Major Project Supporting Material Vol 4 by Eleanor Maclure

Colourful Language

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL VOLUME 4

Eleanor Maclure

Colourful Language

LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION MA GRAPHIC DESIGN PART TIME PERSONAL TUTOR: JOHN BATESON

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL VOLUME 4

Eleanor Maclure

Photographing Colour

Photographing Colour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; References

Friday Colour Series by Jennifer Young

Autumn

Red, White & Blizzard Blue

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Brass & Gold

White

Reference: STYLE, C., 2010a. Jennifer Youngâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Friday color series. Trendland blog, [blog] 11 August, Available at: <http://trendland.net/2010/08/11/jennifer-young-firdayscolor-series/> [Accessed 12/11/10].

Photographing Colour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; References

Friday Colour Series by Jennifer Young

Carmine Pink & Mustard

Wood

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Green & Black

Blue & Orange

Photographing Colour – References

Stolen White Goods, Artist’s Book by Andrew Savage

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Reference: SAVAGE, A., 2005. Stolen white goods. Birmingham : Ikon Gallery.

Photographing Colour – References

Natural Matching System Project by Tattfoo Tan NMS—Nature Matching System was developed by Tattfoo as a reminder to consume your daily recommended doses of color. The shades of color displayed at farmers’ markets are more than skin deep, reflecting the inner potential of every fruit and vegetable; intense colors might even be called nature’s nutrition labels. They get many of their colors from phytonutrients, compounds that play key roles in health and reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. The more colors come together at a meal, the better. Sadly, marketers of junk food apply the same technique used by nature to pollinate seed to their nutrition-deprived product. Color is a device that can do good or be deceptive and ensure the pollination of unhealthy eating habits. The colors on the placemat shown below are all actual food colors, taken from photographs of various fruits and vegetables. Match your meal to the placemat—it is truly a rainbow connection.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Reference: Natural Matching System, 2011. [online] Available at: http://www.tattfoo.com/projects.html [Accessed 02/04/11].

Photographing Colour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; References

Travelling Still by Rob Carter

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Reference: CARTER, R., 2008. Travelling Still. London : Rob Carter.

Photographing Colour – References

Colour Fields by Wolfgang Tillmans

Reference: TILLMANS, W., Solo Exhibition at The Serpentine Gallery, 26th June – 19th September 2010.

Photographing Colour in Context

Colourful Objects

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Photographing Colour in Context

Test Photographs for Objects with the Same Name as a Colour

Apple

Cherry

Mushroom

Orange

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Grass Green

Sky Blue

Photographing Colour in Context

Test Photographs for Objects with the Same Name as a Colour

Lemon

Orange

Cameo

Brick

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Oregano

Thyme

Sage

Photographing Colour in Context

Test Photographs for Objects with the Same Name as a Colour

Bluebell

Hyacinth

Cornflower Blue

Hyacinth

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Stone

Lichen

Grass Green

Photographing Colour in Context

Test Photographs for Objects with the Same Name as a Colour

Copper

Rust

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Moss Green

Daffodil

Apple Green

Photographing Colour in Context

Test Photographs for Objects with the Same Name as a Colour

Banana

Rose

Lemon

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Olive

Mushroom

Lavender

Chestnut

Photographing Colour in Context

Test Photographs for Objects with the Same Name as a Colour

Tomato

Rust

Terracotta

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Magnolia

Brick

Avocado

Plum

Photographing Colour in Context

Test Photographs for Objects with the Same Name as a Colour

Cherry

Lime

Orange

Grape

Photographing Colour in Context

Instances Where You Would Use a Colour Term as an Identifier

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Photographing Colour in Context

Instances Where You Would Use a Colour Term as an Identifier

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

List of Descriptive Colour Names Adobe Algae Almond Amaranth Amber Amethyst Antique Gold Apple Apple Green Apple Red Apricot Aquamarine Army Green Military Green Ash Asparagus Aubergine Avocado Azure Bahama Blue Banana Barley Barn Red Battleship Grey Beech Berry Biscuit Bisque Bittersweet Blanched Almond Blood Orange Blood Red Bluebell Blueberry Blush Rouge Bottle Green Brass Brick Brick Red British Racing Green Bronze Bubblegum Pink

