Tag Archives: Illustrator

Computer Graphic Design

Color Theory: The Meanings of Color

Objective:

I can use web resources to discover the meaning of colors, and the psychological effects of colors on people, so that I can more effectively apply color to communicate an intended message.

Web Links:

Color Matters: The Meanings of Colors:  https://www.colormatters.com/color-symbolism/the-meanings-of-colors

Color Meaning, Symbolism and Psychology:  https://www.sensationalcolor.com/category/color-meaning/color-meaning-symbolism-psychology

Topics Discussed:

  • Color Theory
  • Semiotics

Instructions:

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and how they are used. Use the websites below to read about the meanings and symbolism of the colors we have been discussing in class:

https://www.sensationalcolor.com/category/color-meaning/color-meaning-symbolism-psychology

https://www.colormatters.com/color-symbolism/the-meanings-of-colors

Read about the symbolism and meanings of the warm colors Red, Orange and Yellow, the cool colors Green, Blue, and Purple, the more-versatile-than-you-know Pink, and the neutral colors Black, Brown, White, and Grey. We will discuss these meanings in class.

Next, on your fourth and final artboard, use your knowledge of Color Theory and Color Harmonies to demonstrate some of the cultural and psychological associations of the major hues discussed in class.

  1. Follow along with the class presentation on the meanings of colors.
  2. Design a document that describes some of the cultural and psychological associations related to each of the following colors:
    1. Red
    2. Orange
    3. Yellow
    4. Green
    5. Blue
    6. Purple
    7. Pink
    8. Brown
    9. Black
    10. White
    11. Grey
  3. For each of the above listed hues, include the following:
    1. A shape filled with the color, representing the pure hue.
    2. A text box with at least one complete sentence describing some objects associated with the color.
    3. A text box with at least one complete sentence describing some of the psychological associations with the color.
    4. A text box with at least one complete sentence describing a fun fact you learned about the color.
  4. The background should be any color except white.
  5. The document should contain a headline containing a few words describing the main topic of the poster.
  6. You should use the principles of Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity in the development of this poster.
  7. You should use these principles to make the poster interesting and fun to look at.
  8. You may use the Color Wheel you designed in our previous assignment as a guide to the hues, and you may copy and paste information from the provided websites, as long as you give the site credit on your page. (Add a text box with the word “Source:” and a link to the website somewhere on the page.)

Hints and Tips:

  • If you’ve forgotten what Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity mean, review your Principles of Design notes from last semester, or the book chapters available on the class server (10.4.22.151).
  • Fill the page with color, but choose your colors wisely! Your background color should not conflict with the hues you are trying to showcase!
  • You may design the page any way you wish, but you may wish to look at the Color Theory for Designers link for ideas on how to arrange your page and what background colors to use.
  • Don’t steal! If you copy information from one of the websites, you need to include a reference link to the source.
  • Do your best to make this page interesting and fun to look at! There are already far too many boring and ugly posters on campus already. Don’t be a part of that problem, be part of the solution.

Assigned: February 21st, 2023
Teacher Pacing Due Date: February 24th, 2023

Computer Graphic Design

Color Theory Week 1: The Color Wheel

Objective:

Students will be able to demonstrate a deeper understanding of Color Theory and Color Harmonies by using the shapes and color tools in Illustrator to produce a Color Wheel.

Online Lesson Link:

The Color Wheel

Topics Discussed:

  • Color Theory
  • Color Harmonies
  • Color Wheel
  • Primary Colors
  • Secondary Colors
  • Tertiary Colors
  • Triad
  • Complementary
  • Split Complementary
  • Analogous
  • Monochromatic
  • Shade
  • Tint
  • Swatches Panel

Instructions:

Use your knowledge of the Color Wheel and Color Harmonies to produce a color wheel in Illustrator demonstrating the key Color Harmonies discussed in class.

  1. View the online tutorial: The Color Wheel.
  2. Keep the tutorial open in your browser, and open the Illustrator document we have been working with this week. Follow the steps in the tutorial on the second artboard (upper right).
  3. Using the Shape tool, draw a square at the top of your document. Fill this square with RGB Red from the Swatches Panel.
  4. Consider the square you have just drawn as the 12 O’clock on a clock face. Continue drawing squares at 1 O’clock, 2 O’clock, 3 O’clock, all the way around to 11 O’clock. You should now have twelve squares arranged in a circular formation.
  5. Fill the squares with color in the following manner:
    1. 1 O’clock: Red-Orange
    2. 2 O’clock: Orange
    3. 3 O’clock: Yellow-Orange
    4. 4 O’clock: RGB Yellow
    5. 5 O’clock: Yellow-Green
    6. 6 O’clock: RGB Green
    7. 7 O’clock: Blue-Green
    8. 8 O’clock: RGB Blue
    9. 9 O’clock: Blue-Violet
    10. 10 O’clock: Violet
    11. 11 O’clock: Red-Violet
  6. When you have filled all the squares, use the Line Tool to draw a straight line from the Red square at 12 O’clock to the Green square at 6 O’clock, and use the Text tool to label this “Complementary”.
  7. Next, use the Shape Tool to draw a triangle that represents the Primary Triad (the points of the triangle should touch Red, Yellow and Blue). Label this the “Primary Triad” with the Text Tool.
  8. Continue drawing triangles and using labels to identify the Secondary Triad and a Split Complementary color harmony. Make sure your triangles are not filled so they do not cover each other, and make each triangle’s stroke a different color.
  9. Finally, use the Pen Tool to draw an arc over the four colors in the upper left quadrant (Red, Red-Orange, Orange, Yellow-Orange), and use lines to point to these four colors. Label this arc “Analogous”.
  10. You now have a Color Wheel with several key color harmonies identified. Save your document, and we will continue working with the last two artboards this week.

Assigned: February 16th, 2023
Teacher Pacing Due Date: February 17th, 2023