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All commercial rights reserved. Copyright 1998 by Laurie A. B. Garo.
This module has been classroom tested. To make suggestions and corrections please contact Laurie Garo at lagaro@email.uncc.edu
Abstract: This module contains a series of exercises in which students are asked to identify and create basic colors, demonstrate understanding of perceptual aspects of color, create a variety of flat and process colors to specification within several color systems, and apply color to map symbol design. The module presents background information on the basic principles of color theory and demonstrates how these principles can be practically applied to cartographic design and symbolization. Because color theory is a vast topic, the module is divided into four sections, each with it's own exercise. This module is intended for upper division university cartography or mapping courses, but can be adapted to introductory courses in GIS and Remote Sensing as well (see Module Overview and Instructor's Notes)
Because color is a very visual topic, many graphics are linked throughout
the module. Users should take note that upload times will be longer on
slower processors and home modems. Also, the multitude of colors within
the graphics are only visible on 256 bit or better color monitors. The
exercises which require color mixing may not be possible on monitors with
limited color capabilities. Likewise, color on monitors will be different
than those on printed products. The student is therefore continually required
to identify the numeric combinations of color when creating colors (e.g.,
percentages of cyan, magenta and yellow or red, green and blue).
Color Theory Lessons
Lesson 1: Introduction to Color Theory
I. What is Color?
A. Color
and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
B.
The Rainbow
C.
How do we See Color?
1.
Color as Light (Spectral Color)
2.
Color as Pigment (Reflected Color)
II. The Primary
Colors
A. Additive
Primaries
B.
Subtractive Primaries
Lesson 2: Perceptual Aspects of Color
I. Color and Visual Perception
II. Color
Dimensions
A. Hue
B. Value
C. Chroma
III. Perceptual
Aspects
A.
Visual Perception
1.
Visual Acuity
2.
Color and Size of Area
3.
Color and Light Source
B.
Color Interaction
1.
Color Contrast
a.
Simultaneous Contrast
b.
Successive Contrast
c.
Contrast and Figure Ground
d.
Color Constancy
C.
Subjective Reactions to Color
1.
Color Preferences/User Preferred Hues
2.
Color Combinations/Object-Background
3.
Connotative Meaning/Mood Hues
4.
Advance/Retreat Colors
5.
Color Conventions
Lesson 3: Color Mixing; Production & Printing of Color
I. Review: Color Dimensions
A. Hue
B. Value
C. Chroma
II. Color
Mixing
A. Munsell
B. CIE
C. Pantone
D. RGB Color
System
E.
Color Chart Systems (Process or CMYK Color)
III. Production
& Printing of Color
A. Color Mixing
1.
Flat Color
2.
Process Color
B.
Graded Series
Lesson 4: Color in Symbol Design
I. Color
as a Map Symbol
A. Examples
II. Qualitative
Color Symbolization
A. Methods
to Represent Qualitative Data using Color
B.
Perceptual Considerations
III. Quantitative
Color Symbolization
A.
Methods to Represent Ranked or Quantitative Data using Color
1.
Single Hue Series
2.
Hue Progression
3.
Double-Ended Hue Progression
4.
Full-Spectral Progression
5.
Two Variable Hue Progression
Go to: Table of Contents above
Supporting MaterialsAbout the Virtual Geography Department
Created 2/20/98 by Laurie A. B. Garo. Last updated 6/21/99 by
lg.
The URL for this page is http://www.uncc.edu/lagaro/cwg/color/index.html