The color wheel is divided into three categories

The color wheel is divided into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. These colors are considered to be foundation colors because they are used to create all other colors. By combining two of the primary colors, three secondary colors are formed. They are orange, green and violet.

A tint of a color is made by adding white. A shade is made by adding black. Value involves the lightness and darkness of a color. A color is made lighter by adding white and darker by adding black. Each color also has natural value. From lightest to darkest are: Yellow, Orange, Red and Green, Blue and Violet.

If two hues are opposite each other on the color wheel they are considered to be complementary colors. When used together in a design they make each other seem brighter and more intense. (example: red and green)

Intensity is the brightness or dullness of a color. A color can't be made brighter than the way the pigment comes to you in the paint tube. In this example, full strength orange on the left slowly has a little bit of blue (it's compliment added to it). This creates tones of orange. As you progress across the scale you reach neutral in the center because there is too much blue mixed with the orange and it has become a neutral. If you start on the right with the blue and slowly add a little orange you can see tones of blue until you reach the neutral in the center.