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FLEET LIBRARY | Research Guides

Rhode Island School of Design

Color: Theory, Terminology, Science, and Symbolism: Palettes

A resource guide exploring the many facets of color

Library Resources

Picture Collection

The Picture Collection has files devoted to Color with references to additional folders on Patterns-Color, Prisms, etc. Ask for these files at the service desk.

Local Color
If you're searching for images of a particular color, think of the local color of objects and check for files on those subjects. examples: camels, fire, flowers, snow, smoke, seeds...

Books and Other Catalog Items

Browse these keyword search results in our library catalog:

color combinations

color in... + pictorial

color schemes

color palette

colors - analysis

Sources for historic color palettes include

  • scanning fashion and art magazines from a specific time period
  • historic textile designs such as this series from the Victoria & Albert Museum
  • children's books, toys, or popular culture from a specific era
  • printed matter - graphic design, logos, wallpaper, comics, newspapers, ephemera
  • cultural sources - flags, insignia, uniforms, holidays, costumes

External Resources