Colour quantity contrast in Itten’s Theory: Spectrophotometry for verifying statements

Authors

  • Agapito Di Tommaso APS P.E.R.SUD
  • Vincenzo Garro Università di Catania & INFN, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
  • Anna Maria Gueli APS P.E.R.SUD
  • Sabina Martusciello Università degli Studi di Napoli, BENECON SCaRL SUN, UNINA, UNISA, UNISANNIO
  • Stefania Pasquale Università di Catania & INFN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23738/ccsj.i82017.02

Keywords:

Colour, Colour quantity contrast, Colour contrast, Itten, Schopenhauer, Complementary colours

Abstract

Colour quantity contrast originates from the quantitative ratio of two or more colours and no color stands out more than another if such report is balanced. Considering how the intensity parameter, defined as the brightness refers to a gray background of medium brightness, the values of the mutual relations between primary and secondary colours of subtractive synthesis: yellow: purple: blue: orange: red: green, reported by Itten that are attributed to Goethe are in order: 9:8:6:3:4:6. It is worth mentioning in this context that a detailed research on this matter leaves rather suppose that the authorship of these values is attributed to Schopenhauer. He however did not base its considerations on the intensity but the amount of energy that reaches the retina of the viewer. The study had as main objective the verification of this statement concerning the relationship between the three primary and three secondary subtractive synthesis colours through the specification of the colour using the spectrophotometric method. The results have confirmed what was expected in terms of quality of performance values of mutual relations of the six colours but showed a quantitative difference than the sestina, 9:8:6:3:4:6, reported by Itten.

Author Biographies

  • Agapito Di Tommaso, APS P.E.R.SUD

    Agapito Di Tommaso was Director of several European packaging printing industries. Now he is colour consultant and his research activity includes a new bottom-up approach in colour matching methodology.

  • Vincenzo Garro, Università di Catania & INFN, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia

    Vincenzo Garro is a junior research fellow in Applied Physics at Catania University. His research activity is aimed to the characterization of historical pigments pure and in mixtures through spectrophotometric and colorimetric analysis and using Raman spectrometry.

  • Anna Maria Gueli, APS P.E.R.SUD

    Anna Maria Gueli is a Professor in Applied Physics at the University of Catania and the Head of PH3DRA (Physics for Dating Diagnostics Dosimetry Research and Applications) laboratories included in the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science through INFN Cultural Heritage Network (CHNet). Her research interests include interdisciplinary approaches to colour-difference evaluation and applied colorimetry starting from optical properties of materials.

  • Sabina Martusciello, Università degli Studi di Napoli, BENECON SCaRL SUN, UNINA, UNISA, UNISANNIO

    Sabina Martusciello is an associate professor of design, Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, ITALY.Dean “Design and Comunication” Degree Course; Scientific Director the Project of Applied Research LANDesign®; Director the International Master “LANDesign/ali-ment-azione/Diaeta Mediterranea”; Board of Directions “BENECON SCaRL Cultural Heritage, Economy, Design”. Eight International International Awards received, including the Mention Premio ADI Compasso D’Oro International Awards 2015 “Design for Food and Local Heritage”.

  • Stefania Pasquale, Università di Catania & INFN

    Stefania Pasquale is a Research Fellow in “Diagnostics for characterisation and dating of archaeomaterials in Cultural Heritage and CHNet IPERION CH.it/E-RIHS networks” at National Institute for Nuclear Physics in Catania. She received a master degree in Sciences for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage from Parma University in 2011. Her research interests are colour science for polychrome works of art characterisation.

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Published

2017-11-13

Issue

Vol. 8 (2017)

Section

Papers

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The "Cultura e Scienza del Colore - Color Culture and Science" journal is registered at the Court of Milan at n.233 of 24.06.2014.

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