Time to Play: Colors that Stay Bright

This exercise will help you see what happens when you mix different hues together.

To use the color mixing tool, click anywhere on the first image to select a warp color, then click anywhere on the second image to select a weft color. You will see the results in the drafts below the images.

Here’s what you should do for the exercise.

Part 1: Mixing Colors in the Same Segment

1. Choose red as the warp color by clicking or tapping on the red part of the color wheel in the first image.
2. Choose any color in the same color-wheel segment as the red for the weft. That’s any color between yellow and magenta, the area outlined in green.
3. Look at the drafts. How bright are the color mixes?

Part 2: Mixing Colors in Different Segments

1. Choose red as the warp color.
2. Choose any color NOT in the same color-wheel segment as red (outside the area outlined in green).
3. Look at the drafts. Are the color mixes brighter or duller than the color mixes in Part 1?
4. Repeat, going around the color wheel from colors close to red to colors far away from red. How do the color mixes change?
5. You should see the color mixes coming out duller and duller as you move around the color wheel, until they are nearly gray at cyan. Do you?

Part 3: Blending Colors Around the Wheel

1. Pick any color in the color wheel as warp.
2. Pick the color opposite it as weft.
3. What color does it blend into?
4. Now, choose other colors as weft, moving around the color wheel until you reach the original color.
5. You should see the color mixes becoming gradually brighter as you move around the color wheel, until you reach the original color. Do you?

Pick a Warp Color

Pick a Weft Color

Color Mixing Results – Fine Blend

Color Mixing Results – Coarse Blend