Color harmonizing device and method for using the same

Abstract

A device and method for harmonizing color. The color harmonizing device of the present invention includes a plurality of color representations defined as base colors. Each base color is associated with a complementary color representation, a pair of split complementary color representations, and a pair of triadic match color representations. The complementary color representation, each split complementary color representation, and each triadic match color representation are associated with a quality such as a personality trait or mood. Each color representation, including the base color, is divided into a spectrum of colors based upon hue. Each color of the spectrum of the base color may be matched with the colors in the spectrums of the complementary color representation, the pair of split complementary color representations, and the pair of triadic match color representations based upon a desire for one of the qualities.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for determining color harmony comprising: 
 a plurality of base color representations, each said base color associated with a group of color representations, each said color representation of said group of colors associated with a quality; and    each said color representation of said group of colors and said base colors divided into a spectrum of colors, wherein each said color of said spectrum of colors of said base color may be matched with any of said colors of said spectrum of colors of said group of colors based upon a desired one of said qualities.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said group of colors comprises a complementary color representation, a pair of split complementary color representations, and a pair of triadic match color representations.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said spectrums of colors of said complementary color representation, said pair of split complementary color representations, and said pair of triadic match color representations are each arranged in separate vertical columns positioned along side a vertical column of said spectrum of colors of one of said base colors.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said vertical columns of said spectrums of colors of said complementary color representation, each said split complementary color representation, and each said triadic match color representation overlap one another.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said vertical columns of said spectrums of colors of said complementary color representation, said pair of split complementary color representations, and said pair of triadic match color representations each have a width smaller than a width of said vertical column of said spectrum of colors of said one of said base colors.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each said color representation is divided into said spectrums of color based upon variations in hue.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the hue of each said color representation is determined by adding from a group of color representation consisting of black, white, and brown.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each said spectrum of colors is arranged in a vertical column.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said device is a book with said color representations on pages of said book.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each said color of said spectrum of colors of said base color is associated with a quality.  
     
     
         11 . A method for determining color harmony comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a base color representation from a plurality of base color representations;    selecting a first desired quality; and    in response to said step of selecting a first desired quality, identifying a second color representation associated with said desired quality, said second color representation from a group of color representations.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1   1  wherein said step of identifying said second color representation comprises selecting said second color from said group of color representations comprising: 
 a complementary color representation;  
 a first split complementary color representation;  
 a second split complementary color representation;  
 a first triadic match color representation; and  
 a second triadic match color representation.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of dividing each of said color representations into a spectrum of colors based upon hue.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein variations of hue are obtained by adding portions of color from a group of color representations consisting of black, white, and brown.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of selecting a second desired quality in order to select from said spectrums of color of said base color representation.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of selecting a second desired quality in order to select from said spectrum of colors of said group of color representation.  
     
     
         17 . A computer readable medium on which is stored a computer program for determining color harmony, when executed, performs the steps of: 
 selecting a base color representation from a plurality of base color representations;    selecting a first desired quality; and    in response to said step of selecting a first desired quality, identifying a second color representation associated with said desired quality, said second color representation from a group of color representations.    
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17  further performing the step of dividing each of said color representations into a spectrum of colors based upon hue.  
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17  further performing the step of adding portions of color from a group of color representations consisting of black, white, and brown, to obtain variations of hue.  
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17  further performing the step of selecting a second desired quality in order to select from said spectrums of color of said base color representation.  
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17  further performing the step of selecting a second desired quality in order to select from said spectrum of colors of said group of color representations.  
     
     
         22 . A method of harmonizing color comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a base color representation from a plurality of base color representations;    dividing said base color representation into a spectrum of colors;    associating a group of color representations with a first plurality of qualities; and    selecting one of the following steps: 
 selecting a desired quality from said first plurality of qualities in order to match one color from said group of colors with one of said colors of said base color spectrum;  
 selecting from a second plurality of qualities associated with said base color spectrum of colors to identify at least one of said colors of said base color spectrum to match with said base color representation; or  
 dividing each said color of said group of colors into a spectrum of colors, and selecting one of said colors from one of said spectrums of said group of colors to match with one of said colors of said base color spectrum.  
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said step of dividing said base colors and said group of colors into said spectrums of colors comprises dividing said base colors and said group of colors into said spectrums of colors based upon hue.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said method is provided in a book.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of subjecting to interpretation the selections of said color representations.  
     
     
         26 . A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for harmonizing colors, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of: 
 selecting a base color representation from a plurality of base color representations;    dividing said base color representation into a spectrum of colors;    associating said base color and a group of color representations with a first plurality of qualities; and    selecting one of the following steps: 
 selecting a desired quality from said first plurality of qualities in order to match one color from said group of colors with one of said colors of said base color spectrum;  
 selecting from a second plurality of qualities associated with said base color spectrum of colors to identify at least one of said colors of said base color spectrum to match with said base color representation; or  
 dividing each said color of said group of colors into a spectrum of colors, and selecting one of said colors from one of said spectrums of said group of colors to match with one of said colors of said base color spectrum.  
   
     
     
         27 . A method enabling a user to harmonize colors from viewing a web site responsive to identification of color preferences, using a computer and a telecommunications link between the computer and the web site, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a web page to the computer;    selecting a base color from a plurality of base colors on said web page;    dividing said base color representation into a spectrum of colors;    associating said base color and a group of color representations with a first plurality of qualities; and    selecting one of the following steps: 
 selecting a desired quality from said first plurality of qualities in order to match one color from said group of colors with one of said color representations of said base color spectrum;  
 selecting from a second plurality of qualities associated with said base color spectrum of colors to identify at least one of said colors of said base color spectrum to match with said base color representation; or  
 dividing each said color of said group of colors into a spectrum of colors, and selecting one of said colors from one of said spectrums of said group of colors to match with one of said colors of said base color spectrum.  
   
     
     
         28 . A hypermedia document for harmonizing colors comprising: 
 a plurality of hyperlinks on a web site, at least one of said hyperlinks providing access to one or more files comprising: 
 a plurality of color representations defined as base color representations, each said base color representation associated with a group of color representations associated with a quality,  
 each said color representation divided into a spectrum of colors based upon hue, wherein each said color of said spectrum of said base color may be matched with any of said colors of said spectrums of said group of colors based upon a desired one of said qualities.