Have you ever wondered why the star of the show stands out from the rest of the cast? Are you aware that the fine art principle of contrast is used to get this effect? Well, if you want to be more noticeable when you enter a room, stand in front of a color which is opposite to the one you are wearing and which is either darker or lighter. The principle of making yourself more visible is: color use should be opposite as described on the next column and it should be much lighter or much darker than the background.

If you don’t believe me, next time you go to a musical notice how this contrast is being used. The star of the show is not only in the spot light but also is wearing a color which stands out from the other performers.

Color has four properties: hue, value, intensity and temperature. Think of the color red, that’s the hue. Is it dark or light? That’s its value. Is it brilliant or dull? That’s its intensity. Is it warm or cool? That’s its temperature. Have fun. See if you can apply these four color facts to another color of your choice.