With so many technical colour terms floating around, it can be tricky to know what's what. Friesens to the rescue!

CMYK

Stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. This is the colour model used in print applications.

RGB

Stands for Red, Green, and Blue. This is the colour model used for screens and digital displays.

PANTONE (PMS)

A standardized colour matching system used in printing to ensure consistent colours. Often used for school colours or logos.

SPOT COLOUR

A specific ink used instead of or in addition to CMYK. It's great for bold, consistent colours like school branding.

PROCESS COLOUR

Colours created by mixing CMYK inks during printing. Used for full-colour photos and designs.

HEX CODE

A six-digit code used in web design to represent colours (e.g., #FF5733). Useful for matching digital colours.

HUE

The basic colour family (e.g., red, blue, green).

SATURATION

The intensity or purity of a colour. High saturation = vivid; low saturation = muted.

VALUE

The lightness or darkness of a colour.

CONTRAST

The difference between colours that makes elements stand out. Important for readability.

GRADIENT

A gradual blend between two or more colours. Often used for backgrounds or effects.

COLOUR HARMONY

Combinations of colours that look good together (e.g., complementary, analogous).

COMPLEMENTARY COLOURS

Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel (e.g., blue and orange). They create strong contrast.

ANALOGOUS COLOURS

Colours next to each other on the colour wheel (e.g., blue, blue-green, green). They create a harmonious look.

MONOCHROMATIC

Variations of a single colour using different values and saturation.

COLOUR PROFILE

A set of data that defines how colours appear on different devices or printers.