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Reference Library - Basic Color Theory

It is true that all colors can be mixed from the three primary colors. Here's some very very basic information:

Primary Colors:
--Red
--Yellow
--Blue

Secondary Colors: (mixing two primary colors)
--Orange (red + yellow)
--Purple (red + blue)
--Green (blue + yellow)

Intermediate/Tertiary Colors: (mixing a primary with a secondary color)
--Light Green (yellow + green)
--Dark Green (blue + green)
--Brown (yellow + purple)
--Light Orange (yellow + orange)
--Dark Orange (red + orange)
--Light Purple/Magentas (red + purple)
--Purple/Violet (blue + purple)
--Dark Purple (blue + purple)

To get Pastel Colors, white is added to any color. White makes the color more opaque. The more white you add, the lighter it becomes.

To lighten a color:
1. Add more of the lightest color in the mix. Example: To make a green lighter, add more yellow.

You can get a Darker Color two different ways:
1. Add black to any color
2. Add more of the darkest color in the color mix. Examples: To make a green darker, add more blue.

Tint - A lightened color = color + white

Shade - a darkened color = color + black

Monochromatic - "mono" means "one", "chroma" means color; one color and its values.
(Example:  yellow)

Complementary - colors opposite on the color wheel (and their values)
(Example:  blue and orange)

Analogous - 3 to 5 colors next to each other on the color wheel (and their values)
(Example:  red-purple, purple, blue-purple, blue)

Warm Colors - colors of sun and fire, on the right side of the color wheel (and their values)
(Example:  reds and yellows {and their values})

Cool Colors - colors of snow and ice, on the left side of the color wheel (and their values)
(Example:  blues, greens, purples {and their values})

Values - the lights and darks of a color, the relative lightness to darkness

Hue - When we say "color" we are often talking about hue. It is the the actual color. It indicates whether a color looks red, green, blue, yellow, orange, etc.

Saturation - represents how pure a color is.

Intensity - the brightness or dullness of a color.

It is very helpful to buy yourself a decent color wheel and use it. They are not expensive. I have one and use it.

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