by Daniel Andrade
Photo by Tom Podmore on Unsplash
As a student of psychology, I discovered an interesting paradox: the brain is an incredibly complex
machine, and yet it’s so easy to fool it. Because the brain is working on literally millions of things all
at once, it’s understandable that shortcuts would be taken from time to time. One such shortcut is
with color. When we see color, it tends to evoke certain emotions without us even always realizing it.
This has been studied for years now in a field known simply as Color Psychology.
It’s important to note here before moving on that, while many studies have been done on the
psychology of color, it’s unfortunately not something that is so black and white (pun intended).
Because color often depends on context, and people interpret things differently based on culture
and past experiences, what one color means or brings up for you might not be the same for someone
else. Regardless, it’s still something fascinating to think about!
For example, let’s do a quick little thought experiment: think of the logo of one of your favorite fast-food
restaurants. What colors were in those logos? Most likely, red and/or yellow. Why is that? Well, it turns
out red is a color that tends to make you more impulsive, and yellow is an attention grabbing color often
associated with food. Let’s try another experiment: when you think of boys and girls, what colors do you
think of? Probably blue and pink right? This is a common stereotype that is clearly wrong, and yet has
persisted in popular culture for hundreds of years, resurging lately due to things like “gender reveal
parties.” One study found that overwhelmingly, both men and women listed blue as their favorite color,
but because this belief has been so ingrained in our (i.e. American) culture, it’s something that will likely
take years to overcome.
As a student of psychology, I discovered an interesting paradox: the brain is an incredibly complex
machine, and yet it’s so easy to fool it. Because the brain is working on literally millions of things all
at once, it’s understandable that shortcuts would be taken from time to time. One such shortcut is
with color. When we see color, it tends to evoke certain emotions without us even always realizing it.
This has been studied for years now in a field known simply as Color Psychology.
It’s important to note here before moving on that, while many studies have been done on the
psychology of color, it’s unfortunately not something that is so black and white (pun intended).
Because color often depends on context, and people interpret things differently based on culture
and past experiences, what one color means or brings up for you might not be the same for someone
else. Regardless, it’s still something fascinating to think about!
For example, let’s do a quick little thought experiment: think of the logo of one of your favorite fast-food
restaurants. What colors were in those logos? Most likely, red and/or yellow. Why is that? Well, it turns
out red is a color that tends to make you more impulsive, and yellow is an attention grabbing color often
associated with food. Let’s try another experiment: when you think of boys and girls, what colors do you
think of? Probably blue and pink right? This is a common stereotype that is clearly wrong, and yet has
persisted in popular culture for hundreds of years, resurging lately due to things like “gender reveal
parties.” One study found that overwhelmingly, both men and women listed blue as their favorite color,
but because this belief has been so ingrained in our (i.e. American) culture, it’s something that will likely
take years to overcome.
Photo by Miguel Andrade on Unsplash
So again, while certain specific associations with colors might not always be 100% correct, one thing
that is undeniable is that colors do have some sort of effect on our brains. As stated before, a lot of
these associations will depend on various factors. For example, we previously stated that red is a color
associated with impulse. However, it has also been linked to not just passion and love (red roses,
lipstick, etc.), but also war and danger (fire, stop signs, etc.). But what is the common link between these
two widely different associations? A rise in heart rate and in blood pressure. So while the end results of
“seeing red” will vary widely from scenario to scenario, there is no doubt that red is having some sort of
impact on us.
Let’s take a look at another color that can mean a wide variety of things: green. When we think of
green, we probably think of either nature or money. Both of these concepts can be linked to growth
or prosperity, perhaps even luck. But it’s also a color associated with jealousy, so much so that we
say certain people are “green with envy.” Additionally, it can sometimes be associated with something
that is sick or unnatural, even though “going green” is often associated with becoming more healthy.
Once again, depending on context, this color can lead to vastly different outcomes. One fascinating
example of this comes from Heinz Ketchup. Back in 2000, Heinz released a special edition of its iconic
ketchup known as “Blastin Green.” As we just stated, the color green, especially on foods that normally
aren’t green, is usually seen as a food that has spoiled and gone bad. It’s a warning to not eat it. But
somehow, this particular version of ketchup ended up giving Heinz it’s highest sales increase in the
history of the company, with factories working around the clock just to keep up with the demand. Was it
perhaps because in a weird change of events, consumers thought that a green bottle meant it was more
healthy? Or perhaps green was associated with something cool and hip, since slime was seen so
commonly on kid’s programming? Again, the reasoning probably varied from consumer to consumer, but
all we do know is that this color-based stunt was effective and certainly eye-catching.
One final fascinating color to look at is blue. Overall, it’s a very calming and relaxing color often
associated with trust and dependability. However, blue light also has been tied to alertness,
since it affects your circadian rhythm and can seriously impact the quality and quantity of your sleep.
While it’s perfectly fine and normal to take in blue light during the day, often from the sun, blue light is
not recommended at night, and unfortunately, our smart phones and other electronics
tend to emit a lot of blue light. This is why many electronics now have blue light filters that can be
activated at night.
So again, while certain specific associations with colors might not always be 100% correct, one thing
that is undeniable is that colors do have some sort of effect on our brains. As stated before, a lot of
these associations will depend on various factors. For example, we previously stated that red is a color
associated with impulse. However, it has also been linked to not just passion and love (red roses,
lipstick, etc.), but also war and danger (fire, stop signs, etc.). But what is the common link between these
two widely different associations? A rise in heart rate and in blood pressure. So while the end results of
“seeing red” will vary widely from scenario to scenario, there is no doubt that red is having some sort of
impact on us.
