Color Theory in Photography Flashcards

Which color model is most commonly used for digital photography displayed on screens?

Answer: RGB

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is the additive color model used by monitors and digital cameras for screen display.

What is the color temperature (in Kelvin) typically associated with overcast daylight?

Answer: 6500K

Overcast skies produce a color temperature around 6500K, which appears slightly cool/blue compared to midday sun.

In the HSL color model, what does 'S' stand for?

Answer: Saturation

S in HSL stands for Saturation, representing the intensity or purity of a color.

When a photographer uses a warming filter or white balance adjustment, they are correcting for light that is too:

Answer: Cool/Blue

Warming adjustments correct for cool, bluish light such as shade or overcast conditions by adding orange/yellow tones.

Which of the following color harmonies uses colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel?

Answer: Triadic

A triadic harmony uses three colors equally spaced (120° apart) on the color wheel, creating vibrant contrast.

What effect does increasing color saturation have on skin tones in portrait photography?

Answer: Can make skin appear unnaturally orange or red

Excessive saturation intensifies warm skin tones, pushing them toward unnatural orange or red hues.

In Lightroom/Camera Raw, the 'Vibrance' slider differs from 'Saturation' primarily because it:

Answer: Protects already-saturated colors and skin tones

Vibrance boosts less-saturated colors more aggressively while protecting skin tones and already-vivid hues.