Colour is a fundamental property of light and visual perception. It is determined by the wavelength of light that an object reflects or emits. The perception of colour is influenced by the visual system and psychology. Elemental colour refers to colour in its most basic, pure form.
Colour can be described using three main attributes – hue, saturation and brightness. Hue refers to the dominant wavelength of light and corresponds to the everyday colours we are familiar with such as red, yellow, green, blue etc. Saturation refers to the purity or intensity of the hue. Brightness refers to the relative lightness or darkness of the colour.
By manipulating these three attributes, millions of colours can be produced. However, there are also a small set of pure, elemental colours that form the basis for more complex colours. These elemental colours provide a foundation for colour theory and a starting point for understanding colour relationships.
Primary Colours
The primary colours are red, yellow and blue. They are called primary because they cannot be created by mixing other colours together but are instead the colours that all others are derived from.
Red, yellow and blue are considered the elemental chromatic colours. By mixing the primary colours together in different proportions, secondary and tertiary colours can be produced, forming the foundation of the colour wheel and colour theory.
The primacy of red, yellow and blue as elemental colours is based on the trichromatic theory of colour vision. The human eye contains three types of cone photoreceptor cells that respond preferentially to long (red), medium (green) and short (blue) wavelengths of light. All other colours are interpreted by the visual system as combinations of signals from these three cone types.
| Primary Colour | Wavelength Range |
|---|---|
| Red | 620-780 nm |
| Yellow | 570-590 nm |
| Blue | 435-500 nm |
While red, yellow and blue are considered the primary colours, the specific wavelengths that define these colours are not absolute. There is some variation among different colour models. For example, the RGB (red, green, blue) colour model used for computer screens defines red at around 700 nm, green at 546 nm and blue at 435 nm.
When working with paints and pigments, the primary colours have slightly different wavelengths because of the way they absorb and reflect light. Nonetheless, red, yellow and blue form the basic primary triplet for mixing colours.
Secondary & Tertiary Colours
Mixing two primary colours together produces the secondary colours – orange, green and purple. Mixing a primary and secondary colour produces the tertiary colours.
Secondary and tertiary colours have more complex spectral power distributions than primary colours. However, they are still considered pure chromatic colours because they cannot be created by mixing any other colours.
For example, orange contains wavelengths from both the red and yellow parts of the visible spectrum. But orange cannot be reproduced by mixing any other colour together. This makes it elementally unique as a spectral colour.
| Secondary Colour | Primary Colours |
|---|---|
| Orange | Red + Yellow |
| Green | Yellow + Blue |
| Purple | Blue + Red |
The secondary and tertiary colours complete the artists’ basic colour wheel. These six chromatic colours, plus the achromatic colours of black, white and grey, form the elemental colours that all other colours are derived from through mixing and lightening/darkening.
Achromatic Colours
Black, white and grey are considered elemental colours, but they differ from the chromatic colours in important ways. Specifically, black, white and grey do not have specific dominant wavelengths or hue. They vary only in brightness, from the total absence of light in black, to the full reflection of all visible wavelengths in white.
Grey is the perfect neutral tone between black and white. It has no hue or saturation, only intermediate brightness. Achromatic colours are elemental in that they provide reference points for darkness, lightness and neutrality when mixing chromatic colours.
Adding black or white to a chromatic colour produces tints and shades by altering brightness while keeping the original hue. Mixing a chromatic colour with grey reduces saturation and intensity. Achromatic colours therefore have an elemental role in colour mixing alongside the chromatic primaries.
Spectral Colours
Beyond the basic primary, secondary and tertiary colours are the pure spectral colours. These are the colours that directly correspond to specific wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum:
| Spectral Colour | Wavelength (nm) |
|---|---|
| Violet | 380-450 |
| Indigo | 450-475 |
| Blue | 475-495 |
| Cyan | 495-570 |
| Green | 570-590 |
| Yellow | 590-625 |
| Orange | 625-740 |
| Red | 740-770 |
The spectral colours represent the purest forms of chromatic colours. They are elemental colours in that all other hues are mixtures of adjacent spectral colours. For example, a colour perceived as turquoise is a combination of wavelengths from both green and cyan parts of the spectrum.
