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Everything About Blue Color

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dark blue flower

Blue is a universally popular color. Many people love this color, and there are solid reasons for it.
Blue is a color which is mostly preferred by men. The blue color is widely found in nature, the blue sky, the oceans, some kinds of birds and flowers. There is a lot to be discussed about this color.
Even if blue isn’t your favorite color yet, this article will give you enough reason to reconsider your opinion.
Ow, come on, what could possibly make you don’t like this color?

Then, let’s waste no more time and get started.

How to obtain blue color?

One of the resources to obtain blue dye from, is Lapis lazuli, which is obtained by mining its stone: Lapis lazuli ore. Blue dye can be extracted from minerals such as cobalt and azurite. These stones are crushed and ground into powder, then mixed with drying binding agents and left to dry. This is the process of obtaining blue dyes.
Natural resources also provide blue dye. In Europe, people used plants like woad to extract blue pigments; in Asia and Africa: Indigofera tinctoria was used to make blue dyes.

Blue is one of the three primary colors in color theory. On the spectrum of visible light, blue is between violet and green. And its wavelength is between 450-490 nm.
Most blues contain a slight mixture of other colors; azure contains some green, while ultramarine contains some violet.

Blue dye

There are plenty of natural and mineral resources to provide us with blue dye and pigments. Since the 18th century, blue dye has mostly been obtained from the chemical and synthetic process.
Blue, just like any other color, has various shades and hues. Hues of blue that are closer to violet include indigo and ultramarine. There is pure blue, which as the name suggests it is pure and without any mixture of other colors.
The last one is cyan, which is midway in the spectrum between blue and green, and the other blue-greens turquoise, teal, and aquamarine. 

Have you ever wondered why the sky and the oceans seem blue?
the answer is the Rayleigh scattering.

Now, what is the Rayleigh scattering?
In the visible spectrum of light, blue color has a very short wavelength, while red color has the longest. When the sunlight gets through the atmosphere, the wavelengths of blue are scattered more widely by two molecules: oxygen and nitrogen. This is why more blue color comes to our eyes, and we see the sky and the sea blue.
This effect is named after the scientist who discovered it; the British physicist Lord Rayleigh. Also, Einstein confirmed it in 1911.

Blue in history

Compared to all the other colors like red, green or brown for example, the blue color is quite a latecomer. there is no blue in ancient cave paintings.
Also, in language and literature, the word Blue was not very old.
More than 3000 years ago, in Afghanistan, Lapis lazuli was mined and exported to other parts of the ancient world. Egyptians were one of the biggest consumers of blue dyes in ancient times. but, since exporting this semi-precious stone was expensive, Egyptians had to make their own blue dyes and pigments. Therefore, about 2500 years ago, Egyptians started to produce Egyptian Blue. They used resources like silica, lime, copper, and alkali. they produced the first synthetic dyes by grinding the above-mentioned stones and heating them to 800-900 °C. 

Blue in ancient world

In Iran, Lapis lazuli stone was used to make jewelry and vessels.
In ancient Egypt, it was used for the eyebrows on the funeral mask of King Tutankhamun. . It was particularly used in funeral statuary and figurines and in tomb paintings. They believed that blue would protect the dead against the evil in the afterlife. blue was associated with the sky and divinity in Egypt (also known as the eye of god).

Egyptians and Iranians are not the only people who lived in the ancient world. Surpriseee, ancient Greeks.
Ancient Greeks categorized colors based on being light or dark; rather than the hue. the word for all these colors:
dark blue, dark green, violet, black, and brown, is Kyaneos. Yeah a bit confusing! The Greeks imported indigo dye from India, calling it Indikon.

I wish we had more time to cover more history, but we still have a lot to talk about. So, it is now time to move on….

Color psychology of blue 

 “Color psychology is the study of how color affects our emotions and behaviors. Depending on your upbringing, cultural background, and personal preference, certain colors can make you feel a certain way.” – Will Erstad

What is your favorite color? And how do you feel about blue?
Blue is a popular color among so many people, myself included. Ow, you too?! great!
But what do we know about the psychology of it?
Seeing blue can trigger certain emotions and moods. Let’s see what they are.
Blue is a rather conservative and non-threatening color. It appears to bring calmness and peace to people, and it makes people feel confident and relaxed.

what does blue color stimulate?

This color is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly.
If you want to evoke a sense of stability or reliability, blue can help you a lot.
Security, serenity, balance, and calmness (blue lowers the pulse and body temperature) are the positive feelings that people associate with blue. There are some points to pay attention to when using blue.
Too much blue can cause a feeling of loneliness, sadness, aloofness. Wearing or seeing lots of blue color may cause depression.

Blue can also represent intelligence and responsibility.
research has proven that people are more productive and in the mood to function in blue places.
this color kills the feeling of hunger and therefore, common belief is if you want to eat less food, eat it in a blue dish.
All that being said, how you feel about blue color and how you like it depends on you. and these are facts that seem to be proven.

Blue in different cultures

the color blue holds several meanings in different cultures.

