A Subliminal Portal Into The Viewer's Mind
Let's explore the power of symbolic color and how it can be used most efficiently. When you see the color red, what does it make you think of? Blood? Anger? Fire? Passion?
We associate colors with particular objects, as well as the emotions conjured by experiences. And thoughts associated with in this case red things. Color can be universal as a symbol, but it's frequently cultural and often personal. Understanding color as a symbol and an image help to convey content and meaning. It can be a single node of color or an overall pallet or a repeating pattern and can identify a particular emotion. And immediately indicates to the viewer, how they should feel or think about the content of a rendering. We can't ignore the fact that it exists, not as an isolated factor, but part of a larger context.
Color is defined by its relationship to other colors in a rendering. We have intuitive responses to the environment, or a mood cast by a particular grouping of colors, and respond to the literal content colored by the mood the palette implies. A palette change can completely change your perception of meaning, and it can strengthen or weaken your intended message.
Color as a symbol is a powerful player for the designer. And should be considered carefully, especially when used as a focal point in a rendering. Focusing our attention on it empowers that element with importance. You'll need to consider how colors play off one another in the world of your rendering. If you think of colors as personalities, it's easier to understand how a red in one setting Appears loud and boisterous, and in another, just one of the crowd.
Have you ever been to a party where you're perceived as the most vibrant and energetic person in the room? And in another situation, a bit of a wallflower? Colors function similarly. Telling stories and expressing ideas through colors is without question, one of the most valuable skills to hone. Because it provides a subliminal portal into the viewer's mind. We see color as images, so what do they say to us?
