| Color Theory |
3D Color Theory, just like any other color theory for any medium, tries to follow the same rules that nature has set for us.
Color Qualities
Hue
Hue is usually the first thing one notice about an object. The sky is blue. That car is red. Hue is often interchangeable with the word color.
Saturation or Intensity
Saturation is the color’s purity. Adding more black to a hue brings down its intensity. Adding more white to a hue brings up its saturation.
Shades of Red |
Tints of Red |
Value or Brightness
Pale colors are considered to be high in value.
- Adding white to a color lightens a color and creates what is known as tints of the hue.
- Midday sunlight can bring up the tint in objects because the sun is at its fullest. Hazy skies can also change once pure hues into simpler tints.
Dark colors are considered to be low in value.
- Adding black to a color darkens a color and creates what is known as shades of the hue.
- Nighttime skies have a tendency to suck color out of objects, leaving behind shades of the formerly brilliant hue.
Low value |
High Value |
Color Schemes
Complementary Colors
Complementary colors enhance each other. Complementary colors brighten one another when placed next to one another. Complementary colors are found on the opposite of each on the color wheel.
Color Wheel with Black and
White
Complementary colors are high contrast and using these color combinations side by side may have issues down the road when outputting to a particular medium.
Complementary colors
Split Complementary Colors
- Split complementary colors are found by choosing the first color, finding it’s opposite and selecting the two colors on both sides of it.
- Why use split complementary colors? Split complementary colors are a little more agreeable visually than straight complementary and they also add a bit of complexity to your composition.
Split Complementary Colors
Double-Split
- Double-split complementary colors are similar to split complementary that the colors select are located next to one another.
- Using this color scheme is another step forward towards harmonious palette and complexity.
Double-Split Complementary
Colors
Triadic Palettes
- Triadic are another vivid color recipe.
- To choose a triadic color scheme, pick three colors that are equidistant from one another. Example: Red, yellow and blue are triadic colors.
- Again, using pure primary color schemes can result in color washout or burning colors on NTSC or HDTV outputs.
Triadic Palettes
Analogous Palettes
- Analogous colors are a select of colors that are neighbors to one another.
- Analogous palettes tend to be more of a peaceful scheme since all the colors are not fighting for attention but rather build a clean complement by being less saturated and less contrasted.
Analogous Palettes
Monochromatic Palettes
- A monochromatic color is created by selected a color on the color wheel and adding white or black to it.
- Adding black to a color creates shades of that hue.
- Adding white to a color creates tints of that hue.
- Monochromatic color schemes tend to be very pleasing and calm.
Monochromatic Palettes
Color Temperature
Color temperate can help enhance the mood of an image. Ever notice how the devil is always wearing red and is surrounded by yellow flames? Do these hot colors project the notion that this character might be a little dangerous? But what if this character was wearing a green jumpsuit jogging by ocean? Does he seem as dangerous now?
Warm colors
- Tends to advance into the foreground.
- Warm highlight colors on objects helps bring attention for the view to focus more on that object.
Cool colors
- Tends to recede from foreground elements.
- Shadows, most often, are cool in color. Using cool shadow colors helps anchor the object that is casting to the surface it is near.
- Preparing for texturing and lighting work
Reference, Reference, Reference
When working on a lighting or texturing project, you should ask yourself, and your client, the following questions:
- What is the goal of texturing and lighting this project?
- What images, photographs, videos and/or sketches are available?
- Has any previsualization be completed yet?
- Do I need to create my own textures?
- What is your medium of output?
- TV, HDTV, Film, Web, Print, Game.
- Who is your audience?
- Other factors? Special effect, mood, look, style, genre, etc.