Burgundy Butter Buttercup Buttermilk Butterscotch Camel Cameo Camouflage Green Canary Yellow Candy Apple Red Candy Pink Candyfloss Pink Cantaloupe Cappuccino Caramel Caribbean Blue Carnation Carnation Pink Carnelian Carolina Blue Carrot Carrot Orange Cayenne Cayenne Green Celadon Celery Chamois Charcoal Cherry Chestnut Chocolate Chrome Cinnamon Citrine Citron Claret Clay Clover Coal Cobalt Cobalt Blue Cocoa Coffee

Copper Coquelicot Coral Corn Cornflower Cornflower Blue Cornsilk Cranberry Cream Daffodil Dark Chocolate Delft Blue Denim Dijon Dodger Blue Dove Duck Egg Blue Dusk Earth Easter Egg Blue Ebony Eggshell Emerald Emerald Green Evergreen Fern Fern Green Fire Engine Red Flamingo Pink Flax Flesh Forest Forest Green Frog Green Fruit Punch Fuchsia Fuchsia Pink Garnet Geranium Ghost White Ginger Gold Goldenrod

Golf Green Granite Grape Grapefruit Grass Green Gunmetal Hazel Heather Heliotrope Henna Highlighter Green Honey Honeydew Hospital Green Hyacinth Ibis Ice Ice Blue Ink Ivory Jade Jet Jet Black Jungle Green Key Lime Kiwi Lapis Lazuli Latte Lavender Lavender Blue Lawn Green Leaf Green Lemon Lemon Yellow Lemongrass Lilac Lime Lime Green Limeade Linen Lipstick Red Loden Magnolia

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Mahogany Maize Malachite Mandarin Mango Maraschino Mardi Gras Purple Marigold Mars Orange Mazarine Meadow Mediterranean Melon Merlot Midnight Midnight Black Midnight Blue Milk Chocolate Mint Mint Green Mint Cream Moccasin Mocha Moss Moss Green Mud Mud Brown Muddy Brown Mulberry Mustard Mustard Yellow Myrtle Night Niveous Oatmeal Ocean Ocean Blue Ocean Green Olive Olive Green Olive Brown Olivine Opal

Orange Orange Peel Orchid Oyster Pacific Blue Papaya Whip Paprika Parrot Green Pea Green Pea Soup Peach Peach Puff Peacock Peacock Blue Pear Pearl Peppermint Peridot Periwinkle Persimmon Petrol Petrol Blue Pewter Pine Pine Green Pink Lemonade Pistachio Pitch Black Platinum Plum Pool Poppy Porphyry Primrose Puccoon Pumpkin Putty Rainforest Green Raspberry Raven Robin Egg Blue Rose Rose Pink

Ruby Rust Rust Brown Saddle Brown Saffron Sage Salad Salmon Salmon Pink Sand Sangria Sap Green Sapphire School Bus Yellow Sea Sea Blue Sea Green Seafoam Seaweed Sepia Shamrock Green Shell Seashell Sherbet Green Silver Sky Sky Blue Slate Slate Blue Slate Grey Slime Smoke Snow Sorrel Crab Apple Spearmint Spindrift Sea Mist Spring Spring Green Spring Bud Spruce Green Squash

Steel Steel Blue Sterling Stone Strawberry Strawberry Pink Suede Sulphur Summer Green Summer Sky Sunflower Sunshine Sunshine Yellow Swamp Green Tangerine Tea Green Tea Rose Teal Teal Blue Teal Green Terracotta Thistle Toffee Tomato Topaz Tree Green Turf Turquoise Turtle Green Vanilla Verdigris Violet Walnut Water Watermelon Wheat White Smoke Wine Wintergreen Wisteria

