Color in

Landscaping
By C. Kohn
Agricultural Sciences
Waterford WI
Color
 Coloris the difference in the visual appearance
of objects due to how they reflect light into a
person’s eyes.
 Different objects appear to have different colors
because of the wavelengths of the light they reflect.

 Inorder to be seen, an object must reflect

visible light.
 Light is actually one of many kinds of
electromagnetic radiation.
 Radiation is any kind of moving energy.
 There are many kinds of electromagnetic radiation,
ranging from visible light to AM and FM radios waves,
to X-rays and microwaves.
 Electromagnetic Radiation
 Electromagnetic radiation consists of two properties – the
size of the wavelengths and intensity.

 The wavelength of radiation (or frequency) is a measure of

how are apart the peak of each wave of energy is from the
peak o the next wave.
 The human eye can detect electromagnetic radiation whose
waves are 390-700 nanometers apart.
 A nanometer is one billionth of a meter.

Source: http://www.columbia.edu/~vjd1/electromag_spectrum.gif
Electromagnetic Intensity
 Electromagnetic
intensity is a measure
of how much radiation is being emitted
from a source.
 For example, a 100 watt incandescent light
bulb and a 100 watt black light will each
emit the same intensity of light.
 However, the 100 watt incandescent bulb
will appear brighter because it is detectable
by our eyes (even though both bulbs are
emitting the same intensity of radiation).
Radiation & Color
 Color
is detectable by our eyes because we
have specialized nerves in our eyes called
cones.
 Cones detect light within specific wavelength
ranges.

 Most people have three kinds of cones.

 Blue cones have maximum stimulation by light
with a wavelength of 420 nm, Green cones by
light with 530 nm, and Red cones by light with a
wavelength of 560 nm.
 The color of an object depends on the size of
the wavelength it reflects back into the viewer’s
eyes.
 Thethree kinds of cones in our eyes are each
stimulated by different wavelengths of light.

Source: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vision/colcon.html#c1
Beyond blue, green, and red.
 Weobviously see more than just blue, green,
and red colors.
 The wide range of colors that people can
detect is a result of which cones are stimulated,
and to what extent they are stimulated.
 For example, the
color yellow is
created when
both green and
red cones are
stimulated to
almost an equal
extent.

Source: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vision/colcon.html#c1
Undetectable Colors
 When the wavelength of electromagnetic
radiation is greater than 700 nm or less than
390 nm, our eyes are unable to detect this
radiation.
 That radiation is still occurring, but our eyes are
not able to detect it.
 This is similar to a dog whistle – we cannot hear
this whistle when it is blowing, but sound is still
being produced (as evidenced by the fact that
a dog can hear it).
 Similarly, if we play the lowest key on a piano,
we can hear it but a dog cannot.
Color, Summarized
 Color is the result of the different kinds of
cones in our eyes becoming stimulated in
varying ways by a very specific and narrow
band of radiation, resulting in our brain
“painting” what we see so as to create the
sensation that each of these objects has a
different appearance.
 Inreality, it is our brains that create the color of
an object (not the object itself) based on the
wavelength of light it reflects.
 Things that appear “blue” to us do so because
the light reflected from that object stimulated
more of our blue cones than our red and green
cones.
Properties of Color
 Color has multiple properties, including…
 Hue – this is the actual color (e.g. green, blue, red, yellow,
etc.).
 Value – this is how light or dark the color is (e.g. dark green
or light red). Value can have shade or tint.
 Shade is a hue that has been darkened; e.g. Navy is a
shade of blue.
 Tint is a hue that has been lightened; e.g. pink is a tint of
red.
 Tone is created by the addition of gray to create a
“dusty appearance”; e.g. country blue is a tone of blue.
 Intensity – intensity is how ‘strong’ the color appears to us.
 E.g. if gray has been added to a color, it will appear
muted and duller than if that hue exists in its purest form
(such as ‘fire engine red’).
Originally found at http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-theory-intro.htm#complementary
 Hue
Hue is the descriptive name of the
color (e.g. what you see as the name
on the side of the crayon).
 Hues are organized
by using a color
wheel, which
consists of
twelve hues.

Source: http://cios233.community.uaf.edu/files/2011/10/color_wheel.gif
 Color Wheels
The primary colors on a color wheel
are red, yellow, and blue.
 These colors are spaced
equidistantly on the
color wheel.
 In design, they
cannot be
created by
mixing any
other colors.

Source: http://cios233.community.uaf.edu/files/2011/10/color_wheel.gif
 Color Wheels
The secondary colors on a color
wheel are orange, green, and violet.
 These colors are also spaced
equidistantly on the
color wheel.
 These colors are
created by
mixing two
primary colors.

Source: http://cios233.community.uaf.edu/files/2011/10/color_wheel.gif
 Color Wheels
 The tertiary colors on a color wheel are
the colors created by mixing a primary
and a secondary color.
 These colors are
hyphenated and
the primary color
is always listed
first.
 E.g. Red-orange
and blue-green
are examples of
tertiary colors.

Source: http://cios233.community.uaf.edu/files/2011/10/color_wheel.gif
Color wheel categories
 Thecolor wheel can be broken into two
kinds of categories.
 Advancing/Warm Colors
are those between
red-violet and
yellow.

 Receding/Cool
Colors are those
between yellow-
green and violet.

Source: http://operationwritehome.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/warm-and-cool.jpg
 Warm Colors
 Advancing/Warm colors appear
to move toward the viewer.
 A viewer’s brain will associate these
colors with warmth, aggression, or
excitement.
 They can also seem cheerful or
happy.
 They tend to create a more informal
look for a landscape.
 Warm colors tend to make an
object look larger.
 If overused, warm colors can evoke
a sense of irritation.

