COLOUR STUDIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17326, 11 February 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

COLOUR STUDIES.

TINTS OF TO-DAY. A hundred years ago there was no question raised as to names used for the various shades of colour. One could even match a given shade by its name and without sample, unless the difference in texture of a fabric had its effect upon the tint. Colours were

standardised, so to speak. But to-day one may not match without a sample, for while a name may mean a certain shade, there may be an appreciable difference to tone between the products of several days. We arc, as a rule, simply stunned into silence by the query of the saleswoman who answers, when we ask for tan, “Something in burnt almond, perhaps, or in natural?” For how may we know that burnt almond means a tan with a golden tinge, and natural is one of the lighter tones of the colour? For while certain of the new names describe the colour —as airedale, cinnamon, or mustard brown, many are extremely far fetched, chosen, we assume, for their commercial value. The Case of Blues. So we may, for a brief paragraph or two, study the question of “What’s in a name?” deriving therefrom many interesting and informative bits of wisdom. Take tile blues, for instance —there is azure, the hue of the sky; crayon, just a bit darker than Copenhagen; Brittany, a medium light blue; and gracklehead, darker than Copen, but lighter than navy. Permanent is a medium dark blue; royal is a bright blue, and is sometimes called Icing’s blue; lupine is a lighter blue, with just a tinge of lilac, and old blue is a light navy.

Apple and almond green, as well as emerald green, explains themselves; but Lanvin green gives us no clue, and must be described as a clear, medium green, lighter than jade. Leaf green is a lighter tone, myrtle is dark, lovebird is one of the lighter tones and peacock; while light has*a bluish cast. Forest is dully dark—one thinks of shady coolness; golf is also dark, and hunter's green, while showing depth of colour, possesses richness. Olive is dull, with a brownish cast; and reseda possesses a bint of grey.