Tone and Color

This motorbike is an example of tone and color functioning in design.


Tone-wise, the differences in the intensity of light and darkness playing off the contours of the bike give it a sense of motion, although it is obviously stationary.  One of the things motorbike consumers look for in a good bike is the sense of sleekness- if the bike visually *looks* like it would move fast, no matter if it actually will or not.  What tone does for this concept is it defines the sleek shape of the bike, highlighting the sloping angles of the material the bike was crafted from.  In this way, tone works together with shape to give dimension to the bike.  Also, the tone creates a linear break in the parts of the body- from more rounded areas to area of depression, to places where pieces were welded together, etc.  


Color-wise, the bike is visually separated into parts, or sections, depending on the color given to that area.  For example the tires are black, the body of the bike is a yellow gold, and the seat is a brownish red color.  But there are also highlighter colors- the black from the front tire continues to the handlebars, as if when it were in motion, the bike was moving so fast that the black color streaked back that way.  Also the silver lining on the inside of the front tire and along the sides of the engine give the impression that the manufacturer paid careful attention to the very last details.  However notice how the back tire is covered by the yellow-gold colored shell of the body: it gives the feeling like the back tire is more grounded whereas the front on is ready to grind up the highway.  Also, color works with texture here because in general, the different materials on this bike are segregated by color (the rubber tires are black, the metal (?) casing is yellow gold, the leather (?) seat is brownish-red, etc).  Lastly the choice of yellow for the body gives the sense that the body is expanding; yellow and red colors tend to expand whereas blue tends to contract.  The yellow makes the body seem more "muscular" in this sense.