APPLICATION OF COLOUR IN PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF COLOUR IN DESIGN

1. Dominant or Controlling Color

Decide on the dominant or controlling color, which may dominate by covering a large area or by strength of color in a smaller area. Decide whether the foundation or background color is to be the dominant or a secondary color. Plan to use a large amount of quiet background color, a small amount of bold, strong color. All large foundation areas should be in light or grayed tones.

2. Graying:

Clear colors are gayer, more cheerful, but grayed tones are more restful, their harmonies more subtle. Mixing gray with bright colors brings them into relation with other colors in the room. As red and yellow in bright tones seem to clash. Mixed with gray, they become rose and tan and go very welltogether. Use this principle also in buying materials. Avoid too much graying. It gives muddy tones, dirty grays, flat greens. A little gray goes far.

3. Relief and Contrast Colors:

Decide on relief and contrast colors and bring them into all parts of the roomcomposition. Remember the order in the amount of space allowed each one,foundation, then relief, then contrasts. All colors including background colorsshould be keyed to the dominant color.Soften strong contrast colors with white.Contrast is less in lighter tints. Soften darkercontrasts with grey.

4. Accent Colors:

Use pure bright intense colors only in accessories, etc., Distribute them so they will not be spotty. The smaller the area the brighter the color may be. The larger the area the softer the tone should be. Don't use large amounts of pure bright color.

5. Keving:

This is another means of creating harmony. A key color is the one about which the color scheme is built- the dominant or controlling color. All other colors in the room must be "keyed" with it, harmonized. Two colors in which any part of a third color is present will be linked together. Example, to key red and yellow to each other, mix them both with a little of the third primary hue blue. Violet and green will result, and these are harmonious to use with our strong tones.

APPLICATION OF COLOUR ON DRESS DESIGNING

Garments have combined design elements of texture, color and line, each must be selected in relation, to your figure and how they affect each of the other elements. The effects of texture in fashion influence how colors appear and how design lines function.

When several colors are used in a single outfit, the amount, placement, and contrast between the colors used wall determine the effect. If the color is printed in the fabric design, the size of the design, as well as the colors used must be considered. Generally, the size of print should be selected in relation to the figure size. Small figures look best in fabrics with small designs. Large figures look best in fabrics with large designs. These guidelines arc especially true if the colors used are bright and contrast strongly.

The main object of color in a costume is to obtain a beautiful combination, which will grow more so the longer one looks at it. One problem is to get good color combinations in the use of materials, for texture is as important as color.

1.     Beautiful Colors Correctly Used:

In order that always have beautiful clothes which will be the envy of everyone who looks at them and which will increase natural attractiveness, the choosing of colors and the combination of them must be carefully considered. It is just as essential to fully understand and make use of the proper application of color in design as is the application of any of the other elements of design.

2.     Color Types:

It is quite difficult to lay down hard and fast rules as to the colors which different individuals may wear. This may be readily understood, as hardly any two people are identical as to color of hair, eyes, skin and general contour of features and body. All of these points have a direct bearing on the colors which are suitable to be worn. For example the small, frail, flaxon-haired blonde may be ever so attractive wearing certain colors which on the blonde of practically the samecoloring, but having a very large figure, would be most displeasing.

It will be necessary for in applying colors in the making of clothes foryourself or for others to study carefully the effect produced by colors of differentvalues and intensity in the particular case with which you are dealing.

3.     The blonde:

·       In choosing clothes the blonde must be especially careful about color. Some blondes work by the rules of contrast, that dark colors make their pale coloring seem even more delicate. It is commonly thought that this idea really works.

·       For blondes with gray blue or green eyes.. there seems to be the opinion that grayish colors that is, blues, greens and violets., are far more becoming than the warm brownish tones. This isn't true When speaking of the fair-haired, brown-eyed person whose skin is somewhat inclined toward the brunette type and who usually, looks well in shades of brown.

·       Of course, if the blonde has golden hair and the right complexion she may wear bright blue or red, even shades of rose may be chosen and worn well. Pale blondes want to be ever so careful to avoid colors which make them look dull or very pale.

·       As a rule, the blonde should not wear tailored clothes. She is not at all the masculine type, so she will look much better in simple, soft effects. She should not wear tweeds or very heavy materials. Her type calls for jersey, crepes, kasha's, velveteen's and chiffons which are much more suitable.

·       Heavy jewelry should be avoided by blondes. She should select small beads, dainty chains and stones such as jade, amethyst, turquoise and topaz.

4. Titian Haired Blonde:

·       The titian haired girl, that is the one whose hair may be of the so-called auburn shade or red, should be careful not to intensify this feature to too great an extent, but on the other hand, she must not detract from the beauty of her hair.

·       The complement of a color tends to emphasize it; therefore, she should avoid the light shades of green which form your color. chart you will see is the complement of red Some of the very darkest shades of green may be very becoming. The bright blues also tend to bring out the redness of the hair and should therefore be avoided. Navy or midnight blue and the soft, silent tones should be very pleasing. The deep shades of brown also black and the cream and ivory hues, will be found to be very good.

5. The Brunette:

·       If the brunette has a clear skin or good color, any shade is possible. If she is pale she should avoid colorless dull or pastel shades. The brunette having an olive complexion, especially if she is young, should never wear dark colors as they tend to make her look older. The warmer tones by contrast emphasize the luster of the dark hair and are therefore desirable. It is generally best for the brunette to use the warm colors such as reds, red orange, yellow, etc.

·       Whenever a brunette chooses to wear very dark shades such as dark brown,black, or midnight blue, some bright color should be added such as orange or certainshades of red.

