Defining Absolute Warm and Cool Colours - Red vs. Blue

Hypotheses:

  1. If r > b, then the colour should be considered warm.
  2. If b > r, then the colour should be considered cool.
  3. If they are all equal, then the color should be considered achromatic.

Absolute Warm (r - b > 0)

Absolute Cool (b - r > 0)

Results

The absolute cool colours looked correct. Some colours presented as warm were questionable - for example some magentas, maroons, and neon greens appeared that, in my opinion, would be better classified as cool.

Defining Absolute Warm and Cool Colours - Orange vs. Blue

Hypotheses:

  1. Warmth Score = r/255 + g/165 + b/0
  2. Coolness Score = r/0 + g/0 + b/255
  3. If Warmth Score > Coolness Score, then the colour should be considered warm. Else, colour should be considered cool.
  4. If equal, then the color should be considered achromatic.

Absolute Warm (wS > cS)

Absolute Cool (wS < cS)

Results

Much, much better. Happy moving forward with this as a working definition.

Defining Relative Warm and Cool Colours - Orangeness vs. Blueness

Hypotheses:

  1. All hues (red, yellow, blue, cyan, green, magenta, purple) have warm and cool variations.
  2. Warmth Score = r/255 + g/165 + b/0
  3. Coolness Score = r/0 + g/0 + b/255
  4. If Warmth Score > Coolness Score, then the colour should be considered warm. Else, colour should be considered cool.
  5. If equal, then the color should be considered achromatic.

Hues and HSL intervals

Hue Name Hue Origin RGB equivalent Hue Interval
Red H: 0 r: 255 H: 0-29 & 330-360
Yellow H: 60 r: 255, g: 255 H: 30-89
Green H: 120 g: 255 H: 90-149
Cyan H: 180 g: 255, b: 255 H: 150-209
Blue H: 240 b: 255 H: 210-269
Fuchsia H: 300 b: 255, r: 255 H: 270-329

Relative Warm Blues

Relative Cool Blues

Relative Warm Greens

Relative Cool Greens

Relative Warm Reds

Relative Cool Reds

Relative Warm Yellows

Relative Cool Yellows

Relative Warm Cyans

Relative Cool Cyans

Relative Warm Magentas

Relative Cool Magentas

Results

Hmmmm.... not exactly what I was looking for. I keep seeing incredibly extreme values: super light blues and dark, dark reds and yellows.

Defining Relative Warm and Cool Colours - Orangeness vs. Blueness

Hypotheses:

  1. All hues (red, yellow, blue, cyan, green, magenta, purple) have warm and cool variations.
  2. Hue Origin of Blue = 240
  3. Hue Origin of Orange = 38.82352941176471
  4. All hue groups have warm and cool intervals. One interval that is closer to the blue hue origin, and one closer to the orange hue origin.
  5. If the hue falls within the warm interval of a hue, it should be considered relatively warm. Vice versa for when a hue falls witing a cool interval of a hue.

Hues and HSL intervals

Hue Name Hue Origin RGB equivalent Hue Interval Warm Interval Cool Interval
Red H: 0 r: 255 H: 0-29 & 330-360 H: 0-29 H: 330-360
Yellow H: 60 r: 255, g: 255 H: 30-89 H: 30-60 H: 60-89
Green H: 120 g: 255 H: 90-149 H: 90-120 H: 120-149
Cyan H: 180 g: 255, b: 255 H: 150-209 H: 150-179 H: 180-209
Blue H: 240 b: 255 H: 210-269 H: 210-229 H: 230-269
Magenta H: 300 b: 255, r: 255 H: 270-329 H: 299-329 H: 270-300

Relative Warm Blues

Relative Cool Blues

Relative Warm Greens

Relative Cool Greens

Relative Warm Reds

Relative Cool Reds

Relative Warm Yellows

Relative Cool Yellows

Relative Warm Cyans

Relative Cool Cyans

Relative Warm Magentas

Relative Cool Magentas

Results

This will work - there is variation in value, and I can see a clear difference between the warm and cool variations of each hue.