What is color theory?
Color Theory is a set of principles used to combine colors in a pleasing manner. Whether your goal is harmony or contrast, applying these principles will ensure an attractive palette in every design. At the core of the theory, color relationships are defined and understood on a visual representation - the color wheel. The color spectrum is displayed wrapped onto a circle so that each color's positon relative to another can be examined. The different color combinations are then categorized based on how similar or contrasting, compatible or clashing, they happen to be.
I've seen all the colors before, what's so different about seeing them on a Color Wheel?
The Color Wheel groups colors by their relationships and how they're perceived together. Their relative positions tell you a great deal.
Colors side-by-side harmonize with one another. They blend well but may not always provide adequate contrast. For example, blue and purple are adjacent and blend well but are too dark paired alone. Green and yellow, also are adjacent and harmonize, but can seem sickly or pale if paired in the wrong hue.
Colors separated by another color or more are called contrasting colors, also referred to as complementary. Red and green are contrasting colors. The more transitional colors separating two colors, the greater the contrast. For example, red and orange is not as high a contrast as red and yellow.
Colors that are directly opposite from one another tend to clash. These clashes occur between primary/complementary or ADDITIVE/SUBSTRACTIVE pairs such as blue & yellow or green & red. While contrast is often needed to provide optimum readability (such as black type on a white background) contrasting colors on the color wheel when printed side by side can be very busy to the eye and even appear to vibrate.
I know what I like when I see it, what else do I need to know?
Colors, much like words, communicate to the perceiver and evoke emotion and even physical reactions. Colors have symbolism and meaning that go beyond the visual stimulus. Red has been shown to raise blood pressure, for example, and blue has been shown to soothe. Some cultures believe vibrant colors are vulgar and dress only in black. In the U.S. white is for weddings and purity, while in some Eastern cultures, white is the color for mourning and funerals. Be aware of cultural connotations when applying color schemes to socially senstive promotions.
Furthermore, favored colors come and go in societal trends as well. In home decor, green and gold were all the rage in the 60s and 70s, but would not help a home's resale value today. Keep an eye on the fashion and interior design magazines and you'll get a feel for the current trends.
Colors are thought to each have their own unique meaning derived from our associations and experiences developed over time. The meanings are then conveyed to any image where they are prominent.
Red, the color of blood, has strong symbolic meanings - life, love, rage and lust. It brings focus to the essence of life and living with emphasis on survival. Red is hot, exciting and spicy. Red increases heart rate.
Pink provides feelings of affection, tenderness, vulnerability, love, and acceptance. It is usually associated with youth and feminism.
Orange is a healthy, vibrant color without the stress of red. It is one of the healing colors. It is said to increase appetite and stimulate enthusiasm and creativity. Orange means vitality with endurance.
Pure, bright and sunny yellow is optimistic and energetic. Yellow is full of intellectual energy and enlightenment. Yellow symbolizes wisdom, and it also means joy and happiness. Yellow is my favorite color.
Green is the essence of nature, growth and fertility. Green symbolizes self-respect, well being and healing. Green is the color of balance and harmony. It also symbolizes money and prosperity.
Blue is the coolest color - the color of the sky, ocean, sleep, twilight. A pure blue is the color of loyalty, sincerity and devotion. Blue is often the chosen color by conservative people. Blue is calming and honest.
Purple is the color of royalty. It instills feelings of power, grandeur and good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said to benefit peace of mind and meditation. Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, purple is believed to be the ideal color.
Black is not a color, strictly speaking. It is the absence of all color. Black and its opposite, white, represent polarities. Black absorbs all aspects of light while white reveals all. Black is mysterious and devious. It is quiet and sexy. It has come to mean death, sadness and emptiness. As an accent, black can add a formal aspect.
I want to create a relaxed mood with my color scheme, how do I choose the best colors?
Psychologists have long believed that color can affect mood. Social groups from prisoners to infants have been shown to be affected by color. Studies show that inmates are less violent and more cooperative when prison walls are painted blue. Babies sleep better in a soft pink or pale blue room than in a bright yellow nursery.
Cool colors tend to have a calming effect. Blue, green, and the neutrals white, gray, and silver are examples of cool colors. At one end of the spectrum they are cold, impersonal, sterile colors. At the other end, the cool colors are relaxing and soothing.
In nature, blue is water and sky, and green is plant life. Combine blues and greens for natural, watery color palettes. Heat up a too cool color palette with a dash of warm colors such as red or orange. If you want warmth with just a blue palette, choose deeper blues with a touch of red but not quite purple or almost black deep navy blues.
What are some of today's most popular color combo's?
One trend I've noticed recently is the increased use of browns everywhere I look. We have been living with this timeless earthy color for centuries, but recently it has seemed to gain popularity in areas such as fashion and interior decorating.
For instance, chocolate brown is an interesting new addition to wedding decor. It is being paired with pale pink, powder blue, mint green or even lavender. It is being used as the color for embellishments such as ribbons, table cloths, invitations, and centerpieces, not to mention formal attire.
Natural brown textiles and elements are being used more in other fashion such as chunky wooden or stone jewelry and distressed leather accessories. Even the haircolor of a deep, even, shiny chestnut is more common this year.
In marketing, retail especially, it's all geometric shapes of solid primary colors. As I visualize the logos of major retailers, I see: red/white, red/yellow, red/black, blue/white, blue/yellow, blue/red/white all used with circles, curves, squares, or stars. Some that randomly come to mind are: AT&T, General Motors, Target, Wal-mart, TSA, Reebok, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Macy's, McDonald's....the list goes on.
In film, there is an interesting nuance appearing with regularity in use of coloration. A drab, gray scene with one crisp red object popping vividly from the foreground for no apparent reason. I'm sure you've seen it, the red tea kettle screaching from the stove top of a stark white kitchen bathed in gray daylight, or the red glass door handle sparkling against dark mahogany in an otherwise dark, shadowy hall.
The creative use of color abounds in every facet of design today.