The cone cells in our eyes do not each respond to only one spectral colour. Rather, their sensitivity ranges overlap across the spectrum. It is the relative stimulation of the long, medium and short cone types that allows the perception of all spectral colours. So while not primary colours, the spectral colours represent the pure essence of hue.
Colour Temperature
Colour also has an elemental temperature scale ranging from warm to cool. Warm colours like red, orange and yellow have long dominant wavelengths which correspond to higher color temperatures (2400K – 5500K).
Cool colours like blue, purple and green have shorter dominant wavelengths corresponding to lower color temperatures (5500K – 9500K). Yellow, with a wavelength of ~575 nm, represents the neutral point between warm and cool.
| Colour | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Red | Warmest |
| Orange | Very warm |
| Yellow | Neutral |
| Green | Cool |
| Blue | Very cool |
| Violet | Coolest |
This elemental colour temperature scale helps describe the psychological impressions and moods associated with different hues. Warm colours feel active, vivid and aggressive. Cool colours feel calming, recessive and serene. Understanding these temperature associations is key for effective use of colour in design.
Properties of Elemental Colours
Beyond the specific colours mentioned, what makes a colour elemental? Some key properties include:
– Purity of hue – Elemental colours have a dominant, singular wavelength without mixing.
– Chromaticity – They possess hue and saturation, unlike achromatic white, black and greys.
– Primacy – Primary colours and spectral colours are most elementally pure.
– Simplicity – Elemental colours are monochromatic, not complex combinations.
– Perceptual uniqueness – Their appearance is distinctly different from all other colours.
– Cannot be created – Elemental colours exist on their own and cannot be mixed from other colours.
– Serve as a base – All other colours are derived from the elemental hues.
Elemental colours represent colour at its purest essence and form the foundation of colour theory, perception, mixing and aesthetics. Understanding these elemental colours is key for any application of colour such as in art, design, marketing, architecture and more.
Cultural Symbolism of Elemental Colours
Because of their perceptual qualities, elemental colours take on symbolic meanings and associations within cultures around the world. Here are some examples:
– Red – Associated with heat, fire, danger, passion, excitement and action. Used widely in signs and symbols to grab attention.
– Yellow – Evokes happiness, optimism, idealism. Also symbolizes caution and cowardice in some contexts.
– Blue – Considered peaceful, tranquil, secure. Often used to represent wisdom, confidence and stability.
– White – Represents purity, cleanliness, virtue and simplicity in many cultures. Used in weddings and religious ceremonies.
– Black – Seen as sophisticated, powerful and strong but also associated with evil, mystery and death in some symbols.
Green – Represents nature, renewal, growth and environment causes. Also associated with finance and wealth.
These symbolic color meanings arise from psychological responses to elemental hues that are shared across cultures. Designers and marketers use these color symbols as a type of visual language to evoke certain moods and connections in an audience.
Applications of Elemental Colour Knowledge
Understanding the science and psychology of elemental colours has many practical applications, including:
Color Mixing – Artists, painters and designers apply primary color theory to mix and create new pigments or digital colors.
Lighting – Interior designers and architects select light color temperatures to set moods, such as cool white light for an airy feel or warm light for coziness.
Signage & Displays – Vibrant, saturated elemental colors attract attention and convey meaning on signage and branded displays.
Printing & Dyeing – The printing and textile industries rely on mixing formulations of elemental color pigments and dyes as the basis for color reproduction.
Vision Science – Researchers study elemental colors’ wavelengths and perception to understand vision disorders and advance display or imaging technologies.
Psychology – Therapists and counselors apply color meanings to promote emotional balance and wellbeing.
Branding & Marketing – Companies strategically use symbolic elemental colors in logos, taglines and advertisements to connect with consumers emotionally.
Overall, elemental color theory provides a framework for manipulating color predictably to serve functional needs as well as symbolic communication and artistic expression needs. Mastering the basics of elemental color gives creatives and professionals an indispensable toolbox for almost any visual field.
Conclusion
The elemental colours – the primary chromatic colours, secondary mixes, achromatic tones, spectral wavelengths and color temperatures – form the foundation of colour perception, aesthetics and use. By studying how these pure, basic colours are seen, processed and interpreted, we gain deeper insight into the nature of colour and how to wield it effectively. Elemental colours serve as building blocks, giving us the power to generate any colour imaginable and imbue our visual world with meaning. Understanding them unlocks the richness, beauty and utility of colour in all facets of life.