What is color theory?
Color theory is a framework that
Informs the use of colors in art and design
Guides the curation of color palettes
Facilitates the effective communication of a design message on both an aesthetic and a psychological level.
History
Modern color theory is largely based on Isaac Newton’s color wheel, which he created back in 1666.
The basic color wheel displays three categories of color:
Primary colors
Primary colors are the colors that you can’t create by combining two or more other colors.
The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.
Secondary colors
Secondary colors are created by combining any two of the three primary colors.
The secondary colors are orange, purple, and green
Tertiary colors
Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color with a secondary color.
Tertiary colors are magenta, vermillion, violet, teal, amber, and chartreuse.
