Glossary – The Element of Colour
Glossary – The Element of Colour
1. Colour
A visual element in design that evokes emotion, expresses personality, and
plays a symbolic or cultural role.
2. Hue
The name of a colour (e.g., red, blue, yellow).
3. Value
The lightness or darkness of a colour.
4. Tint
A lighter version of a colour created by adding white.
5. Shade
A darker version of a colour created by adding black.
6. Intensity
The brightness or dullness of a colour. High-intensity colours are bright (like
neon), while low-intensity colours are dull (like pastels).
7. Primary Colours
The three base colours that cannot be made by mixing other colours: red,
yellow, and blue.
8. Secondary Colours
Colours made by mixing two primary colours:
red + blue = purple blue + yellow = green red + yellow = orange
9. Tertiary Colours
Colours made by mixing a primary and a secondary colour. Examples:
red-orange yellow-green blue-purple
10. Colour Symbolism
The meaning a colour represents in different cultures or contexts, such as:
- Red: strength, masculinity, life, happiness
- White: purity (weddings), mourning (in Asia)
- Black: mourning, authority, modesty
- Pink: femininity, softness (historically also masculinity)
- Saffron: humility (Buddhist monks)
11. Colour Schemes
Ways in which colours are arranged or combined in a design to be visually
appealing.
a. Monochromatic
Uses tints and shades of one colour.
b. Accented-Neutral
Combines neutral colours (black, white, grey, beige) with one accent colour.
c. Triadic
Uses three colours evenly spaced on the colour wheel (e.g., red, yellow, blue).
d. Complementary
Uses two opposite colours on the colour wheel (e.g., blue & orange).
e. Split-Complementary
Uses a base colour and the two colours on either side of its complementary.
f. Analogous
Uses three colours next to each other on the colour wheel.
12. Pink Shirt Day
A social awareness day in Canada where students wear pink to stand up against
bullying, inspired by a real event in Nova Scotia.
13. Cultural Colour Meaning
Different cultures use colours to symbolize unique beliefs or customs.
Examples:
- White for weddings in the West
- Red for weddings in India and China
- Black for clergy in many religions
- Gold or purple for royalty