Blue in Iran

In Iran, blue is the major color of the tiles used in mosques (both in interior and exterior design), such as the Shah Mosque in Isfahan.
Persian blue comes in three major tones: Persian blue, a bright medium blue; medium Persian blue, a medium slightly grayish blue and Persian indigo – a kind of dark blue.

Blue in west

In western countries, most people believe that blue color often associates with melancholy. 
They also believe that blue symbolizes trust and authority. As an example, the American bank, Citi Bank, uses blue for its logo. people consider blue to be the symbol of masculinity and the birth of a boy. In China, however, blue is a feminine color.

Blue in the Middle East

In the Middle Eastern area, blue implies safety and protection. for the Middle Eastern people, blue symbolizes spirituality, heaven, and immortality.

Blue in Latin America

In Latin American countries where a huge population of Catholic lives, blue indicates hope, health, and well-being.
In Christianity, blue is a symbol of the Virgin Mary, who is represented in a blue robe and headscarf.

Blue in India

In Hinduism, blue is the color of Krishna, the most highly worshipped Hindu god, and represents love and joy, also destroys darkness, sin, and pain.

Blue color in food

food products are colorful. we see ( and eat, of course) orange, red, yellow, green, and brown food every day. But, blue food is not that usual. Blue food products are rare. but still, they exist.
here are some natural blue eatable products:

The last one may not be related to the rest, but it is blue and edible.

Do you know the agent that causes this blue color?
blue fruits contain beneficial plant compounds called  Polyphenols.  These beautiful fruits also are high in Anthocyanins ( from the polyphenols family), which is the reason for this vibrant blue hue. blueberries contain vitamin C, too. 

These compounds provide color and healthy food resources. Not all blue edibles are natural and healthy. Processed food contains a lot of chemical ingredients, which are produced by synthetic methods or materials and can harm our health.

What you will see in this post:
  1. Blue in photography
  2. Blue color in fashion

Blue in photography

Blue is the color of the sky and the oceans. Two things that can make you feel calm, serene, and relaxed. Why is that so? If you ask me, I’d say because both the sky and the oceans are so vast and peaceful, and they appear to be Blue.
Therefore, if you’re taking pictures to make others feel calm and tranquil, now you know where to take your pictures.

About Blue

Blue color (all colors) has different hues and shades. There is dark blue and light blue. Their accent is mutual, but they transmit rather different emotions and meanings. Dark blue is kind of associated with strong and foreboding concepts (imagine dark clouds), while light blue is a gentler and more optimistic color. Light blue brings a sense of purity and serenity. 

Just close your eyes and think of a clear and blue sky in the middle of summer…How warm and relaxing!! Blue as the most common color in nature ( yeah I know, green too) can help you take meaningful photos and convey feelings of peace and quietness.

What is a blue filter in photography?

Blue filters are not very common in black and white photography, because they lighten the sky and darken highlights or colors that appear light. Blue filter emphasizes the fog and haze; that enhance the mood of a picture. A typical blue filter has a filter factor of 2, while most cameras with TTL metering can correct automatically for the filter factor.

I’m not a professional photographer, but if you are I’d be glad to hear your opinion on this. So, feel free to leave a comment.

What is “blue hour photography”?

The blue hour is the period of twilight in the late dusk each evening, or the very dawn of the morning, when the sun is at a significant distance below the horizon and the residual, indirect sunlight takes on a predominantly blue hue. In this light, images come to life in a different way than other times of the day.

Blue color in fashion

Colors are one of the most important components in the fashion and design world. How to pair colors? What is the best color choice for different occasions? How to choose color/colors based on skin color? To answer all these questions, we need to know about each color in fashion!

About The Blue In Clothing

Why and where should I wear blue? Color psychology suggests that blue gives people a sense of loyalty and trust; therefore, wearing this color for job interviews and important business meetings is a smart choice.
In a 2009 study, results suggested that blue indicates power, knowledge, integrity, and seriousness. It also stimulates creativity. You may need these to impress your boss.

Here are some gorgeous matching colors for blue:

Knowing what colors go best with each other helps you have a more professional and chic style. Hope you find it useful

Blue color in makeup

People have different tastes when it comes to makeup.
Some prefer nude and natural make up, and some others prefer smoky makeup.
The blue color is mostly in the category of smoky makeup. In my opinion, bluish based makeups are better for night parties, it matches the theme. What do you think???
You can wear a blue style, blue nail polish, blue eyeshadow, blue mascara, blue eye line, and even blue lipstick.

Here are some amazing, blue-based ideas for eyeshadow:

  1. White with a blue outer corner and blue underlining
  2. White and deep blue accents
  3. Blended blue tones with a dusty pink crease
  4. Blue with a grey inner corner
  5. “Feeling blue” makeup
  6. Double-lined bright blue wing
  7. Layered blue glitter lid
  8. Blue masquerade makeup
  9. Blue masquerade makeup

10.  Blue masquerade makeup

11. Blue lid with a smoky corner

Blue color in cinema

Filmmakers and movie directors use some particular color schemes to evoke certain moods and feelings.
According to the dominant color theme of a scene( in some cases, the entire movie color theme), certain feelings can be perceived.
Scenes that have a lot of blue colors or blue light, often stimulate concepts, such as cold, isolation, cerebral, melancholy, passivity, and calmness.