Source: http://www.beautyhows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/How-to-Choose-Eyeshadow-Colors-%E2%80%93-Warm-and-Cool-Colors.jpg
 Warm Colors
 Receding/Cool colors appear
to move toward the viewer.
A viewer’s brain will associate
these colors with a sense of
passive coolness.
 They can also seem restful,
peaceful, soothing, and
sometimes even melancholy and
depressing if overdone.
 Cool colors tend to make an
object look smaller.
 They tend to create a more
formal look for a landscape.

Source: http://www.beautyhows.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/How-to-Choose-Eyeshadow-Colors-%E2%80%93-Warm-and-Cool-Colors.jpg
 Warm Color Scheme

Source: http://ebepp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/small-backyard-landscaping-165.jpg
 Cool Color Scheme

Source: http://procutlandscaping.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/landscape-design-rockland-county.jpg
Harmony of Color
A color wheel can be used to determine
which colors can be grouped together
to create a sense of unity and harmony.
 Colors that harmonize with each other do
not “clash”.
 Imagine a well-selected clothing outfit – if
you would wear a combination of colors,
those are probably colors that harmonize
with each other.
 Clothing that appears gaudy to a viewer
may likely consist of colors that do not
harmonize with each other or with the
person’s skin tone or hair color.
Color Harmony Groupings
Thereare multiple kinds of color
harmonies:

Achromatic Color Harmony consists

of grouping neutral colors without any
hues.
 This
would include black,
gray, white, and any colors
that do not appear on the
color wheel.

Source: http://myworldofcolour.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/all_harmonies-021.jpg
 Monochromatic Color
 Monochromatic color harmony consists
of grouping different values of one hue.
 For example, if a color
scheme consisted of
pink, mauve, red,
burgundy, black,
white, and gray.
 Monochromatic
color harmony evokes
a sense of formality
and professionalism.

Source: http://taylors2ddagnes.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/how-to-choose-eyeshadow-colors-e28093-monochromatic-colors.gif
 Monochromatic Color Harmony
 This landscape consists primarily of
values of green hue and neutral colors.

Source: http://www.caes.uga.edu/applications/publications/files/html/B1396/images/Figure%206.JPG
 Analogous Color
 Analogous color harmony is created when
adjacent hues on the color wheel are used.
 Analogous color harmony involves only one
primary color which dominates the selection.
 Analogous color creates a sense of serenity and
comfort.
 Analogous color schemes
require a strong level of
contrast and need a third
achromatic color (black,
white, or gray) to accent
the selection.

Source: http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-theory-intro.htm#complementary
Analogous Color
The colors used in the flowers are all
red, pink, or red-violet.

Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PfFpZ6f4bTc/Tar5abRUbJI/AAAAAAAAAE0/Rh5gyAbbhJw/s1600/curb-appeal-1.jpg
 Complementary Color
 Complementary Color Harmony is
created when hues are used that are
opposite from each other on the color
wheel.
 Thiscould include blue and orange, purple
and yellow, or red and green.
 Complementary colors
create a sense of vibrancy
and enthusiasm (which is
why they are so often used
as collegiate colors and for
pro-sports teams).

Source: http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-theory-intro.htm#complementary
 Complementary Color Harmony
This landscape is dominated by
yellow and purple hues.

Source: http://www.simplebynaturelandscape.com/wp-content/gallery/residential-landscape-design/flower-landscape-design.jpg
 Split-Complementary Color
 Split-Complementary Color Harmony consists of a hue
and the two hues on either side of the hue opposite this
first hue.
 For example, red would be paired with yellow-green and
blue green.
 This harmony creates a strong sense of visual contrast,
allowing the colors to stand out.
 However, this does not create the same sense of
‘tension’ as the standard
complementary color harmony.
 This makes it ideal for situations in
which a business needs to stand
out but appear professional, such
as a restaurant.
 Split-complementary is a good
beginner’s choice because it is
difficult to get wrong.

Source: http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-theory-intro.htm#complementary
 Split-Complementary Color
This landscape is dominated by red,
yellow-green, and blue-green values.

Source: cordinglandscape.com
 Triadic Color
 Triadic color harmony consists of group
three hues that are equidistant from
each other on the color wheel.
 Thiscould be as simple as red, blue, and
yellow or more complicated, such as yellow-
orange, red-violet, and
blue-green.
 Triadic color harmonies
also create a sense of
vibrancy even if pale or
unsaturated colors are
used.

Source: http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-theory-intro.htm#complementary
 Triadic Color Harmony

Source: http://www.pwconsole.com/content/images/complimentary%20orange%20and%20blue.jpg
 Square Color Harmony
 Square color harmony consists of four
colors, all equidistant from each other
on the color wheel.
 Forthis scheme to work,
one color must be
dominant over the
other three.
 Close attention must
be used when
balancing warm and
cool colors.

Source: http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-theory-intro.htm#complementary
 Rectangular Color Harmony
 Rectangular color harmony consists of four
colors separated by two different distances (e.g.
two sets of hues each one color apart separated
from the other set by three colors).
 This scheme requires more
skill and works best if one
color is dominant
over the other three.
 The balance between
warm and cool colors
must be kept in
consideration.
 This scheme offers
possibility for wide
variation.

Source: http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-theory-intro.htm#complementary
 Rectangular Color Harmony
This landscape is dominated by
yellow, green, red, and violet.

Source: http://qualitylandscapedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Front-Yard-Landscape-Designs.jpg