Say What You See

Long List of Descriptive Colour Names to Photograph Almond Amber Amethyst Apple Green Apricot Aquamarine Aubergine Avocado Azure Barley Beech Berry Biscuit Blood Red Bottle Green Brass Brick Brick Red Bronze Bubblegum Pink Burgundy Camel Canary Yellow Candyfloss Pink Cappuccino Caramel Charcoal Cherry Chestnut Chocolate Cinnamon Citrine Claret Cobalt Blue Cocoa Coffee Copper Coral Corn Cornflower Blue Cranberry Cream

Denim Blue Dove Grey Duck Egg Blue Earth Brown Ebony Emerald Emerald Green Fern Green Fire Engine Red Flamingo Pink Flesh Forest Fuchsia Garnet Ginger Gold Granite Grape Grass Green Gunmetal Heather Honey Ice Ice Blue Ivory Jade Jet Black Jungle Green Kiwi Latte Lavender Leaf Green Lemon Lilac Lime Green Linen Magnolia Mahogany Maize Malachite Mandarin

Marigold Melon Midnight Midnight Black Midnight Blue Mint Mint Green Mocha Moss Mustard Oatmeal Olive Orange Orchid Oyster Paprika Parrot Green Pea Green Peach Peacock Blue Pear Peppermint Green Periwinkle Petrol Blue Pewter Pine Pine Green Pistachio Pitch Black Platinum Plum Primrose Yellow Pumpkin Putty Raspberry Raven Rose Ruby Rust Saffron Sage

Salmon Sand Sapphire Sea Blue Sea Green Shell Seashell Silver Sky Blue Slate Slate Blue Slate Grey Snow White Steel Steel Blue Stone Sulphur Tangerine Terracotta Thistle Toffee Tomato Topaz Turquoise Verdigris Violet Walnut Wheat Wine

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

List of Non-Compound Descriptive Colour Names to Photograph Almond Amber Amethyst Apricot Aquamarine Aubergine Avocado Azure Barley Beech Berry Biscuit Brass Brick Bronze Burgundy Camel Cappuccino Caramel Charcoal Cherry Chestnut Chocolate Cinnamon Citrine Claret Cocoa Coffee Copper Coral Corn Cranberry Cream Ebony Emerald Flesh Forest Fuchsia Garnet Ginger Gold Granite

Grape Gunmetal Heather Honey Ice Ivory Jade Kiwi Latte Lavender Lemon Lilac Lime Linen Magnolia Mahogany Maize Malachite Mandarin Marigold Melon Midnight Mint Mocha Moss Mustard Oatmeal Olive Orange Orchid Oyster Paprika Peach Pear Periwinkle Pewter Pine Pistachio Platinum Plum Pumpkin

Putty Raspberry Raven Rose Ruby Rust Saffron Sage Salmon Sand Sapphire Shell Seashell Silver Slate Steel Stone Sulphur Tangerine Terracotta Thistle Toffee Tomato Topaz Turquoise Verdigris Violet Walnut Wheat Wine

Say What You See

Short List of Descriptive Colour Names to Photograph Almond Amber Amethyst Apricot Aquamarine Aubergine Avocado Barley Beech Berry Biscuit Brass Brick Bronze Burgundy Cappuccino Caramel Charcoal Cherry Chestnut Chocolate Cinnamon Citrine Claret Cocoa Coffee Copper Coral Corn Cranberry Cream Ebony Emerald Flesh Fuchsia Garnet Ginger Gold Granite Grape Gunmetal Heather

Honey Ice Ivory Jade Kiwi Latte Lavender Lemon Lilac Lime Linen Magnolia Mahogany Maize Mandarin Marigold Melon Mint Mocha Moss Mustard Oatmeal Olive Orange Orchid Oyster Paprika Peach Pear Periwinkle Pewter Pine Pistachio Platinum Plum Pumpkin Putty Raspberry Rose Ruby Rust

Saffron Sage Salmon Sand Sapphire Shell Silver Slate Steel Stone Sulphur Tangerine Terracotta Thistle Toffee Tomato Topaz Turquoise Violet Walnut Wheat Wine

