Color Research 1
Introduction
Color theory is a theory by which CD Project Red uses colors to tell a hidden story in Cyberpunk 2077. The theory is based on the idea that the colors used in the game are not just for aesthetic purposes, but are furthermore used to convey a deeper meaning.
The Color Axis
This theory requires a basic understanding of the RGB color wheel. I've included it here for reference.' Looking at the wheel, we can see a pattern in the colors used in-game and symmetrical axis. These color pairs are known as complimentary colors. There are many symbols in the game that point to these axis.
The axis of initial color sets:
- 0° + 180°: Red & Cyan
- 60° + 240°: Blue & Yellow
- 120° + 300°: Pink & Green
The axis of intermediate color sets:
- 30° + 210°: Orange & Pale Blue
- 90° + 270°: Purple & Lime
- 150° + 330°: Teal & Magenta
Symbols are more resilient than you think
- Hanako Arasaka
The UI
The most obvious example of complimentary colors in the game is the interface:
Mid-Game Title Screen Events
The second most obvious use of the axis is through scene color casting. I want to focus on the main events in the game that occur on either side of the mid-game title screen. These events are V's death and Johnny's awakening.
Johnny's Awakening: Blue/Yellow + Black
The game's title logo appears in-between these two events, decorated in cross hatch glitch effects. This signifies both the completion of the color wheel and the beginning of the game.
- Johnny's color axis is right of center (Blue & Yellow).
- V's color axis is left of center (Pink & Green).
- Where the two meet in the interface/game is at 0° (Red & Cyan).
Johnny's axis being a reflection of V's is interesting, both because of the mirror you can break before the transition and because Johnny's scene literally rotates into view. Not to mention that you can see Johnny in the mirror as an easter egg throughout the game.
Feel free to watch the transition for yourself.
The World
This is where we are introduced to a third common complimentary color set of orange & pale blue. Based on the color wheel, this rests symmetrically between Johnny's blue/yellow and the game's cyan/red at 30°.
It is also noteworthy that the round foundation under the fish cycles through the colors of the color wheel.
The First BD
Saburo's Office
Father's office. A faithful replica of the original in Tokyo. He ordered one in every Arasaka branch on the planet. Every last detail, every item... arranged as if he could navigate it blind.
- Hanako Arasaka
Saburo's office gives us a chance to test the color axis. Take a look at the two times we visit the office:
Saburo's Office - As Seen In Game
What makes the colors in "TotalImmortal" interesting is that it deviates from the single-color axis shown in many of the previous slides. Instead, this scene appears to be a composite image created from multiple color axes composited together. It is very reminiscent of Johnny and V being inseparable by this point in the game. @todo - show color composition slides
Delamain
@todo list:
- offspring are fragmented colors of the color wheel
- discuss how it mirrors protagonist's journey
- discuss how it mirrors the game's color axis
- merging required a lot of intelligence - foreshadowing?
Crosswalks
At a certain point, the black background in the crosswalk lights begin shining a random color on game startup.
The Demiurge Creation
If we take the serpent emblem given at the cube cutscene and focus only on the order that the symbols appear (and their location), we can treat the emblem as a color wheel.
Going from 1 to 2 is -75° on the color wheel. Going from 2 to 3 is a hue flip, etc. This paints the story of the world's creation, starting with #FF06B5 and its companion color as the key. We end with the duality of the corpo plaza fish - emblematic of this world.
It's worth noting that this color companionship of magenta and green is within color calibration margins of V, and leads to a palette that much more closely r
Useful Tools
- Hex Calculator
- Color Hue Rotator
- Color Mixeresembles Johnny's. Below, we will attempt such a calibration effort.