History of colour:
Egyptians:
Colour was very important to the egyptians, as they used it for cures and illnesses.
There are lists of cures on papyrus, dating back to 1550 BC.
Floors and temples were usually green, like the grass. Blue was important too, the colour of the sky and they would also have different rooms for different colours.
They used colour for therapy, which could be related to present methods of colour therapy.
The Middle Ages
The knowledge and philosophy of colour was reintroduced by Paracelsus, using colour rays for healing along with herbs and music. He was ridiculed for his work around europe, and his manuscripts burnt.
He was a man ahead of his time- many of his methods are used today.
Issac Newton (1642- 1727)
Passed a beam of sunlight through a prism, and 7 different colours came out (dispersion): red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. (the spectrum)
When the light rays were passed through again, white light came out. And when one light passes through, the same colour comes out.
Newton concluded that white light is made up of seven colours.
Colour Symbolism:
| Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate. | |
| Pink symbolises love, romance, and excitement | |
| Beige and ivory symbolise unification. Ivory symbolises quiet and pleasantness. Beige symbolise calm and simplicity. | |
| Joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard. | |
| Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant. | |
| Turquoise symbolises calm. Teal symbolises sophistication. Aquamarine symbolises water. Lighter turquoise has a feminine appeal. | |
| Royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning. | |
| Lavender symbolizes femininity, grace and elegance. | |
| Energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention. | |
| Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor. | |
| Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort. | |
| Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolizes calm. | |
| Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical. | |
| Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western cultures). |
I personally think colour is good. It can affect our mood, behaviour and scientifically it is the first thing we register when we assess anything:
Example:
When you see a fly in the room, if its black or navy, its just a minor irritation. However, if it has yellow stripes, you react differently and perhaps panic, as black and yellow symbolises DANGER.
THE COLOUR BLUE:
Blue Iris (PANTONE 18-3943) - 2008 colour of the year
"Combining the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple, blue iris satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement."
In some cultures, blue is significant in religious beliefs, it brings peace and believed to keep bad spirits away.
Blue conveys 'importance and confidence without being somber or sinister.' American police officers' uniform and navy blue business suits are examples of this.
Darker blue is associated witg intelligence, unity and conservatism.
THE COLOUR RED:
Red is the colour of fire and blood.. it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination. As well as passion, desire and love.
It is an intense colour. It has high visibility, which is why stop signs, stop lights and fire equipment are usually red.
THE COLOUR YELLOW:
"The colour yellow exemplifies the warmth and nuturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance. Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."
Yellow is associated with joy and happiness, intellect and energy.
However, shades of yellow become 'dingy' and visually unappealing. These shades represents decay, sickness and jealousy.
The colour yellow is seen before other colours when against black, this combination is used for warning signs.
ILLUSIONS:
Explanation:
The retina at the back of the eye is lined with light sensitive cells, called cones.
These are sensitive to certain colours of light.
When staring at the cyan part of the flag (is made by the addition of green and blue light) the blue and green receptors of the eye gradually lose their sensitivity.
When suddenly switching to the white screen, all the receptors in the eye are stimulated and send image information to the brain. Since the blue and green receptors have been working over time, they are unable to send as strong a signal as the red receptors. Consequently, where there was cyan, the brain now constructs a red object.