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Final List of Descriptive Colour Names to Photograph Sequenced by Hue Almond Cameo Cream Champagne Shell Oyster Eggshell Flesh Peach Salmon Copper Rose Melon Raspberry Fuchsia Cherry Tomato Brick Terracotta Paprika Cinnamon Rust Orange Ginger Apricot Saffron Amber Marigold Gold Honey Caramel Sand Biscuit Mustard Primrose Lemon Lime Pistachio Mint Jade Aquamarine Turquoise Avocado Sage

Olive Moss Toffee Chocolate Coffee Cocoa Aubergine Plum Orchid Claret Wine Grape Amethyst Lavender Lilac Heather Violet Denim Slate Charcoal Cappuccino Mocha Walnut Chestnut Oatmeal Putty Stone Mushroom

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Test Shots

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Photographing Objects that give Descriptive Names to Colours

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Say What You See

Introduction to Say What You See Book Since we developed the use of language, we have borrowed words from things in the world around us to describe the colours that we see. Even what we now think of as abstract colour terms like ‘black’, originally referred to something else like ‘night’. The word for pink originally came from flowers known as pinks (from the genus Dianthus) due to their frilled petal’s relation to the 14th century verb ‘to pink’, still used today in the term ‘pinking sheers’. Our language has evolved dramatically since then and, as with so many words, the ties to its origin have virtually been lost. Far removed from its beginnings, the word ‘pink’ is now widely understood as referring to the rosy band of hues ranging from salmon to magenta. Of the eleven basic colour terms that we have in English, only orange is still regarded as descriptive, attributed to the hue of a ripe orange. Originally derived from Sanskrit, the word first appeared in English, in the 14th century, after the Persian and Arabic form, nāranj, was adopted by European languages. Compared to the millions of hues our eyes can detect, our colour vocabulary is startlingly limited. Despite appearing to be well defined and understood, our basic colour terms are open to a surprising amount of interpretation and can be painfully imprecise, failing to truly capture the world we see. English has evolved to include thousands of terms for colours, and yet only a tiny percentage of these exist as abstract terms. Most are re-appropriated from tangible things like lemons and lavender, as an attempt to articulate even a fraction of the colours we experience. This book does not aim to present a true reproduction of the colours of objects. Rather it is a visual reminder of where some of our words for colours come from, their inherently descriptive nature and their undeniable connection to the often mundane objects in the world around us.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Final List of Objects Photographed for the Book Cream Almond Sand Oatmeal Ginger Champagne Sulphur Primrose Lemon Mustard Gold Honey Apricot Amber Orange Rust Marigold Peach Shell Eggshell Salmon Brick Copper Terracotta Paprika Tomato Melon Raspberry Berry Fuchsia Rose Plum Cherry Wine Thistle Heather Aubergine

Grape Amethyst Lavender Violet Blueberry Slate Turquoise Jade Aquamarine Sage Kiwi Mint Avocado Lime Pistachio Moss Olive Stone Biscuit Cinnamon Walnut Toffee Caramel Chestnut Chocolate Cocoa Coffee Charcoal Mushroom Oyster

Say What You See

Iterations for Say What You See Book Layout

TOMATO

MELON

TOMATO

MELON

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

SAY WHAT YOU SEE

Say What You See

Spreads from Say What You See Book

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Digital Processes

Colour Averaging

Tests of Colour Averaging in Photoshop for Unit 2.3

Carrot

Peach

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Tomato

Mushroom

Colour Averaging

Tests of Colour Averaging in Photoshop for Unit 2.3

Olive

Sea Green

Water

Blue Lagoon

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Ocean Blue

Sky Blue

Seashell

Mushroom

Colour Averaging

Tests of Colour Averaging in Photoshop for Unit 2.3

Palm

Aloe

Pebble

Sand

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Lavender

Terracotta

Fire Hydrant

Colour Analysis

Colourphon.co.uk

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Colourphon Image Analysis

Reference: Colourphon, 2008. [online] Available at: <http://www.colourphon.co.uk/> [Accessed 16/12/10].

