YouвЂ™ve all played the game where you guess which colored square is bigger. In addition, using multiple shades of the same hue can create a distinct sense of color dominance, especially when paired with a contrasting accent color. Colors with the strongest intensity, even when used in small amounts can be dominant. By mixing light and dark hues or using large and small amounts of color, the perceived visual color mix can change. The way we see color also impacts how dominant a color is. So much so that even the gray (recessive color) of the manвЂ™s beard picks up some of the blue tones. In the image above, for example, blue is the dominant color. Conversely, if a color seems too strong, adding or mixing with with other colors can result in the вЂњtoning downвЂќ of a dominant color. While dominant colors will come through almost anything, using them without a lot of вЂњcolor clutterвЂќ will make them appear more intense. Dominant ColorД¬ombining colors with a lot of contrast вЂ“ blue on a white background, for example, will magnify a colorвЂ™s dominance. Dominant color values are assigned using a mathematical intensity distribution curve formula.ДЄnd it all relates to how we see and create color. Each color in the visible spectrum is assigned a chromatic strength as it relates to dominance. Wavelengths of monochromatic (one color) light that remain unchanged with combined with achromatic light are dominant. Dominant color also defined by its wavelength in the color spectrum. The theory of color and light is a little more complex.

Most animal colors are dictated by dominant and recessive genes, such as whether a dog is solid or spotted or a parakeet is blue, green or yellow. This same theory applies to much of nature as well when it comes to color and traits. Recessive genes do nothing and allow dominant genes to override them.

Dominant genes such as brown eye color, trump recessive genes. In most cases each person has two copies of each gene вЂ“ a pair from the mother and a pair from the father. The terms dominant and recessive, when paired, are commonly linked to science and genetics.ДЇrom eye color to hair color to dimples, dominant and recessive genes determine much of how a person is built.

Dominant traits hair color