Understanding Color

LINDA HOLTZSCHUE is principal at Linda Holtzschue and Associates, an interior design firm based in New York City. She taught color theory and related courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design, where she served as Assistant Dean. Her work has appeared in New York Times Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens.

• Preface XIIIAcknowledgments XVChapter 1 An Introduction to Color StudyThe Experience of Color 1Color Awareness 3The Uses of Color 6Color- Order Systems 9Color Study 13Chapter 2 A Little Light on the SubjectLight 16Additive Color: Mixing Light 19Lamps 20Lamp Types 22Special Purpose Lamps 25False Promise: Full- Spectrum Lighting 26Lighting Level 26Vision 27The Illuminant Mode of Vision 27The Object Mode of Vision 28Modifying Light: Colorants 28Lamps and Color Rendition 31The Color Rendering Index 32Metamerism and Matching 32Modifying Light: Surface 33Transparent, Opaque, and Translucent 36Iridescence 37Luminosity 38Indirect Light, Indirect Color 38Filters 40Chapter 3 The Human ElementThe Sensation of Color 43Threshold 44Intervals 45The Perception of Color 48Physiology: Responding to Light 50Healing and Color 53Synaesthesia 53Psychology: Responding to Light 54Naming Colors 55Color As Language: From Name to Meaning 56Impressional Color 60Color As Words Alone 61Chapter 4 The Vocabulary of ColorHue 64The Artists’ Spectrum 66Primary, Secondary, and Intermediate Colors 67Saturated Color 68Other Spectrums, Other Primaries 68Chromatic Scales 70Complementary Colors 70Cool and Warm Colors 72Analogous Colors 73Tertiary Colors: Chromatic Neutrals 74Black, White, and Gray 75Value 75Pure Hues and Value 76Tints and Shades 76Monochromatic Value Scales 77Comparing Value in Different Hues 79Line 80Value and Image 80Transposing Image 82Saturation 83Saturation: Diluting Hues with Gray 85Saturation: Diluting Hues with the Complement 86Theoretical Gray 87Tone 89Chapter 5 The Instability of ColorsThe Instability of Colors 91Color Composition 92Ground and Carried Colors 93Placement and Color Change 95Equilibrium 95Simultaneous Contrast 96Afterimage and Contrast Reversal 98Complementary Contrast 100Ground Subtraction 102Color and Area: Small, Medium, Large 106Chapter 6 Illusion and ImpressionColor Illusions 108The Illusion of Depth 108Spatial Effects of Colors 111Transparence Illusion 115Fluting 117Vibration 118Vanishing Boundaries 120Luminosity 120Bezold Effect 122Optical Mixes 122Chapter 7 Color Theory: A Brief HistorySetting the Stage 126The Beginnings of Color Theory 127Color and Controversy 132The Scientific Model: Color Gets Organized 134Color by the Numbers 138A New Perspective 141Chapter 8 Color HarmonyIn Search of Beauty 145Intervals and Harmony 147Hue and Harmony 149Major and Minor Themes 150Value and Harmony 151Saturation and Harmony 153On Beyond Harmony: Dissonant Colors 156The X- tra Factor: Surface and Harmony 157Some Harmonious Conclusions 159Chapter 9 Tools of the Trade: Color in Product and PrintIt’s the Real Thing: Color in Product and Print 162Design Media 166Artists’ Media 166Subtractive Mixing: Pure Hues 169Subtractive Mixing: Muted Hues 171Tinting Strength 172Color Printing: Process Colors 172Color Printing: Spot Colors 176Screen and Block Printing 177Chapter 10 The Medium of LightImages of Light 180Lost in Translation 181The Screen Display 183Color Display Modes 186Color Management 189Color on the Web 195Web Color Coding 197Emerging Media: E- Ink 201Chapter 11 The Business of ColorThe Color Industries 204Colorants 205Color Sampling 205Color Forecasting 206Color Consulting 208Color and Product Identity 209Palettes 211Traditional Colors, Document Colors 212Palettes and the Past 214Color Becomes Fashion 215Color Cycles: A Modern History 216Today and Tomorrow 218Glossary 221Bibliography 237Index 243