Colour Analysis

Analysing Colour Content with Colourphon, Tests Carried Out as Part of Unit 2.3

Sand

Pebble

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Sea

Mushroom

Reference: Colourphon, 2008. [online] Available at: <http://www.colourphon.co.uk/> [Accessed 16/12/10].

Colour Analysis

Analysing Colour Content with Colourphon, Tests Carried Out as Part of Unit 2.3

Aloe

Beach Hut

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Fire Hydrant

Terracotta

Reference: Colourphon, 2008. [online] Available at: <http://www.colourphon.co.uk/> [Accessed 16/12/10].

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pink, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Pink, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pink, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Pink, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Red, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Red, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Red, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Red, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Orange, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Orange, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Orange, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Orange, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Yellow, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Yellow, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Yellow, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Yellow, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Green, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Green, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Green, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Green, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Blue, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Blue, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Blue, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Blue, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Purple, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Purple, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Purple, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Purple, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Brown, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Brown, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Brown, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Brown, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Black, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Black, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Black, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Black, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Grey, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Grey, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Grey, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – Grey, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; White, Original Images from Google Image Search

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – White, Images Processed with Colourphon

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; White, Images Blurred in Photoshop

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Basic Colour Terms – White, Images Averaged in Photoshop

Google Image Search

Text for Googling the Rainbow Poster The philosopher Wittgenstein famously asked ‘How do I know that this color is red? —It would be an answer to say: I have learnt English.’ But how do we know what is red? In today’s digital age perhaps a more pertinent response would be: ‘Google it’. The use of Google image search as a tool to provide a visual interpretation of colour terms began as no more than an exercise in understanding, However, repetition of the process began to reveal both the changing nature of the internet and the similarities and differences between the colours in the images retrieved by each search. Although translated through Google’s algorithms, collectively, the images represent the level of understanding of colour and colour terms by those posting them. The methodology for this exercise involved inputting each of the seven colours of the rainbow into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. I then took the first thirty images from the search results as a collective visual representation of that term. This poster displays the original images from the search, without any digital manipulation. As a body of work this book presents a visual representation of each colour term, mediated by Google, and functions as a snapshot of colour on the Internet that due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be replicated exactly. It shows not only the variety of responses to the names of colours but also the level of consensus across the range of images. This method is but one of the many possible ways of exploring the relationship between colour and language but it one that is truly a reflection of our digital age.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Base Text for Searching for the Rainbow Poster The philosopher Wittgenstein famously asked ‘How do I know that this color is red? —It would be an answer to say: I have learnt English.’ But how do we know what is red? In today’s digital age perhaps a more pertinent response would be: ‘Google it’. The use of Google image search as a tool to provide a visual interpretation of colour terms began as no more than an exercise in understanding, However, repetition of the process began to reveal both the changing nature of the internet and the similarities and differences between the colours in the images retrieved by each search. Although translated through Google’s algorithms, collectively, the images represent the level of understanding of colour and colour terms by those posting them. The methodology for this exercise involved inputting each of the eleven basic colour terms into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. I then took the first thirty images from the search results as a foundation to work with and analyse. This poster displays the original images from the search, without any image manipulation and functions as a snapshot of colour on the Internet that due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be replicated exactly. It shows not only the variety of responses to the names of colours but also the level of consensus across the range of images. This method is but one of the many possible ways of exploring the relationship between colour and language but it one that is truly a reflection of our digital age.

