Color Theory: Understanding Color by Adam Nichols (eBook)

COLOR THEORY -

Understanding Color by Adam Nichols is a comprehensive guide that delves into the intricacies of color theory, making it an essential resource for artists of all skill levels. Adam Nichols, an award-winning concept artist, bringing decades of experience to his art books, offering practical methodologies for applying color theory in various artistic disciplines. The book covers a wide range of topics, from basic color systems and palettes to advanced concepts like color science and lighting. Its influence stems from its ability to simplify complex ideas, making them accessible and actionable for artists of all skill levels, enhancing their applied creative processes and improving their visual vocabulary.

About the Author:

Adam Nichols is an award-winning Australian Concept Artist, Illustrator, and Art Director. With over 20 years of experience, he has worked with renowned companies such as Krome Studios, The Binary Mill, and Halfbrick Studios. Currently, he is the founder and Art Director of SkullStar Studios.

Adam has collaborated with some of the largest international publishers, including LucasArts, Revolution Studios, Konami, EA, Activision, Microsoft, and Atari. His impressive portfolio includes credits on major video games like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Hellboy: The Science of Evil, Fruit Ninja, Clone Wars: The Republic Heroes, Mini Motor Racing, and TY The Tasmanian Tiger. He has also contributed to popular brands such as Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Warhammer 40k, Team Fortress 2, Portal 2, and Ghostbusters.

Throughout his visually diverse career, Adam has focused on the power of color in his work. He has compiled this comprehensive color theory reference book for artists of all skill levels, disciplines, and backgrounds. The book provides simple methodologies for applying color theory, introducing readers to concepts from the ground up. Topics covered include light, color wheels, color schemes, color science, and color perception.

Understanding Color's Contents:

COLOR

• The Color Spectrum
• Light

COLOR BASICS

• Color Systems
• RYB, RGB, and CMYK
• Real Color Wheel
• Munsell's Color System
• Chroma Scale
• Hexadecimal Color Codes
• Spectral Value
• Dithering

COLOR COMMUNICATION

• Metaphorically Speaking: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Black, White

COLOR SCHEMES

• Itten's Color Contrasts
• Warm vs Cool
• Color Variation
• Key

COLOR PALETTES

• Illustration Palettes
• Departmental Palettes
• Art Direction Palettes
• Color Scripts
• Color Palette Breakdown

COLOR SCIENCE

• Electromagnetic Spectrum
• LAB Color Space
• CIE XYZ Color Space
• Gamut
• Gamma
• Color Calibration

COLOR ODDITIES

• Fake Colors
• Most Visible Color
• Color Fatigue
• Color Legibility
• Red at Twilight
• Vibrating Boundaries
• Color Blindness
• Subjective Color
• After-images
• Color Illusions

COLOR AND LIGHT

• Lighting
• Reflection, Refraction, and Absorption
• Surface Quality
• Basic Lighting Terminology
• Basic Lighting
• 3 Point Lighting
• Common Lighting Errors
• Environmental Lighting
• Color Casts
• Volumetrics
• Time of Day

APPENDIX

• Color-Centric Art Movements
• Terminology Index
• Special Thanks
• Recommended Reading

Expand your artistic skill set by learning new ways to understand and apply color. By developing your visual vocabulary, you can continue to see the world differently each day. Remember, color is like cooking—using the wrong ingredient can spoil the whole meal.