DISTRIBUTION
BECAUSE the problems of harmony, contrast, and discord are so interesting,, one is easily tempted to forget that when colours are brought together the effect depends greatly upon the way in which they are distributed. Large masses of colour placed side by side will appear altogether different from the same colours arranged in narrow parallel stripes, and the effect will be different again if one of the two colours is arranged upon the other in a pattern of small spots.
To test this, experiments may be made with any two colours. These should be arranged first in broad bands, chequers, and large spots. The stripes and spots should then be gradually reduced until the two colours are quite closely intermingled. After this, large spots of one colour may be surrounded by various textures formed as suggested above. It will be found that, when viewed from a sufficient distance:, these textures will appear to vary in colour. If three or four colours be used, instead of only two, the possible textures, and the corresponding possible new tints, are greatly increased in number.
This principle is of the first importance alike in picture painting, in decoration, and, particularly, in designing textiles and prints.
Nearly all surface decoration can be include]! under the two descriptions—stripes and spots— so that the probable effect of a propose arrangement may be tested without undu difficulty. By changing the textures a colour effect can be entirely changed, even though no alteration has been made in the colours employed.
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