Analysis of Colour Application
This paper studies the design concepts in color application of the cover of Foo Fighter’s ‘Wasting Light’. The colors used in the image will first be identified using the RGB standards, after which the categories and attributes, i.e.: a) hue, b) Saturation, and c) tone, will be discussed in detail. Further, the applicability of the laws of the Gestalt theories to the image with be analyzed, followed by an in-depth evaluation of the contrast of the colors. Finally, perceptual effects present in the image will be discussed.
Analysis of Colour Application
The CD cover of Foo Fighter’s 2011 release ‘Wasting Light’ features the images of the band members in a colour collage comprising of Cyan RGB 0-153-255, Magenta RGB 184-0-184, Green RGB 55-167-111, and Red RGB 174-6-46. The title of the cover is also in RGB 174-6-46 while the background is black of RGB 0-0-0. The colours are of the conventional colour category, although unorthodox variations of red, blue and green. The colours can be analyzed based on the common classification based on hue, saturation and tone . All the colours included in the cover are of medium range of all three factors. All the colours are of a darker shade of the original, giving them a dull appearance. The magenta appears to be the brightest of the lot, although, when compared to more common shades of the colour such as RGB 255-0-144. Similarly, the other colours too are darker than standard shades. The tone of each colour is also on the darker level. Further, the saturation of the colours is neither towards the strong end of the spectrum nor the weak one. Although, as stated earlier, the dark backdrop makes the colours appear brighter than they are, the mid-range saturation given them the appearance of transparency. However, as the image is placed on a black background, the contrast with the colours appears to be stark .
The Gestalt or ‘Configuration’ psychological theories developed by Kohler, Koffka , and Wertheimer that have been known to hold true in the field of art and visual communication address several visual laws that influence this picture. The theory suggests that the response towards an object is not attracted by the sum of individual constituents but rather by the entirety . According to this theory, factors such as colour, contrast, texture, tone and contour, impact the perception human beings have when first seeing an image. The Wasting Light cover uses a combination of collages of colours and the images of the band members so that its takes the viewer more effort to process what they are seeing. This is the law of Pragnanz or Good Figure. While the image is distinct from the background, the images within the collage appear to be obscured. The law of proximity and similarity also apply to the figure as the images of the band members as well the different colours appear to be a part of the same group being located next to each other without separation, although the images are of different faces and colours are different too. However, there is no Continuation in the image, as the viewer is introduced to the image as a single block. The colours have no progression in terms of hue or shade and hence, there is no flow or sequence attached to the image.
Contrast plays a major role in the effectiveness of an image. Studies have shown that the contrast of colours in the visuals of an object has a stronger influence on the sense of vision than the size and shape of the object . An object that is in contrast with its background catches the immediate attention of the eye . This is known as the Fixation Reflex. The image here is colourful itself and is placed on a black background. The title too is written in red on a black backdrop. The contrast of the overall picture is light/dark in nature, while the contrast of the image itself is complementary. There is also a noticeable contrast of saturation between the background and foreground picture. Hence, the picture has a high contrast, facilitating high legibility and immediate detection. Other than these categories of contrast, there are no noticeable perceptual contrasts in the picture. The colours chosen for the image are a balanced combination of warm and cool colours, which blue and green being considered cool colours while red and magenta are considered warm. Traditionally, it has been suggested that warm colours inspire excitement while cool colours encourage calm , although studies exists that challenge this claim. Further, is has been suggested by Mikellides that it is the variations in saturation that have a greater impact on the mood of a person than the hue of the colour . Whatever the case may be, the Wasting Light cover seeks to attain a sense of balance and contrast all at the same time. While the main image is in stark contrast with its background, standing out and attaining immediate attention, the colours of the image itself are well balanced and kept at a medium level of hue, saturation and tone. As such, if the image is seeing by itself, it will appear to be subdued. However, seen as a whole, the overall picture provides ample contrast in colour hue and saturation to gain the attention of the viewer.
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