BLOG QUESTION ADV: COLOR THEORY FOR VIDEO

1. What are complementary colors? What are tertiary colors? What is the difference between primary and tertiary colors?

2. How can colors be assigned meaning in a film?

Complementary colors are colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel, and when combined, create the color gray. When used together, complementary colors can be visually appealing as they contrast each other. Tertiary colors are colors that are a combination of primary and secondary colors which create a different hue. The difference between primary and tertiary colors are that primary colors are the standard colors that a system starts with, while tertiary colors are a combination of primary and secondary colors (colors made by mixing primary colors). Colors can be assigned meaning in film depending on what feeling you want to evoke for your audience. For example, blue lighting is associated with nighttime. Main characters are often seen wearing color schemes to make them stand out from the rest of the characters and their settings.