Let’s take a look at another color that can mean a wide variety of things: green. When we think of
green, we probably think of either nature or money. Both of these concepts can be linked to growth
or prosperity, perhaps even luck. But it’s also a color associated with jealousy, so much so that we
say certain people are “green with envy.” Additionally, it can sometimes be associated with something
that is sick or unnatural, even though “going green” is often associated with becoming more healthy.
Once again, depending on context, this color can lead to vastly different outcomes. One fascinating
example of this comes from Heinz Ketchup. Back in 2000, Heinz released a special edition of its iconic
ketchup known as “Blastin Green.” As we just stated, the color green, especially on foods that normally
aren’t green, is usually seen as a food that has spoiled and gone bad. It’s a warning to not eat it. But
somehow, this particular version of ketchup ended up giving Heinz it’s highest sales increase in the
history of the company, with factories working around the clock just to keep up with the demand. Was it
perhaps because in a weird change of events, consumers thought that a green bottle meant it was more
healthy? Or perhaps green was associated with something cool and hip, since slime was seen so
commonly on kid’s programming? Again, the reasoning probably varied from consumer to consumer, but
all we do know is that this color-based stunt was effective and certainly eye-catching.
One final fascinating color to look at is blue. Overall, it’s a very calming and relaxing color often
associated with trust and dependability. However, blue light also has been tied to alertness,
since it affects your circadian rhythm and can seriously impact the quality and quantity of your sleep.
While it’s perfectly fine and normal to take in blue light during the day, often from the sun, blue light is
not recommended at night, and unfortunately, our smart phones and other electronics
tend to emit a lot of blue light. This is why many electronics now have blue light filters that can be
activated at night.
Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash
In the introductory video of SkySoft’s newest series Beyond the Screen, Monroe Hayden talks about
how colors can also be used by filmmakers to put you in certain moods, particularly “warm” or “cool”
moods; reds tend to elicit more anger and aggression, while blues tend to make you feel more calm
and relaxed, as previously discussed. One clip that was mentioned came from the interaction between
Anu and Rath, two of the villains from season 4 of Fox. Because these are villains and they are having
a tense, heated conversation, it makes sense to color grade the scene to make it more red and reflect
the intensity of the scene. Compared to the original shot, you can immediately feel the difference when
that red glow is added. It’s a subtle but powerful change.
In the introductory video of SkySoft’s newest series Beyond the Screen, Monroe Hayden talks about
how colors can also be used by filmmakers to put you in certain moods, particularly “warm” or “cool”
moods; reds tend to elicit more anger and aggression, while blues tend to make you feel more calm
and relaxed, as previously discussed. One clip that was mentioned came from the interaction between
Anu and Rath, two of the villains from season 4 of Fox. Because these are villains and they are having
a tense, heated conversation, it makes sense to color grade the scene to make it more red and reflect
the intensity of the scene. Compared to the original shot, you can immediately feel the difference when
that red glow is added. It’s a subtle but powerful change.
Courtesy of SkySoft Entertainment
As another example, although we've mentioned a few times now how blue can be a cool and calming
color, that coolness can be interpreted in various ways as well. Is that coolness refreshing, like a
breeze on a hot summer day? Or is it a cold that makes you shiver and fear for your life? When the
color graders edited the big scene of Dark Fox confronting the brotherhood on a harsh winter day, they
added a blue hue to strengthen that feeling of a cold that freezes you to the bone. Add to that the
already terrifying look of Dark Fox, and you've got the makings of a chilling scene in more way than one.
Courtesy of SkySoft Entertainment
For more incredible and fascinating examples of the power of color grading, be sure to check out the
full episode now at www.skysoftentertainment.com, and be sure to stay tuned for future episodes of
Beyond The Screen!
In conclusion, as you can see, while there may be no conclusive evidence as to the specific effects of
color on the human brain, there is no doubt that colors are an important part of our lives that our minds
respond to, in one way or another. Whether we’re painting the town red, we’re showing off our green
thumb, or we’re tickled pink, it’s clear that our world is best enjoyed in living color.
As another example, although we've mentioned a few times now how blue can be a cool and calming
color, that coolness can be interpreted in various ways as well. Is that coolness refreshing, like a
breeze on a hot summer day? Or is it a cold that makes you shiver and fear for your life? When the
color graders edited the big scene of Dark Fox confronting the brotherhood on a harsh winter day, they
added a blue hue to strengthen that feeling of a cold that freezes you to the bone. Add to that the
already terrifying look of Dark Fox, and you've got the makings of a chilling scene in more way than one.
Courtesy of SkySoft Entertainment
For more incredible and fascinating examples of the power of color grading, be sure to check out the
full episode now at www.skysoftentertainment.com, and be sure to stay tuned for future episodes of
Beyond The Screen!
In conclusion, as you can see, while there may be no conclusive evidence as to the specific effects of
color on the human brain, there is no doubt that colors are an important part of our lives that our minds
respond to, in one way or another. Whether we’re painting the town red, we’re showing off our green
thumb, or we’re tickled pink, it’s clear that our world is best enjoyed in living color.
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