Google Image Search

Googling the Rainbow Poster Option 1

Googling the Rainbow

The methodology for this exercise involved inputting each of the seven colours of the rainbow into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. I then took the first thirty images from the search results as a collective visual representation of that term. This poster displays the original images from the search. As a body of work these images function as a snapshot of the Internet, that due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be exactly repeated. It shows not only the variety in responses to the colours but also the level of consensus across the range.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Googling the Rainbow Poster Option 2

Googling the Rainbow

The philosopher Wittgenstein famously asked ‘How do I know that this color is red? —It would be an answer to say: I have learnt English.’ But how do we know what is red? In today’s digital age perhaps a more pertinent response would be: ‘Google it’. The use of Google image search as a tool to provide a visual interpretation of colour terms began as no more than an exercise in understanding, However, repetition of the process began to reveal both the changing nature of the internet and the similarities and differences between the colours in the images retrieved by each search. Although translated through Google’s algorithms, collectively, the images represent the level of understanding of colour and colour terms by those posting them. The methodology for this exercise

involved inputting each of the seven colours of the rainbow into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. I then took the first thirty images from the search results as a collective visual representation of that term. As a body of work, this poster functions as a snapshot of colour on the Internet that due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be replicated exactly. It shows not only the variety of responses to the names of colours but also the level of consensus across the range of images. This method is but one of the many possible ways of exploring the relationship between colour and language but it one that is truly a reflection of our digital age.

Google Image Search

Googling the Rainbow Poster Option 3

Googling the Rainbow

the images retrieved by each search. Although translated through Google’s algorithms, collectively, the images represent the level of understanding of colour and colour terms by those posting them. The methodology for this exercise involved inputting each of the seven colours of the rainbow into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. I then took the first thirty images from the search results as a collective visual representation of that term. As a body of work, this poster functions as a snapshot of colour on the Internet that

due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be replicated exactly. It shows not only the variety of responses to the names of colours but also the level of consensus across the range of images. This method is but one of the many possible ways of exploring the relationship between colour and language but it one that is truly a reflection of our digital age.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Googling the Rainbow Poster Option 4

Googling the Rainbow

Google Image Search

Searching for the Rainbow Poster – Original Images

Searching For The Rainbow

images retrieved by each search. Although translated through Google’s algorithms, collectively, the images represent the level of understanding of colour and colour terms by those posting them. The methodology for this exercise involved inputting each of the eleven basic colour terms into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. I then took the first thirty images from the search results as a foundation to work with and analyse. This poster displays the original images from the search, without any image manipulation and functions as a

snapshot of colour on the Internet that due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be replicated exactly. It shows not only the variety of responses to the names of colours but also the level of consensus across the range of images. This method is but one of the many possible ways of exploring the relationship between colour and language but it one that is truly a reflection of our digital age.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Searching for the Rainbow Poster – Images Processed with Colourphon

Searching For The Rainbow

images retrieved by each search. Although translated through Google’s algorithms, collectively, the images represent the level of understanding of colour and colour terms by those posting them. The methodology for this exercise involved inputting each of the eleven basic colour terms into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. I then took the first thirty images from the search results as a foundation to work with and analyse. The images presented on this poster have been processed using the online colour analysis tool Colourphon,

breaking each one down into its dominant blocks of colour. As a body of work this is a visual representation of each colour term, mediated by Google and functions as a snapshot of colour on the Internet that due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be replicated exactly. It shows not only the variety of responses to the names of colours but also the level of consensus across the range of images. This method is but one of the many possible ways of exploring the relationship between colour and language but it one that is truly a reflection of our digital age.

Google Image Search

Searching for the Rainbow Poster – Images Blurred in Photoshop

Searching For The Rainbow

images retrieved by each search. Although translated through Google’s algorithms, collectively, the images represent the level of understanding of colour and colour terms by those posting them. The methodology for this exercise involved inputting each of the eleven basic colour terms into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. I then took the first thirty images from the search results as a foundation to work with and analyse. The images presented on this poster have been processed using a specific amount of the Gaussian Blur tool

in Photoshop, creating colour fields from each one. As a body of work this is a visual representation of each colour term, mediated by Google and functions as a snapshot of colour on the Internet that due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be replicated exactly. It shows not only the variety of responses to the names of colours but also the level of consensus across the range of images. This method is but one of the many possible ways of exploring the relationship between colour and language but it one that is truly a reflection of our digital age.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Searching for the Rainbow Poster – Images Averaged in Photoshop

