Wheeling Out A Color Wheel

Color Wheel Project

The Making Of

The project we did was to make a color wheel in Adobe Illustrator (AI) to prepare for graphic design. First, we had to learn how to use this new program, different controls and how it should be set up. With information on the basics of color and the various shapes needed, we were given a tutorial before being set loose. This project was just an intro to AI and Macs, so most instructions were clear and showed in steps, but learning how to do it ourselves was still a process.

What Was Learned

To use Illustrator, we had to learn how to use various tools, such as the selection arrow, shape tool, Artboard tool, and multiple more. Along with this, we were taught how a Mac's keyboard worked and simple command. The command I used the most was option + drag to make copies of the shapes placed easily and quickly. We also learned command + z for undo, which was needed at multiple times, and how to use each tool mentioned above efficiently. For each shape, we were told the difference of fill and stoke (outline) and how to actually make the shapes in each tool.

Also to go along with this project was some information on the colors themselves. We were shown how a color wheel was divided and which ones went with each other. There was an view on the three primaries, three secondaries, and six tertiaries, which are the primaries and secondaries mixed together. Then, we learned some color schemes, such as triad, analogous, and complementary. These are all shown in the wheel with the design, and the primary and secondary colors are connected by triangles.

How It Went

This project went well, and was actually quite fun to do. That doesn't mean everything went perfectly, but it was still a nice learning experience to have. One thing that I would have changed in this would be how the triangles were set up. They aren't exactly lined up with each other, and if I were to do this again, I would focus more of my time one them. I would also like to learn, and this goes along with the triangles, how to work with the pink center/intersect lines that show up and how to utilize them to their full potential. Seeing as this is the first official project, I'm glad for it and all it has taught me, and overall it was a good thing for future assignments.

My finished color wheel with the colors and their names.