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.