Searching For The Rainbow

images retrieved by each search. Although translated through Google’s algorithms, collectively, the images represent the level of understanding of colour and colour terms by those posting them. The methodology for this exercise involved inputting each of the eleven basic colour terms into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. I then took the first thirty images from the search results as a foundation to work with and analyse. The blocks of colour presented on this poster represent an average colour value of all the pixels in each

image, created using the Average tool in Photoshop. As a body of work this is a visual representation of each colour term, mediated by Google and functions as a snapshot of colour on the Internet that due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be replicated exactly. It shows not only the variety of responses to the names of colours but also the level of consensus across the range of images. This method is but one of the many possible ways of exploring the relationship between colour and language but it one that is truly a reflection of our digital age.

Google Image Search

Introduction to Searching for the Rainbow Book The philosopher Wittgenstein famously asked ‘How do I know that this color is red? —It would be an answer to say: I have learnt English.’ But how do we know what is red? In today’s digital age perhaps a more pertinent response would be: ‘Google it’. For many the internet has become our primary source of information, it is the foundation of our knowledge economy. Largely inclusive and participatory, as an entity it represents the culmination of everything that has been written, posted and uploaded, with each new contribution slightly altering the shape of the whole. But how does Google know what is red? Tags, Search Engine Optimisation and complex algorithms now create the precedence for the information we receive when we search for something. Search engines are able to dictate the type of information we consume, influencing our perceptions of what is important with the ranking of their search results. The use of Google image search as a tool to provide a visual interpretation of colour terms began as no more than an exercise in understanding, to enable me to progress with other research, it was a means to an end. However, repetition of the process began to reveal both the changing nature of the internet and the similarities and differences between the colours in the images retrieved by each search. Although translated through Google’s algorithms, collectively, the images represent the level of understanding of colour and colour terms by those posting them, tagging them or writing the accompanying text. The methodology for this exercise involved inputting each of the eleven basic colour terms, defined by Berlin & Kay, into Google Image Search with the addition of the word ‘colour’. This concession was an undesirable but necessary consequence of the number of high profile celebrities with colour terms in their names, such as the rapper Chris Brown and the singer Pink. I then

took (without exception) the first thirty images from the search results, as a foundation to work with and analyse using image manipulation processes. The images were indexed using Colourphon, resulting in a 9 x 9 grid of colour. They were blurred with a specific and constant amount of Gaussian blur in Photoshop and finally, also using Photoshop, the RGB values for the pixels in each image were averaged to give a solid block of colour. As a body of work this book presents a visual representation of each colour term, mediated by Google, and functions as a snapshot of colour on the Internet that due to it’s constantly shifting nature, can never be replicated exactly. It shows not only the variety of responses to the names of colours but also the level of consensus across the range of images. It allows the reader to appreciate how the colours and images transform and mutate with each of the different processes applied, as they move from defined forms, into indistinguishable shapes, to a solid, uniform block of colour. This method is but one of the many possible ways of exploring the relationship between colour and language but it one that is truly a reflection of our digital age.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Spreads from Searching for the Rainbow Book

RED

SEARCH RESULTS

RED

SEARCH RESULTS

RED

PIXELATED

RED

PIXELATED

RED

BLURRED

RED

BLURRED

RED

COLOUR AVERAGED

RED

COLOUR AVERAGED

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Pink Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Red Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Orange Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Yellow Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Green Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Blue Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Purple Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Brown Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Black Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All Grey Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Basic Colour Terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All White Images Layered with Transparency

Originals

Colourphon

Blurred

Averaged

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Original Images Layered and Stretched

