Now, let’s make some experiments. Let’s work digitally or paint on a piece of paper, the effect is the same. We will use light or dark grey rectangles to enhance the effects that we are going to illustrate with the squares.
A white square on a black background will look larger than a black square of the same size on a white background.
A light gray square looks darker on a white background, but the same light gray square will look lighter on a black background.
A red square looks darker and matte on a white background, but the same red square will look lighter and brilliant on a black background.
Let’s continue the experiments with the red color.
First, let’s draw two black squares of the same size and use them as backgrounds, then let’s draw two red squares (same red) inside those black squares, one bigger and one smaller. You will notice that the surface influence the saturation and the lightness of a color. That means the small red square appears to be more intense and slightly darker than the bigger red square.
In our last perception experiment with the red color we will see that, on different colored backgrounds, the color produces different viewing effects as a result of the relationship of contrast that color has with the background colors. You will notice a variation in luminosity, purity or intensity. Let’s proceed!
We already saw earlier the effects of red on white or black backgrounds, now let’s see for the others.
► Red on orange seems dark, matte and lifeless.
► Red on green is loud, visible and luminous.
► Red on blue is intense and brilliant.
► Red on violet has poor visibility.