Understanding Color: An Introduction for Designers

Linda Holtzschue is Principal of Linda Holtzschue and Associates, a New York City-based interior design firm. She taught color theory and other courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Parsons School of Design, where she also served as an assistant dean. Her work has been featured in the New York Times Magazine and has appeared in Better Homes and Gardens.

• Preface ixAcknowledgments xiAbout the Companion Website xiiiChapter 1 The Role of Color in DesignThe Role of Color in Design 1Color as Language 2Culture, Color, and Time 3Color, Form, and Arrangement: Communication without Words 4Clothing and Color: Social Messaging 6Color Coding 8Chapter 2 An Introduction to Color StudyThe Experience of Color 11Color Awareness 11The Uses of Color 14Color-Order Systems 16Color Study 20Chapter 3 A Little Light on The SubjectLight 23Light Sources 24Modifying Light 26Additive Color: Mixing Light 30Subtractive Color 31Colorants 31Man-made Light Sources: Past, Present, and the Future at a Crossroad 34Color Temperature 36Metamerism and Matching 38Modifying Light: Surface 38Transparent, Opaque, and Translucent 40Iridescence 41Luminosity 42Indirect Light, Indirect Color 42Modifying Light: Filters 43Chapter 4 The Vocabulary of ColorHue 46The Artists’ Spectrum 47Primary, Secondary, and Intermediate Colors 48Saturated Color 49Other Spectrums, Other Primaries 49Chromatic Scales 50Cool and Warm Colors 50Analogous Colors 51Complementary Colors 52Tertiary Colors: Chromatic Neutrals 53Black, White, Gray 54Value 55Tints and Shades 59Monochromatic Value Scales 60Comparing Value in Different Hues 60Saturation 62Theoretical Gray 65Tone 65Chapter 5 The Human ElementThe Sensation of Color 67Vision: Responding to Light 67Threshold 69Intervals 69The Perception of Color 72Physiological Responses to Light 73Healing and Color 74Synaesthesia 75Psychology: Responding to Light 75Chapter 6 The Instability of ColorsThe Instability of Colors 77Color Composition 78Ground and Carried Colors 78Placement and Color Change 79Equilibrium 80Simultaneous Contrast 81Afterimage and Contrast Reversal 82Complementary Contrast 83Ground Subtraction 85Color and Area: Small, Medium, Large 86Chapter 7 Illusion and ImpressionColor Illusions 90The Illusion of Depth 90Spatial Effects of Colors 92Transparence Illusion 94Fluting 96Vibration 97Vanishing Boundaries 98Luminosity 98Bezold Effect 99Optical Mixes 100Chapter 8 Color Theory: A Brief HistoryThe Mystery of Color 103Setting the Stage 103The Beginnings of Color Theory 104Color and Controversy 107The Scientific Model: Color Gets Organized 108Color by Numbers 111A New Perspective 113Chapter 9 Color HarmonyIn Search of Beauty 115Intervals and Harmony 116Hue and Harmony 117Major and Minor Themes 118Value and Harmony 118Saturation and Harmony 120On Beyond Harmony: Dissonant Colors 121The X-Tra Factor: Surface and Harmony 121Some Harmonious Conclusions 122Chapter 10 Tools of the Trade: Color in Product and PrintIt’s the Real Thing: Color on Product and Print 124Design Media 125Artists’ Media 126Subtractive Mixing 127Muted Hues 128Tinting Strength 129Color Printing 129Spot Colors 131Screen and Block Printing 132Chapter 11 The Medium of LightImages of Light 133Lost in Translation 135The Screen Display 137Color Display Modes 139Color Management 140Color on the Web 143Web Color Coding 144Emerging Media: E-Ink 147Chapter 12 The Business of ColorThe Color Industries 149Color Sampling 151Color Forecasting 151Color Consulting 153Color and Product Identity 156Palettes, Color Cycles, and History 158Traditional and Document Colors 160Influences on Palettes 162Glossary 165Bibliography 177Index 181