Color Theory In Film
How directors and DOP work together using color theory in film.
Cinematography class.
Cinematography class.
Color in film
A filmmaker is a visual artist. To be a great visual artist you need mastery of the color palette. Many of the greatest Directors, Cinematographers, and Production Designers have extensive backgrounds as visual artists themselves. Ridley Scott, for example, cut his visual teeth as the Royal College of Art.
There are many ways to use color in film. We're going to break the key approaches down in this class as well as offer you a free E-book. The ebook is an excellent tool for better understanding the use of the color in film, and beginning to master it. There is a lot to cover, and a lot of cool images to look at. So download your free ebook on E-course and have a look.
A filmmaker is a visual artist. To be a great visual artist you need mastery of the color palette. Many of the greatest Directors, Cinematographers, and Production Designers have extensive backgrounds as visual artists themselves. Ridley Scott, for example, cut his visual teeth as the Royal College of Art.
There are many ways to use color in film. We're going to break the key approaches down in this class as well as offer you a free E-book. The ebook is an excellent tool for better understanding the use of the color in film, and beginning to master it. There is a lot to cover, and a lot of cool images to look at. So download your free ebook on E-course and have a look.
Before the color.
Black and white.
For years movies were shot entirely in black and white. Powerful symbols and contrasting ideas were created in those images.
Color tinting and versions of the two and three strip technicolor process happened in fits and starts. But in 1939, considered a landmark year for Hollywood for many reasons, color photography in film truly came of age. With the explosion of color in film, a new approach to the movie color palette had to be created.
The artists who'd used light and shadow to tell stories now had far more tools at their disposal.
HOW CAN COLOR TELL A STORY?
Simply put, color can affect us emotionally, psychologically and even physically, often without us becoming aware. Color in film can build harmony or tension within a scene, or bring attention to a key themes.
When telling a story, colors can:
Elicit psychological reactions with the audience
Draw focus to significant details
Set the tone of the movie
Represent character traits
Show changes or arcs in the story
When chosen deliberately, a well-placed movie color palette evokes mood and sets the tone for the film. The three main components of a color are hue, saturation, and value.
Simply put, color can affect us emotionally, psychologically and even physically, often without us becoming aware. Color in film can build harmony or tension within a scene, or bring attention to a key themes.
When telling a story, colors can:
Elicit psychological reactions with the audience
Draw focus to significant details
Set the tone of the movie
Represent character traits
Show changes or arcs in the story
When chosen deliberately, a well-placed movie color palette evokes mood and sets the tone for the film. The three main components of a color are hue, saturation, and value.
The three main components of a color
Hue – the color itself.
Saturation – intensity of the color.
Value – The darkness or lightness of a color.
Check out the video below to see how filmmaker David Fincher uses color in film to create emotion:
A well designed movie color palette evokes mood and sets the tone for the film.
Here you can see the exemples how choosing the right colors for the right spots can create emotions of your audience.
Here you can see the exemples how choosing the right colors for the right spots can create emotions of your audience.
What are the types of Color Schemes?
There are a few different ways to achieve a balanced movie color palette.
The complementary color scheme, monochromatic color scheme, analogous color scheme, and the triadic color scheme are all methods we will discuss:
The complementary color scheme, monochromatic color scheme, analogous color scheme, and the triadic color scheme are all methods we will discuss:
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR SCHEMES
A monochromatic color scheme is when a single base "hue" is extended out using shades, tones, and tints. Tints are achieved by adding whites, and shades by adding black.As you can see in this image from The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson and his team utilized a monochromatic color scheme. Light pink gives way to deeper purples. The result keeps the chosen color tone intact, but it allows you to create contrast within it.
The Matrix is another good example of a monochromatic movie color scheme. Nearly every scene set within the world of the matrix utilizes a green color palette. Shades of green permeate everything in the frame to create an unnatural effect.
COMPLEMENTARY COLOR SCHEMES
Complementary color schemes are when two colors from opposite sides of the color wheel are used in conjunction with one another to form the color palettes.
The goal of complementary color palettes is to create a visual 'life' in the frame. Red and green, in the instance of Amelie cited below, both pop more in the presence of their complementary color.
No matter the color selection, complementary colors combine warm and cool colors to produce a high-contrast, vibrant tension in the film.
Orange and blue are complementary colors used in many blockbusters.
The goal of complementary color palettes is to create a visual 'life' in the frame. Red and green, in the instance of Amelie cited below, both pop more in the presence of their complementary color.
No matter the color selection, complementary colors combine warm and cool colors to produce a high-contrast, vibrant tension in the film.
Orange and blue are complementary colors used in many blockbusters.
ANALOGOUS COLOR SCHEMES
Analogous color schemes utilize colors that are next to one another on the complementary color wheel. They tend to occur in nature and create a harmonious feeling that is pleasing to the eye.
In general when creating an analogous color scheme, one color is chosen to dominate, a second to support, and a third (along with blacks, whites and grey tones) to accent.
In general when creating an analogous color scheme, one color is chosen to dominate, a second to support, and a third (along with blacks, whites and grey tones) to accent.
TRIADIC COLOR SCHEMES
A triadic color scheme is when three colors that are evenly spaced around the complementary color wheel are used in conjunction.
One color in the triadic colors scheme is chosen to be the dominant one with other two used in complementary fashion.
One color in the triadic colors scheme is chosen to be the dominant one with other two used in complementary fashion.
How to use color schemes effectively
There are many ways to create symbolism in a film, but using different types of color schemes might be one of the most effective.
Even if the audience isn't entirely conscious of the symbolism coming from the color palette (like maybe they are with discordant color schemes) they will be affected by it.
There are many ways to create symbolism in a film, but using different types of color schemes might be one of the most effective.
Even if the audience isn't entirely conscious of the symbolism coming from the color palette (like maybe they are with discordant color schemes) they will be affected by it.
Conclusion
While many movie color schemes can exhibit a "universal" effect on audiences, there's really no magic bullet or "right" answer when it comes to selecting your movie color palette.
Ultimately it's up to the filmmaker to define the implications of the film palette. With that said, looking to universal color theory is an all important first step.
While many movie color schemes can exhibit a "universal" effect on audiences, there's really no magic bullet or "right" answer when it comes to selecting your movie color palette.
Ultimately it's up to the filmmaker to define the implications of the film palette. With that said, looking to universal color theory is an all important first step.
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