Physical Properties of Colour

As mentioned above, the presence of colour is dependent on light,

on its sources. Therefore, it follows that colour is found on the
spectrum band and is not a physical property of any object. However,
let it be understood that every object has colour quality which
constitutes three physical properties. These physical properties are
hue(s), intensity, and value.
Hue
It is a colour property that refers to its location
to the spectrum. It is also a term or name used on
the various colours found within the spectrum
band. These terms are determinants of the colour
variations in terms of yellow, blue, and red which
happens to be primary hues.
Value
To visual artists, mixing colours is an exciting
process as well as challenging. There is a wide
range of colour tones that can be produced,
including that each colour on the spectrum has
more characteristics other than hues.
Value is the quantity of lightness and darkness
of a colour in a given object. A different quantity of
light and a different wavelength are reflected in all
colours of the spectrum. Thus, the hue of yellow
reflects a large amount of light while violet reflects
a small amount of light.
Intensity

Intensity is sometimes known in the art world

as saturation
or Chroma
which refers to
the quality of
light in a
colour. In this
manner, this
property
becomes
distinct from
value, which
refers to the
quantity of light
 in a colour.

Neutrals

Some objects are black, white or grey which do

not appear in any of the colours in the spectrum
band. There is no colour quality found in them;
however, they merely differ in the quantity of light
(value) which is reflected from them. Since they
are not distinguished as any colour, these tones
are known as neutrals.
But in science, these so called neutrals actually
reflect all the colour waves in a given ray of light.
White may be called as the total addition of colour
since it reflects all the light in an equal degree.
While black is usually identified with absence of
colour, because it results to absorbing all colours
in the surface reflecting none. In absolute black
(as rarely seen) reflect no light at all and
consequently, it has no colour. While in any grey,
it may be considered as impure white because it
partially reflects all the colour waves in the
spectrum. When a great quantity of light is
reflected, the grey is light. Correspondingly, if little
quantity of light is reflected, the three will be a
darker grey. Black, White, Grey
Colour Relationships

Understanding the colour relationships is

partly an indicator of a successful use of colour
especially in the art production process. Let it
be appreciated that each colour has its own
single character and its character is greatly
influenced when such colour is seen
juxtaposed with other colours. These
juxtapositions may be in contrast in varying
degree.
 Warm and Cool colours

As commonly known, colours belong to two

fundamental grouping: warm and cool colours.
Warm colours are in hues of red, orange, and
yellow possessing longer light wavelength and
usually associated with sun or fire. While hues
containing blue, such as blue, green, and violet
with shorter light wavelength and often
connected with sky, water and forest.
These colour association with nature, as
they are identified with warm or cool, is greatly
influenced by perception, thus group
accordingly.
Simultaneous Contrast (Complementary Colour)