Color Theory for NIFT , NID, UCEED and CEED

Understanding Color theory is an important part of the Design entrance exam preparation. Many questions are based on Color theory. Some questions are asked directly, others indirectly. Let's see how color theory is asked in the exams.

Colour Theory in Design Entrance Exam

Colors not only add spice to our lives but can do the same to your sketch if you know how to use them. The secret to the right color usage is contained in color theory. So, you must understand color theory. The study of how different colors work together and affect human perception is known as Color Theory. If one understands the color theory well, it will help in understanding colors, communicating ideas, messages, emotions, etc.

According to the color wheel invented by Sir Issac Newton, colors may be categorized into THREE groups.

1. Primary red, blue, and yellow.
2. Secondary mixes of primary colors
3. Tertiary or intermediate - mixes of primary and secondary colors

What is a Color Wheel?

The foundation of color theory is based on the color wheel. It consists of Primary colors, Secondary colors, and Tertiary Colors.

• Primary colors: These are colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors. These include red, blue and yellow.
• Secondary colors: There are those colors which can be formed by mixing two primary colors. For example, orange can be formed by mixing red and yellow, green can be formed by mixing yellow and blue, pink can be formed by mixing red and white, etc.
• Tertiary Colors: There are such colors that are formed by mixing a primary color and a secondary color. For Example, mixing red and orange, mixing yellow and green, mixing red and pink, etc.

What are Warm and Cool Colors?

Warm colors include Red, orange and yellow. These colors create a feeling of energy, warmth and happiness. These are often used in advertisements, festivals to attract people.

Cool Colors are colors that create a sense of calmness, peace, trust, and serenity. These are used in resorts, healthcare, environmental design, eco-friendly packaging, etc. Some of the colors include blue, green, and violet.

What are Hue, Value and Saturation?

Now, you need to learn what is hue, value and saturation. 

• Hue - It is an attribute that helps distinguish colors into various types - red, blue, green, yellow, etc. Any color on the color wheel is of a different hue.
• Value - The relative lightness or darkness, or grayscale, is defined by its value. Using the value element, you can create depth, contrast, etc.
• Saturation - The purity or intensity of a color is represented by its saturation. A pure color will be fully saturated in contrast to an impure (desaturated) color. 

Psychological Effect of Colors

Colors are said to affect human emotions and mood. A designer must know about this. Let's check some of the colors and effect on humans.

These are some of the basic concepts related to color theory, which have many other key concepts that you need to learn and master. Other key concepts you will need to learn include warm and cool colors, design harmony, etc.

Type of Questions based on Color Theory

The questions in Design exams, like NIFT, NID and UCEED are asked indirectly. Check how it is asked.

• Colour composition exercises
• Design situation questions
• Creative ability tests
• Fashion and communication design concepts
• Visual Storytelling
• Observation drawing
• Studio and Situation test
•  Visualization questions
• Design sensitivity problems
• Colour relationship concepts