Applying Color Theory to Digital Media and Visualization

Abstract

This course reviews the visual impact of specific color combinations and provides practical suggestions on digital color mixing for visualization.The course begins by describing the red, green, Blue (RGB) color model of color computer monitors (additive color) and the cyan, magenta, yellow and key black (CMYK) color model of printers and other output devices (subtractive color) and how to move between these two color models and other color models. Then it reviews color gamut, explaining that a color gamut and color model combine to define a color space, describes types of color systems such as the Munsell color system and the Pantone color-matching system, and introduces the color wheel and how to work with it to create digital media and visualizations.Other topics include: digital color application illustrated by digital media and visualization examples inspired by artistic movements such as Pointillism, Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, and Color Field Painting; concepts introduced by Johannes Itten for successful color combinations and Josef Albers for understanding the interaction of color; and how color theories and tools are applied actual visualization projects.The course concludes with a hands-on workshop session where attendees can work with online color scheme tools to build visualization color maps followed by a review of additional reading on applying color theory.