mood.

An aggressive mood with cool colors is difficult to achieve;
its all in the subject when doing so. Using cobalt and light blue for
electricity in a stormy sky or using dark green for the background
of a digital drawing of a demon or dragon can help achieve this
look.

Again, like warm colors, mastering the use of cool colors is
a must for photographers and graphic designers. Balancing warm
and cool colors in the same piece can boost the value of a photo or
digital art significantly.

Examples of cool colors in digital art and photography are
provided on the following page.

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 The photograph to the left

utilizes cool colors like deep
purple in the tree, blue in the sky,
and dark green on the ground.
Overall, this photograph creates
a calm mood.
The digital art below,
while only using cool colors in
the background, still invokes
an aggressive mood to the piece
because of its subject.

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Neutral Colors

Neutral colors are those that do not fit into the categories of
warm or cool colors. Examples include earthy colors like brown,
tan, and grey, and non-colors such as black and white.

Neutral colors can set any kind of mood, and are usually
used in photography or digital art that takes place outdoors. A
photograph of a mountain range is based heavily on browns and
greys, while a digital painting of a post-apocalyptic city would
include a dominant color or handful of dominant colors that would
be classified as neutral.
Photographs of fog and cloudy days are those that are
usually based on neutral colors.

Monochromatic Hues

Monochromatic colors are hues of one color; that is, a dark
green is monochromatic to light green. A monochromatic painting
will only use hues of one color, such as reds or black and white.

Examples of neutral colors and swatches of monochromatic
hues are provided on the following page.

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 The photograph
to the left is mainly
made up of neutral
colors. The sky is a
deep grey, and MontSaint Michel itself is
portrayed with tans,
greys, and browns. The
digital art to the right
is also heavily neutral
in this way.

The digital art is
also monochromatic.
Many of the colors
used are hues of
brown. The swatches
below demonstrate
monochromatic hues.

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Index
Balance:

How elements are arranged in art to give more visual

appeal (pg 2)
CMYK:

A subtractive color model used by Adobe Photoshop that

uses the base colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and black

to create other colors (pg 3)
Color Model:

A way to define color; how a color will appear on a

computer screen (pg 3)
Color Wheel:

A shape or combination of shapes with different colored

sectors to show the relationship between colors (pg 1)
Compound Color:

Complementary colors; two colors on opposite ends of the

color wheel (pg 10)
Cool Color:

Colors that usually invoke a calm mood; blues, greens, and

purples (pg 13)
Hue:

The attribute of a color which is dependent on its dominant

wavelength and independent of intensity or lightness
(pg 4)

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Monochromatic:

Hues of one color; dark green is monochromatic to light

green (pg 15)
Mood:

The feel to a photograph or digital art; how a piece invokes

certain feelings (pg 2)
Neutral Color:

Colors that fit in neither the warm or cool color categories;

earthy tones such as grey, brown, and tan (pg 15)
Non-color:

Colors that are absent of color. Black is a non-color

because it is a mix of every color; white is a non-color

as it doesnt contain any colors (pg 15)
Primary Color:

The group of colors from which all other colors can be

obtained by mixing; red, blue, and yellow (pg 8)
Saturation:

A property of color to determine the vibrance; measures

how much white is mixed with a color if the color

model is RGB; measures how much black is mixed

with a color if the color model is CMYK (pg 4)
Secondary Color:

The group of colors produced by mixing 2 primary colors in

equal proportions; orange, green, purple (pg 8)

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Shade:

The mixture of a color with black; reduces the lightness
(pg 6)
Tertiary Color:

The group of colors produced by mixing 1 primary and 1

secondary or 2 secondary colors (pg 9)
Tinge:

A trace of a color across the piece (pg 11)
Tint:

The mixture of a color with white; increases the lightness

(pg 7)
Value:

The lightness or darkness of colors (pg 6)
Visible Light Spectrum:

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible

to the human eye
RGB:

An additive color model used by Adobe Photoshop that

uses the base colors red, green, and blue to create

other colors (pg 3)
Warm Color:

Colors that usually invoke an aggressive mood; reds,

oranges, yellows (pg 11)

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About the Author

Isaac Moeckly is currently a
sophomore at Hamilton High School
in Arizona. His interests reside in
graphic design, photography, video
gaming, animation, physics, and
programming. He has a deep passion
for digital art and enjoys painting
digitally in Adobe Photoshop.

Along with a skill in the digital
arts, he has won multiple awards
for physics projects he has done in
the past, including second place in
Mathematical Sciences at AZSef in
2013.

His digital art usually reflects his interests in video gaming
or his love for minimalism. Some of his projects have been featured
in this book.

All digital art, photography, and diagrams are the property of the author
and may not be reproduced without consent.

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