Blue color in marketing and branding

When you are starting a company or brand, you need every help you can get. Marketing and branding need a huge amount of time and research to be useful and successful.
A well-designed logo can help you to get noticed and be remembered. To design a logo, you need to know about the meaning of the pattern and color/colors.
You need to know what message you want to transfer to your audience.

As said many times, blue associates with peace, trust, productivity, and reliability. Most conservative brands and companies looking to present a sense of trust in their products, use blue color (in their branding, ads, or products). 
So, companies take advantage of this color to offer their customers feelings of security and stability, to affect prospective customers’ purchasing decisions.  
Blue is also used for social media apps logos more than any other color; I think you can guess why?!

Companies and brands using blue as the dominant color for their logo:

Now, tell me, was it true? Do you really trust these brands with your money and credit??

Blue in interior designing

Colors simply affect the vibe and mood we get from a place (again, based on the color psychology). In interior design, you can use different colors and furniture to create your ideal design.
You can redecorate your home, room, or office to change your mood.
Using different shades and hues of blue creates an atmosphere of calmness and trust.

A very light shade of blue can make a room look bigger than it really is. So, if your space is small, but you want to make it look bigger, light blue color for walls or curtains is a good trick.
In general, light blue represents health and healing, and therefore, has a calming effect.

In the kitchen
you can use blue color for the cabinets, the kitchen counter, tiles, lamps, counter footstools, and even blue dishes.

In the living room 
here, use blue for the sofa, armchair, carpet, cushion, and have a stylish living room.

In the bedroom
in your bedroom, use light or dark blue for your bed sheets and blankets, rug, even blue lamps. blue light can give a sense of peace and quiet.

Blue decoration ideas:

Blue color in art

In the ancient, creating blue pigment was hard, because the mineral resource of it was rare and expensive; therefore, blue was often associated with royalty and divinity.
Speaking of art, let’s talk about Picasso and his paintings.
Through all his paintings you see one dominant color, Blue. Picasso painted most of his paintings in monochrome tones of blue, and because of that it is believed that he was in a low psychological state.

Picasso’s “blue period” started after his best friend’s suicide, Carles Casagemas.
” Picasso later explained, “I was thinking about Casagemas that got me started painting in blue,” Picasso later said to his friend Pierre Daix“.
His paintings are known to be tragic, miserable, and lifeless. Pablo Picasso chose the color on purpose, depicting destitute human beings.

What does blue stand for in art?
As the color of the sky and the oceans, Blue has an specific attribute of being expansive, free, and limitless.
Blue stimulates formality and stands for a wise and steady character.

Blue color in the car industry

What color do you like better for your car??
What color is it now?
Would you buy a blue car?

In the car industry, blue indicates consumers’ desire for adventure, relaxation, and reliability.
Reports show that on the list of most popular colors for the cars, blue is the second, after neutral colors (white, gray, beige, and black).
Some of the biggest and most famous car companies have used the color blue in their logos, like BMW, Ford, Volkswagen.

The blue color is gaining more popularity among car buyers. In Europe, 11 percent of the buyers were willing to buy a blue car in 2019, which was an increase of 1% compared to 2018. Also, 10% of buyers in North America.

Blue color in quotes

“A certain blue enters your soul” ~ Henri Matisse

“Blue has no dimensions, it is beyond dimensions.” ~ Yves Klein

“The sun is up, the sky is blue It’s beautiful, and so are you.” ~ John Lennon

“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.” ~ Judy Garland

“Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the deity to be a source of delight.” ~ John Ruskin

“Life is simple, it’s either cherry red or midnight blue.” ~ Lou Gramm

“It’s calm under the waves in the blue of my oblivion.” ~ Fiona Apple

“Blue skies 

 Smiling at me 

 Nothing but blue skies 

 Do I see” ~ Ella Fitzgerald

“Blue is therefore most suitable as the color of interior life.” ~ William H. Gass

“Blue is the only color which maintains its own character in all its tones it will always stay blue; whereas yellow is blackened in its shades, and fades away when lightened; red when darkened becomes brown, and diluted with white is no longer red, but another color – pink.” ~ Raoul Dufy

“Once in a blue moon someone like you comes along.” ~ Van Morrison

“Midnight blue is the only color that can ever compete with black.” ~ Christian Dior

“I never get tired of the blue sky.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh

“Roses are red Violets are blue Everything’s possible Nothing is true.” ~ Alan Moore

“The night is shattered, and the blue stars shiver in the distance.” ~ Pablo Neruda

Dopely Color Palettes

One last thing I want to show you, is our cute palettes, you can also visit our website for more palettes

here you can find more inspirations:

Color inspiration
Conclusion

Now, that you have read about blue in nearly every field, you can use it to make better choices. Now, you know which nations used blue color more and why, you know how blue dye is obtained, what are the best matching colors for it. Hope you can make use of this information.

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ENJOY

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