A Lesson in Color
All Pratt students take a class called “Light Color and Design” their freshman year. This is where I once had a 6 hour class on what is “navy blue”. As it turns out, it’s a trick question – there is no “navy” blue; it’s an invention by someone who has a cool job at Crayola. We grow up using the word “navy” blue to describe a deep blue, and it has become part of our everyday lexicon. However, one man’s “navy” blue is not exactly the same as another’s, which leads the way for the invention of Pantone colors.
As I have recently learned from an article in The New York Times Magazine, Pantone colors have been around since the 60’s, invented as a universal language by Lawrence Herbert. Herbert needed a way to clearly communicate what exact color “cream” or “taupe” or “navy” was in the manufacturing of women’s pantyhose. Lawrence Herbert was a true color pioneer, and as result of his system of defining color, he was making millions in licensing fees by the 70’s. His color swatches are still the industry standard.
At Pratt, I was introduced to Color-aid paper, which came in a box of 314 colors and was around $150, a lot of money for college student. In “Light Color and Design” class we used this paper to create things like this color experiment:
The correct answer is yes, they are the same color. It’s a good example of how the same color will look different depending on what is next to it. Light also has a huge impact on color, which is why the same wall paint color will look different on walls of the same room. For this reason, I always instruct my clients to test out paint color on a few walls in the same room. The color will look different on the wall across from the big window with all the light, then from the wall next to it with less light.
I am also an artist, so when I look at color, I see the different shades of paint necessary to create it. I can 
see if there is a green with a lot of yellow to it or more blue. There are people who have naturally good color sense that still have trouble picking paint colors. To help them out, I offer paint color selection as a service in my interior design business. I have helped a lot of homeowners get it right the first time. If you feel yourself over whelmed at the choices of paint swatches at the store just remember to test your colors before committing to the full gallon of paint. Color can be tricky, ask an expert for help if you get stuck.
Heather McManus
Artistry Interiors
Creative Director
March 4, 2013
