Category Archives: Class 26

Class 26 | Tonal Progression

Critique (30 min)

Discussion (15 min)

Understanding Color Systems

Additive Model: The RGB model is used to reproduce the spectrum of visible light. A monitor transmits light in this way. It’s called the additive primary model because the absence of all light is black. To create different colors you must add levels of the primary colors (Red, Green and Blue).

Subtractive Model: The CMY model represents reflected light or the colors you see in printed inks, photographic dyes, and colored toner. CMY is called the subtractive primary model because full values of the primary colors (pure Cyan, Magenta and Yellow) produce black and in order to produce different colors you must reduce the levels of the primaries. The inks filter out certain colors of light while reflecting others. If the ink pigments were perfect, combining cyan, magenta and yellow would produce a pure black. However, the inks are not perfect so black ink (K) is also added in the printing process.

Color Gamut: Because CMYK represents a much smaller range of color than RGB it is impossible to reproduce all the colors that appear on your monitor. When you convert RGB to CMYK in order to reproduce the colors in print, many of the values will change.

Color Harmony:

A palette of hues, shades, and/or tints used to produce pleasing color relationships to engage the viewer and it create a sense of order in the visual experience. Successful, harmonious use of color creates dynamic equilibrium: a balance between monotony and variety.

We will look at formulas for creating harmonious color palettes, but first we need to understand Tonal Progressions.

Tonal Progression

  • Grayscale: progression from black to white in the absence of hue
  • Shade: progression of a hue produced by the addition of black
  • Tint: progression of a hue produced by the addition of white
  • Complements: progression of a hue produced by the addition of its complement

References:

  • Color Harmonies– Interactive Tool
    Experiment with the Monochromatic and Complements buttons.
  • Color Theory Simulation – Interactive Tool
    Experiment with the Learn the Basics > Color Relations and Color Schemes

LAB 1 (15 min)

Digital Progressions Experiments:

Using the files provided, complete the following Progression Studies. You do not need to turn these in, but rather experiment with the progression relationships and use them for inspiration for your Painted Progressions.

* NOTE: It might be helpful to turn on Guides. View > Show > Guides

Shades (shades_progression.psd):

  1. In the PHOTOSHOP Layers Palette, turn down the arrow next to the Shades folder.
  2. Select the layer name Shade Step 1.
  3. Choose the Paint Bucket tool from the Tool Palette and double click on the Foreground Color Square (also in the Tool Palette).
  4. In the Color Picker, choose the Radio Button [B] and select a hue along the top edge of the color ramp. Click OK.
  5. Then apply the color with the Paint Bucket tool to the Shade Step 1 object.
  6. Repeat this process with each Shade Step layer, adding more black at each step.
  7. Your goal is to create 7 evenly graduated steps, based on your visual perception, not the computer’s measurement.

Tints (tints_progression.psd):

  1. In the PHOTOSHOP Layers Palette, hide the Shades Folder by clicking on the eye. Then turn down the arrow next to the Tints folder.
  2. Select the layer name Tint Step 1.
  3. Choose the Paint Bucket tool from the Tool Palette and double click on the Foreground Color Square (also in the Tool Palette).
  4. In the Color Picker, choose the Radio Button [S] and select a hue along the top edge of the color ramp. Click OK.
  5. Then apply the color with the Paint Bucket tool to the Tint Step 1 object.
  6. Repeat this process with each Tint Step layer, adding more white at each step.
  7. Your goal is to create 7 graduated steps.

Complements (complements_progression.ai):

  1. In ILLUSTRATOR choose the Selection Tool from the Tools Palette and Color Guide from the Window Menu.
  2. Click on one of the rectangles with the Selection Tool.
  3. In the Color Guide Palette, select Complementary from the pull-down menu and Show Tints/Shades from the little arrow in the upper right corner.
  4. Click on the Color Wheel icon in the lower right-hand corner to open the Live Color Palette.
  5. Click on the Edit button and then on the Segmented Color Wheel icon.
  6. Drag the circles around the color wheel, making sure you keep them equidistant from each other.
  7. Experiment with increasing and decreasing the percentage of black and white.
  8. Repeat this process for all three progression blends.

** Right-click/Control-click on link to download files and save.

LAB 2 (1 hr 30 min)

Painted Progressions in gouache (or acrylic, colored pencil, cut paper, or digital*):

* Note: if you use a digital application you must have access a quality printer that can accurately reproduce your file.

Complements

  • Based on the digital studies above, create a progression from 1 color to its complement, for example: Yellow to Violet.
  • Create a series of shapes of varying sizes on bristol. You will use scissors to cut out each shape, so don’t worry about making perfect edges in paint.
  • Mix the two colors in varying amounts, increasing and decreasing the saturation of the original color by adding more or less of the complement, until you have created at least equal 7 steps.
  • Note: Consult your color wheel to make sure you working with accurate complements (red-violet complements yellow-green, but not green).

Tints and Shades

  • Create a Tint Progression with your chosen color (same color used for your complement progression above)
  • Starting with the fully saturated hue, create at least 7 steps to white.
  • Then create a Shade Progression with the complement color.
  • Starting with the fully saturated hue, create at least 7 steps to black. You may use black paint for this exercise.

Final Composition (created from the two exercises above)

  • Once you have a full 9×12″ page of shapes, cut out each, assemble and glue a new composition on a fresh piece of bristol.
  • Your composition should demonstrate an obvious tonal progression from one color to its complement, as well as tint and shade progressions from the hue to white and the complement to black, respectively.
  • Experiment with creating a progression of proportions as well– such as a progression of shape (small to large) and interval (variety of space between shapes from broad and tight).

Homework

We WILL be meeting this Thursday, December 13 as a make up for the days missed because of Storm Sandy!

Bring to class:

  • Finished Painted Progressions (Tints, Shades and Complements). We will work on the Final Composition in class.
  • An example of harmonious color combination (your favorite sweater or household object, an advertisement, photograph, book, etc.)
  • Your full set of paints (or color media), and related materials
  • Flashdrive