Combined Colour of Averaged Layered Images

Google Image Search

Introduction to Transforming the Rainbow Book The visual experiments presented here are an extension of the processes used to create the images in the book, Searching for the Rainbow. This methodology involved taking the first thirty results from a Google Image search, for each of the eleven basic colour terms in English. In order to discover how the dominant colours were affected, the images were analysed using Colourphon, a Gaussian blur was applied in Photoshop and finally the RGB values of the pixels in each file were averaged to create a solid block of colour. The images contained in this book were created from the results of those processes. For each of the basic colour terms, all of the images have been layered and given transparency to demonstrate the combined effect of the colours in each image. It allows us to see how the colour used as the search term is distributed throughout the images. A combined sample of the averaged images has been taken, creating a cumulative, average colour. It represents a method for interpreting colour terms, that has been mediated by Google and Photoshop. In addition to this, images have been created for each of the colour terms by taking a vertical, one pixel wide section through the layered images. This has been stretched across a wider area to give a greater visual impression of the layering and to portray the colour composition of the image in a different way. Collectively, the experiments represent a conclusion to this line of investigation. While having created some striking and appealing imagery, the method of applying additional digital processes to the images presents a limited opportunity for further insight. However, the use of Google Image search, and other search engines, as research tools has great potential, which could go beyond the scope of colour naming.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Spreads from Transforming the Rainbow Book

RED

ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED

RED

VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED

RED

COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED

RED

BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED

RED

AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED

RED

AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Champagne

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Mustard

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Rust

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Coral

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Raspberry

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Crimson

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Maroon

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Lilac

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Indigo

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Periwinkle

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Turquoise

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Sage

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Pistachio

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Chartreuse

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Olive

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Khaki

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Mink

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Chocolate

Google Image Search â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other Colour Terms Slate

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Silver

Google Image Search

Introduction to Looking for Hue Book We all use colour terms to describe things in everyday life, but how well do we use these terms? How consistent and precise are we when it comes to defining what is claret, wine, maroon or burgundy? Would we feel confident asserting that something was beige rather than taupe? Do we know the difference between lilac and lavender? Is there even a difference? Building on the methods used to create ‘Searching for the Rainbow’, this book continues the process of using Google Image search as a tool to produce visual interpretations of colour terms, and offers one approach to responding to questions such as these. I have extended the process by broadening the search to commonly known, but less widely used colour terms. As before, the colour names were used as search terms in Google and the first thirty images from the results have been presented in the pages of this book. The colour terms have been ordered by hue, so it is possible to compare the results of different searches or similarly coloured images. In contrast to Searching for the Rainbow the images have not been subjected to any additional digital processes. This study is purely concerned with the comparison of Google Image search results, for colour terms that go beyond the rainbow. Google Image search has allowed me to capture an interpretation of colour terms across a medium, which is still relatively democratic and where content is less mediated and regulated. The results of each search add to the collective understanding of what a colour term represents and it is possible for anyone and everyone, through their own contributions to the internet, to influence that understanding in some way. The outcome of a Google Image search may not provide a conclusive answer, but as the results show, colour is rarely, if ever, definitive. Everyone’s idea of what a particular colour is, may equate to many subtly different

shades. However, in all but a few cases, notably puce, there is some degree of colour consistency across the search results. This methodology has produced a body of images that are a reflection of how colour terms are often used or understood: sometimes it’s all a bit vague.

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Spreads from Looking for Hue Book

MARIGOLD

HONEY

AMBER

TANGERINE

RUST

SCARLET

TERRACOTTA

SIENNA

WATERMELON

CORAL

CERISE

MAGENTA

Google Image Search

Spreads from Looking for Hue Book

RASPBERRY

CRIMSON

CLARET

MAROON

BURGUNDY

WINE

FUCHSIA

PUCE

MAUVE

PLUM

AUBERGINE

DAMSON

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

GRAPE

LILAC

LAVENDER

VIOLET

INDIGO

PERIWINKLE

COBALT

ULTRAMARINE

CYAN

AQUA

AQUAMARINE

TURQUOISE

Google Image Search

Spreads from Looking for Hue Book

TEAL

JADE

EMERALD

PISTACHIO

LIME

CHARTREUSE

HAZEL

OLIVE

KHAKI

FAWN

MINK

MOCHA

MAJOR PROJECT SUPPORTING MATERIAL

RUSSET

CHESTNUT

EBONY

CHARCOAL

SLATE

GUNMETAL

PEWTER

SILVER

ALMOND

BEIGE

NUDE

CHAMPAGNE