Color Mapping

Art 260 / Greg Clayton

Map and organize the colors you own

Sample of Completed Chart — top

Note two sections -- the "Paint on Hand" section, at the bottom.

Complete the Paint on Hand section (this section (#1) is at the top of our current Color Maps...unlike the illustration, below)
Here you list each color you own, and its Munsell color specification. This list is basically an inventory of the colors you have.
Filll this section out first.

Next complete the Hue-Chroma color wheel — the same type wheel that we do our color scheme charting on. (section #2 on our current printed Color Maps)
Here you graphically chart each one of your colors/paints according to their hue-chroma.

For each of your colors (for each tube of paint):

Figure out the hue-position on the wheel. Recall that there are ten hue sections or "neighborhoods" -- each hue having a sort of pie-slice of the chart.
Within each hue section is divided into fine segments, numbered 1-to-10, going clockwise.
The "5" position is always the "pure" or "ideal" hue. For instance "5R" is a primary red hue, while "2R" is a cooler, violet-Red and "9R" is a warmer orange-Red.

Figure out the Chroma position on the wheel.
Look at the printed chart, below. At the "3 o'clock" position the chromas are noted...from zero to ten and above.

Place a circle where your color lies, at the intersection of the hue position and the chroma position.
Then place a number inside the circle to reference your list of colors (tubes of paint).

Alternatives and Suggestions

Glossary | Color Theory Assignments |