Color Worqx

Proportion & Intensity

When colors are juxtaposed, our eyes perceive a visual mix. This mix will differ depending on the proportions of allocated areas.

  • The color with the largest proportional area is the dominant color (the ground).
  • Smaller areas are subdominant colors.
  • Accent colors are those with a small relative area, but offer a contrast because of a variation in hue, intensity, or saturation (the figure).
  • Placing small areas of light color on a dark background, or a small area of dark on a light background will create an accent.
  • If large areas of a light hue are used, the whole area will appear light; conversely, if large areas of dark values are used, the whole area appears dark.
  • Alternating color by intensity rather than proportion will also change the perceived visual mix of color.

Examples of Proportion

dominant color Dominant color
sub-dominant colorsub-dominant colorsub-dominant color Sub-dominant colors
sub-dominant color Accent
proportion and intensity example 1

dominant color Dominant color
sub-dominant colorsub-dominant colorsub-dominant color Sub-dominant colors
sub-dominant color Accent
proportion and intensity example 2

dominant color Dominant color
sub-dominant colorsub-dominant colorsub-dominant color Sub-dominant colors
sub-dominant color Accent
proportion and intensity example 3

dominant color Dominant color
sub-dominant colorsub-dominant colorsub-dominant color Sub-dominant colors
sub-dominant color Accent
proportion and intensity example 4

Continue tutorial, view: Contrast & Dominance