Dark blue is considered both a shade and a color. As a shade, dark blue is a darker version of the color blue. As a color, dark blue occupies its own place on the color wheel and spectrum. So whether dark blue is called a shade or a color depends on the context.
What is a shade?
A shade is created when a color is mixed with black or white to make it lighter or darker. For example:
| Light blue | Blue | Dark blue |
Here we see the color blue in a light, medium, and dark shade. Adding white makes light blue, while adding black makes dark blue.
So dark blue is considered a shade of blue because it is the dark version of the basic blue color. It has more black mixed in compared to regular blue.
What is a color?
A color is a distinct entity occupying a place on the visible spectrum of light. The main colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. These colors combined make up the rainbow and visible light.
In addition to these pure spectral colors, there are also non-spectral colors that have their own distinct appearances, like brown, pink, gray. These are created by blending of multiple pure colors.
While a shade is a variant of a color, a color itself stands alone as a distinct hue. So blue and dark blue, while related, are separate colors.
Dark blue as a shade
When thinking about dark blue as a shade, we are considering its relationship to blue:
| Blue color | Dark blue shade |
| More white added | More black added |
| Light tint | Dark tone |
As a shade, dark blue is in the same blue family but darkened with black. It retains the essential blue character while being a darker variant.
Dark blue as a color
When viewed as a color in its own right, dark blue has unique properties:
– It occupies a specific location on the color wheel between blue and purple.
– It has its own wavelength range of 475-495 nm within the visible light spectrum.
– It elicits distinctive psychological effects – considered sophisticated, dignified, and intellectual.
– It has defining roles in nature, like the deep ocean and night sky.
So as a color, dark blue stands independently as a distinct hue with its own light frequency, associations, and roles. It is not reliant on any relation to blue.
Comparing blue and dark blue
Here is how blue and dark blue compare as both a shade and color:
| Blue | Dark blue | |
|---|---|---|
| Shade | Base color | Darker version of blue |
| Color | Unique spectral color | Unique spectral color |
| Appearance | Brighter, lighter | Darker, deeper |
| Wavelength | 450-495 nm | 475-495 nm |
| Mixing | No black added | Black added |
| Emotions | Openness, calm | Sophistication, dignity |
So while closely related, blue and dark blue exhibit key differences as independent colors.
Uses and meanings
The dual nature of dark blue as both a shade and color gives it multiple symbolic meanings:
As a shade:
– Moodiness, gloominess, depressiveness
– A darker, more morose variant of blue
As a color:
– Luxury, sophistication, exclusivity
– Corporate, technical, nautical associations
– Serious, dignified
So dark blue takes on deeper emotional connotations as a shade of blue, while having more practical and professional associations as its own distinct color.
In language and culture
Dark blue is prevalent in language and culture in both its aspects as a shade and color:
As a shade:
– Having “the blues” refers to feeling sad
– Blue comedy dealing with taboo or dark humor
– The blues music born out of hardship and suffering
As a color:
– Navy blue is the darker blue shade used in military uniforms
– Blue chips stocks are high value, premier investments
– Blue ribbons, like at the county fair, represent first prize status
So dark blue appears in both negative emotional contexts as a shade, and authoritative professional contexts as an independent color.
In design and fashion
As both a versatile shade and color, dark blue sees wide use in design and fashion:
As a shade:
– To create a moody, sleek, or sophisticated mood
– Contrasted with lighter blues in gradients
– Commonly paired with neutrals like white or black
As a color:
– Used in uniforms, tuxedos, and formalwear
– Paired with brown, gray, white in casual looks
– Commonly flattering for people with cooler skin tones
– Used extensively in graphic design for its legibility
So dark blue brings moodiness as a shade of blue, while conferring formality and elegance in design and clothing as its own distinct cool-toned neutral.
Conclusion
While strongly related, dark blue is considered both a shade and its own color:
– As a shade, it is a darker variant of blue made by adding black.
– As a color, it occupies its own position on the color wheel with unique properties.
Context determines whether it is more accurate to refer to dark blue as a shade or a color. But this complex bluish-purple hue defies singular classification, exhibiting duality as both shade and color.
Ultimately, both facets give dark blue a versatile depth that has allowed it to span emotional, professional, and aesthetic realms.