Visual Elements and Color Theory Fundamentals

Visual Elements: Point, Line and Texture

The point is the smallest visual element. It is a shape and size; this configuration has texture and color as an expressive element. A point can be organized into groups with volume effects and textures.

The line is another basic element of visual expression and is defined as the mark that traces a point across a surface. It produces vertical lines of balance and lifting, while the horizontal produces a visual sensation of calm and relaxation.

Level is defined by its shape, size, color, direction and texture. Contrast, color, size and texture produce overlays and perceptual differences.

Texture is the appearance of a plastic surface: natural texture is present on the surface of elements of nature; structure describes the surface textures of artificial materials that are manufactured.

Chromatic harmony is the balanced relationship between two or more colors. The harmonies of related tones, close on the color wheel, are called analogous harmonies. Complementary harmonies and contrasts are formed by mixing primary and secondary or opposing different colors.

Light, Color Mixing and Perceptual Properties

From a physical point of view, light is an electromagnetic wave that transmits energy in the same way that radio waves or X-rays do. Additive synthesis describes how white light decomposes into several colored lights.

The three primary colors of light are red, green and blue (sometimes extended models also reference violet). They are called primary because they cannot be formed by mixing other lights. If we mix the primary colors of light in pairs, we get additional light colors; mixing all primaries can produce white light.

The eye perceives color by additive synthesis when light sources are combined. When dyestuffs (pigments) are used for dyeing and printing, color mixing is called subtractive synthesis. Paints are mineral- and pigment-based; pigment mixing behaves differently from light mixing. Pigment complementary colors are those whose mixture tends toward a dark or black tone.

Value (or tone) is the quality that identifies a color's degree of lightness or darkness. Saturation is the purity of a color. The color wheel is a circular diagram used to sort and relate the colors contained in the pure light spectrum.

Key Terms and Relationships

• Point: smallest element, can form groups and volumes
• Line: mark across a surface; vertical vs. horizontal effects
• Texture & Structure: natural vs. manufactured surface qualities
• Chromatic Harmony: balanced relationships between colors
• Additive vs. Subtractive: light mixing vs. pigment mixing
• Value & Saturation: lightness/darkness and purity of color