6. The Gray or White Haired:

Very frequently the gray-haired lady tends to wear black, which is verygood, but she must not forget that a touch of white in the form of a yoke or collar torelieve the black near the face is most necessary. White of course, being a neutralcolor, is very good for this type.Purple in certain shades is generally quite becoming, but inasmuch as thecomplexion of older people frequently tends toward the yellow, bright purplesshould be avoided, for being the complement of yellow it tends to emphasize thatcolor. A person who when younger found the warm colors the more becoming must remember that as the hair begins to turn gray and the color of the skin is not so clear that the cooler shades should be more and more used. Some of the dull warm shades may also be pleasing, if the color of the eyes and the features warrant their use.

7. A Sallow Complexion:

·       A sallow complexion great care must be taken in the choice of colors. Of course there are certain colors that will help a great deal. In fact, it is far better to select those which will reflect color in the cheeks, and in order to do these choose warm tints such as red, shades of rose, a graycolor having a tint of pink or color of this particular type.

·       Do not do this for the purple only helps to bring out the shallowness of the skin. Likewise black should not be worn by this particular type of persons. If the complexion is very sallow avoid yellow, tans or browns for it only tends to make the complexion look yellow.

·       Shades of blue green, navy and might blue will help to bring out the color in the cheeks and in this way make the skin look less sallow. However, be very careful in the choice of shades of green, for bright greens are hard to wear by most types and should be carefully avoided by this particular one.

8. Florid complexion:

·       A florid complexion, do not select red or shades of red. A repetition of the same color, even though the tones and shades are different will bring out the color. Bright colors must be omitted if a person having a florid complexion wishes to distract the attention from that fact. It is hard to do this for a little red or pink for trimming is ever so tempting and it really takes a great deal of self-controlled keep from choosing these colors when one loves to wear them.

·       However, purples may be worn; also dark blues, dark brown or black can be worn. To be sure, light shades are attractive for some people, but for this type of person usually darker shades should be chosen.

9. Colors for Sports Clothes:

As to colors, here again any color you like and can wear well will be appropriate for the sports costume. While some of the darker shades are meeting with approval, there is a decided liking for the bright hues Royal blue, scarlet and greens are favorites, as well as beige, coral, gray and other colors. Some of the most attractive dresses are made from striped or barred/jerseys occasionally there is a clever weaving of silk which gives a decided richness to the material. Metal threads, woven to form stripe effects in jersey dresses are most pleasing.

10. Choose Of Colors:

Just as there are certain colors which are usually pleasing and becoming.there are others which nearly all people find rather trying and hard to wear. As ageneral, thing we must all avoid the pure hues having the full intensity. All of thebright shades of purple are trying to most complexions. Bright reds and blues can beworn by very few people, whereas the duller shades of these colors are found to bequite pleasing to many types.

APPLICATION OF COLOUR IN PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

BALANCE IN COLOUR

There should be a balance of bright and dull colours as too much as anyone may appear monotonous. Colours which are alike in value and intensity will present the same amount of attraction to the eye and therefore balance each other.Too much of brightness may irritate, while too much of dullness may be depressing.

 

PROPORTION IN COLOUR

Since each colour has the power of attracting attention through hue, value and intensity, that attention must be considered as “weight” of the colour.

This principle applies to colour as much as to sizes. Colour combinations are more beautiful when the amounts are varied, than when they are equal. Usually the Greek proportion of two parts : three parts or five : seven holds good here but if the colours are very different in their forcefulness, they should be arranged according to the ‘Law of Areas’, and the brighter colours used in smaller amounts.

 

RHYTHM IN COLOUR

In colour, rhythm and balance through “crossing” or repetition implies an arrangement of colours along which the eye can move easily from one colour to another. When colours are skillfully repeated in several places in a room the eye travels rhythmically as it follows these colours. Rhythmic colour results from the use of gradations in hue, value or intensity. However there should be a gradual change in the value or intensity of a colour.

EMPHASIS IN COLOUR

It can be achieved by contrast of hue, light and dark and brightness. In any colour arrangement there should be one outstanding colour effect, Even if it is quiet, simple or complicated scheme one should be conscious of a main colour perhaps in different degrees of distinctness or in various values and intensities. For example, there may be an effect of a yellowish tone running through a group of orange.

 The effect of every other colour used in the arrangement should be subordinated to the main colour. If only black, white and grays are used, the same principle would be followed, and one value would predominate. All ways one should be conscious in making the background should be quiet and less emphatic to make the objects effective against them. The effect of every other colour used in the arrangement should be subordinated to the main colour to prevent confusion.

HARMONY IN COLOUR

Colour combinations with harmony or unity give more pleasure to the eyes. They give the impression that all the colours really belong together, yet at the same time there must be sufficient variety to avoid monotony. The most beautiful colour schemes are those which give a single impression and impression of warmth with a note of coolness or of coolness with a accent of warmth. Instead of interesting variety, discord is apt to result when extremely warm colours are combined with cold colours, unless one follows the “ Law of Areas” and uses the contrasts in small amounts. If they are skillfully combined, contrasts are arresting and stimulating.

Application of Colour Harmony in Dress Design

·    Anchor light colours with a dark grey or black. It's a way of managing the boldness of a bright garment. Grey in particular complements brightcolours,

·     Dark tones pair better with vivid rather than light colours (it tends to over- power the light).

·   Colour works best in the summer. Light pastel colours are suited to summer conditions, earthy colours (rust brown, green) to autumn.

·    Dark colours make you look thinner, whilst light colours project and make you look bigger. Dark colours are also more formal than light.

·    A monochromatic look uses only one colour, but deploys different shades, tones or tints. Don't be afraid of experimenting with this.