The colour wheel is a visual representation of colour theory that shows the relationships between colours. The basic colour wheel uses red, yellow, and blue as primary colours. When you mix the primary colours in different combinations, you get secondary and tertiary colours.
Primary Colours
The primary colours are red, yellow, and blue. These are called primary colours because they cannot be created by mixing other colours. All other colours are derived from these 3 basic colours.
| Primary Colour | Hex Code |
|---|---|
| Red | #FF0000 |
| Yellow | #FFFF00 |
| Blue | #0000FF |
These primary colours are equidistant on the colour wheel. When placed next to each other, they create strong visual contrast and vibration. This makes them ideal for creating eye-catching designs.
Secondary Colours
Secondary colours are created by mixing two primary colours. The secondary colours are green, orange, and purple.
Green is made by mixing yellow and blue. Orange is made by mixing red and yellow. Purple is made by mixing red and blue.
On the colour wheel, secondary colours are located between the primary colours:
- Green is between yellow and blue
- Orange is between red and yellow
- Purple is between red and blue
Below are the hex codes for the secondary colours:
| Secondary Colour | Hex Code |
|---|---|
| Green | #00FF00 |
| Orange | #FFA500 |
| Purple | #800080 |
Tertiary Colours
Tertiary colours are made by mixing a primary and secondary colour. They are located between the primary and secondary colours on the wheel. For example:
- Yellow-orange is between yellow and orange
- Blue-green is between blue and green
- Red-violet is between red and violet
Tertiary colours have names like red-orange, yellow-green, blue-violet to indicate their position on the wheel.
Below are some examples of tertiary colours and their hex codes:
| Tertiary Colour | Hex Code |
|---|---|
| Yellow-orange | #FFBF00 |
| Blue-green | #00BFBF |
| Red-violet | #BF00FF |
Tertiary colours have lower colour intensity than primary and secondary colours. They are more muted and subtle.
Colour Wheel Showing Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colours
Here is a colour wheel showing the relationship between primary, secondary and tertiary colours:
Image source: Pixabay
As you move from the primary colours towards the centre of the wheel, the tertiary colours become less vibrant and intense. The secondary colours have higher intensity than the tertiaries.
Colour Harmony
The colour wheel helps create harmony and pleasing colour schemes. Here are some examples of harmonious colour combinations:
- Complementary colours – Opposite colours on the wheel like red and green or yellow and purple
- Analogous colours – Three colours next to each other on the wheel like blue, purple, and magenta
- Triadic colours – Three colours equally spaced around the wheel like red, yellow and blue
- Split-Complementary – A colour and the two colours adjacent to its complement like orange, blue, and green
Using colours that are closer or opposite on the wheel creates visually appealing designs. The colour wheel helps designers, artists and painters select colour combinations that work well together.
Warm and Cool Colours
The colour wheel can also be divided into warm and cool colours. Warm colours are associated with warmth like red, orange and yellow. They evoke emotions ranging from energetic to aggressive. Cool colours like blue, green and purple evoke calm, relaxing feelings.
Here’s how the wheel is divided into warm and cool colours:
Image source: Pixabay
In colour psychology, warm colours are energetic and bold. Cool colours are calming and soothing. Using warm and cool colours appropriately can enhance the impact of designs.
Advantages of the Colour Wheel
Here are some key advantages of the colour wheel:
- Shows colour relationships clearly
- Helps visualize colour mixing
- Creates harmonious colour schemes
- Guides colour selection
- Teaches colour theory
- Makes learning colours easy
With the colour wheel, anyone can become knowledgeable about working with colours, mixing colours and creating pleasing combinations. It is an indispensable tool for artists, designers, interior decorators and anyone who uses colour.
Uses of the Colour Wheel
The colour wheel has many practical uses:
- Design – Graphic, web, fashion, interior
- Art – Painting, drawing, photography
- Education – Teaching colour theory
- Marketing – Branding, ads, packaging
- Psychology – Colour therapy, environment design
- Printing – Matching printed colours
Any field that involves selecting, manipulating and working with colours can benefit from the colour wheel. It is a versatile tool for both beginners learning about colour and professionals using colour in their work.
History of the Colour Wheel
The origins of the colour wheel can be traced back to the early theories of Isaac Newton in the 17th century. Newton associated each colour with a musical note and believed colours were linked by mathematical ratios.
In the 18th century, Moses Harris created one of the first circular diagrams showing primary red, yellow and blue colours mixing to form secondary greens, oranges and violets. These early colour circles evolved into the colour wheels we use today.
Johannes Itten, a Swiss colour theorist, developed the well-known 12-part colour wheel in 1921. Based on the RYB primary colours, his wheel is still influential in modern colour theory. Today, colour wheels exist in many variations and are widely used in art, design and education.
Limitations of the Colour Wheel
While useful, the colour wheel also has some limitations:
- Circular shape doesn’t show all possible colour variations
- RYB primaries are not scientifically accurate
- Doesn’t demonstrate colour perception
- Printed wheels differ from on-screen colours
- Doesn’t include all existing colours
As a simplified model, the colour wheel can only represent a subset of the full visible colour spectrum. It also depends on idealized primary colours that don’t match the real primaries of light. Despite these limitations, the colour wheel remains a valuable design tool.
Conclusion
The colour wheel is an essential tool for working with colour. By clearly showing colour relationships, it helps choose harmonious colour schemes and teaches basic colour theory. Learning how to use the colour wheel gives a strong foundation in colour and leads to better colour choices.
While not scientifically perfect, the colour wheel is a powerful visual model. It has countless applications in art, design and other fields that use colour. Understanding the colour wheel unlocks the ability to manipulate colour effectively.
