The Emotions of Colours

Much has been said about words and pictures that evoke various emotions amongst us. But, lesser known is the significance of colours in evoking powerful emotions and perceptions therein.

A colour is basically a part of the spectrum – the visible light range and every colour has got a distinct value and wavelength. It is this varying attribute that generate various effects to the human eye thereby eliciting varied emotions through their attributes. It is the ability of the designer to perceive these effects and make the best use of colours in whatever the discipline the application demands.

What makes a colour so powerful that it could affect human emotions? The answer simply put is vibrancy. Vibrancy of a colour is its intrinsic property that shows how dark or light a colour is. But, not every colour has the same vibrancy; not even the shades of the same colour. Hence, it is quite tricky to analyse the best possible combination of colours if they are used in groups to create a powerful effect. Colours with brighter shades are said to be more energetic whereas the darker shades offer a more soothing feel. At the same time, hues with brighter shades are more advancing compared to the lighter shades that are receding in the background. Let us look at some of the colours and their possible effects to the human emotions.

Red

A passionate colour, Red is associated with both passion and war. It is a colour of love and energy. Also, known as an aggressive colour, it is said to increase blood circulation and metabolism. The brighter shades of Red are used for passionate feel whereas the darker shades of it are mostly used as an emphasis of power.

Yellow

A happy and friendly colour, Yellow is also used to signify intellect. It is one of the liveliest colours in the warm colour scheme. Yellow is said to be stimulating colour when used as a combination with Red. The darker shades of Yellow that border towards Gold are used as a symbol of antiquity, while the brighter shades are symbolic to summer season.

Green

Most commonly used to signify prosperity and freshness, Green is also a colour of nature and everything associated with it. Most of the products are packaged in Green colour to indicate the organic nature of the product. Green is a cool colour and the lighter shades are said to provide the essence of tranquillity and is used widely in colour therapy sessions. The colour also popularly indicates money and wealth.

Blue

The colour of skies and water, Blue is probably one of the popular colour used with almost similar emotions and meanings across various cultures. Also, the darker shades are used to portray financial institutions in branding as it projects a trustworthy feel.

Lighter Blues are refreshing and lively, whereas darker shades of the colour represent the skies during night and at one point of time were used as a representative of prime colours along with Yellow.

Whatever be the case, colours do play a prominent role in our everyday lives and affect us in various ways. They have come a long way from being used just as an element of artistic mediums and have become an integral part of us.