DPI - WEEK 7

2/6/25 - 8/6/25 (Week 7)
Lim Jia Xuan 0371026
Digital Photography & Imaging

---

1.0 LECTURE

Colour Theory

Colour theory is the both the science and art of the using colour. It explains how humans perceive colour; and the messages colours communicate artistically and emotionally.

Figure 1.0 The colour wheels 

RGB vs CMYK

• Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) are the primary colours of printing.
• RGB colour is used to display on your computer screen.

RGB: Additive colour mixing model

• Colour is created by mixing Red, Green and Blue light sources of various intensities.
• TVs, screens and projectors use Red, Green and Blue (RGB) as their primary colors.

Figure 1.1 RGB 

CMYK: Subtractive colour mixing model

• Colour is created by the subtraction of light. 
• The CMYK colour system is the colour system used for printing.

Figure 1.2 CMYK 

Hue, Shade, Tint, and Tone

1. Hue. The most basic of color terms and denotes an object’s color. 
2. Shade. A hue to which black has been added. For example, red + black = burgundy.
3. Tint. A hue to which white has been added. For example, red + white = pink.
4. Tone. A colour to which black and white (or grey) have been added.

Figure 1.3 Hue, shade, tint, and tone 

Colour Harmony

The arrangement of the colours in design in the most attractive and effective way for users’ perception.

Figure 1.4 Colour harmony 

Monochromatic 

 To use a colour scheme that is based on a single colour, hue, or variations of that hue. It is hard to make a mistake and create the distasteful colour scheme.

Analogous 

3 colours located right next to each other on the colour wheel.

Complementary 

Colours are opposites on the colour wheel. This scheme is opposite to analogous and monochromatic since it aims to produce high contrast.

Split-Complementary 

Involves the use of three colours. Start with one colour, find its complement and then use the two colours on either side of it. 

Triadic 

Colours are evenly spaced around the colour wheel and tend to be very bright and dynamic. 

The psychology of colour

While perceptions of colour are somewhat subjective, some effects have universal meaning. 

Figure 1.5 Psychology of colour 

1. Warm vs Cool

Warm colours

• Warm colours often evoke feelings of happiness, optimism and energy. 
• However, yellow, red and orange can also have an attention grabbing effect and signal danger or make you take action (think stop signs, hazard warnings and barrier tape). 

Cool colours

• Cool colours are usually calming and soothing but can also express sadness.
•  Purple is often used to help spark creativity as it’s a mixture of blue (calm) and red (intense).

Figure 1.6 Warm vs cool colours 

2. Black

• Black is often used sparingly – such as for text – but it works quite well as a primary colour element (like for backgrounds). 
• Black adds an air of sophistication and elegance, and also mystery, though with much bolder confidence.

Figure 1.7 Black tone poster 

3. White

• As primary, white gives off an impression of clean, virtuous, healthy. 
• White pairs well with just about anything, making it ideal as a secondary colour. 

Figure 1.8 White tone poster 

References provided:

• The fundamentals of understanding color theory
• An Easy Approach to Color Theory in Graphic Design
• 12 colours and the emotions they evoke
• Influence with Design – A Guide to Color and Emotions

---

2.0 Tutorial

During Week 7, we were tasked with initiating and updating our poster development. To begin, I created both hand-drawn and digital sketches as a way to experiment with ideas and shape the visual direction of my poster. These initial drafts allowed me to explore composition, mood, and concept, giving me a clearer vision of how I wanted the final outcome to look.

---

3.0 Practical

Hand drawn sketch

Figure 3.0 Hand drawn sketch 

Digital sketch

Figure 3.1 Digital sketch 

4.0 Reflection

Colour theory is an essential part of any design process, as it helps create visual balance and harmony within an artwork. I’m glad to have gained a deeper understanding of it, especially since it’s been useful when applying colour adjustments and filters to enhance my poster.

This week, I progressed to the sketching stage—mapping out the overall idea and bringing it to life through a digital draft. In the coming weeks, I’ll focus on refining the details to ensure the final design effectively communicates the concept I’m aiming for.