Color Theory 101: A Complete Guide to Color Wheels

Safalta Expert Published by: Aryan Rana Updated Fri, 02 Dec 2022 10:49 PM IST

Creating visuals like infographics, charts, graphs, animated GIFs, and other shareable images can do wonders for grabbing your reader's attention and enhancing your article or report, even though text-based content is always important when looking for answers to a question. Making content stand out requires an understanding of color theory and design. 

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Table of Content
Explain color theory.
Why is color theory significant in web design?
Basic Color Theory
The wheel of color theory.
The Meaning of Color
What seven different color schemes are there?
How to Pick the Right Color Scheme

Explain color theory.

The main rules and regulations governing color and its use in producing aesthetically pleasing visuals are based on color theory. Understanding the fundamentals of color theory will help you create and use color palettes more effectively by allowing you to start parsing the logical structure of color for yourself. The result entails a certain feeling, ambiance, or aesthetic.

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Why is color theory significant in web design?

Color can affect the meaning of the text, how users navigate a particular layout, and how they feel while doing so. It is one of, if not the most important, design elements. Understanding color theory will help you make more deliberate, impactful visuals. Consider choosing the appropriate color scheme. It might appear simple at first, but once you're staring at a color wheel, you'll wish you knew more about what you're seeing.

 

Basic Color Theory

Primary Colors

The only way to make a primary color is to mix two or more other colors. They resemble prime numbers, which are unachievable by adding two different numbers together. Consider primary colors as your design's parent hues, establishing a broader color palette for your artwork.

There are three basic hues:

  • Red.
  • Yellow.
  • Blue.
 

Secondary Colors

Any two of the three aforementioned primary colors can be combined to create secondary colors. Three secondary colors are present: orange, purple, and green. Each one can be produced by combining two of the three primary colors. The basic guidelines for secondary colors:

  • Orange= red and yellow.
  • Purple= blue and red.
  • Green= Blue and Yellow.

 

Tertiary Colors

When you combine a primary color with a secondary color, you get tertiary colors. When a primary color and the secondary color right after it on the color wheel below combine, a tertiary color is produced. This specification corresponds to six tertiary colors:

  • Purple plus Red makes Red-Purple (magenta).
  • Orange plus Red equals Red-Orange (vermillion).
  • Purple plus Blue equals Blue-Purple (violet).
  • Green plus Blue equals Blue-Green (teal).
  • Orange plus Yellow equals Yellow-Orange (amber).
  • Yellow plus Green equals Yellow-Green (chartreuse).

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The wheel of color theory.

Now that you are aware of the "main" colors, you and I both know that there are much more than just the 12 primary colors when selecting color schemes, particularly for computers. The color wheel, a circle graph that shows each primary, secondary, and tertiary color along with their corresponding hues, tints, tones, and shades, was created with this purpose in mind. By illustrating the relationships between each color and the one immediately adjacent to it on a rainbow color scale, this method of visualizing colors aids in the selection of color schemes.

 

The Meaning of Color

  • Red is frequently linked to strength, passion, or energy and can help inspire action on your website.
  • Orange is a good color to use for positive messaging because it evokes joy and enthusiasm.
  • Yellow symbolizes joy and intelligence, but avoid using it excessively.
  • Green can help convey the idea that your brand is expanding because it is frequently associated with growth or ambition.
  • Blue can convey both serenity and assurance depending on the shade; lighter hues convey peace, while darker hues convey greater assurance.
  • Purple is a symbol of luxury or creativity, especially when used on your website deliberately and sparingly.
  • Black is a color associated with mystery and power, and its use can help create the necessary negative space.
  • White symbolizes security and innocence, making it a fantastic choice to help your site run smoothly.

 

What seven different color schemes are there?

1. Monochromatic

To create a unified look and feel, monochromatic color schemes employ a single color in a variety of tints and shades. Despite the lack of color contrast, it frequently comes off as very pristine and polished. You can also quickly adjust the brightness and darkness of your colors.

2. Analogous

One main color and the two colors that sit next to it on the color wheel are paired to create analogous color schemes. If you want to use a five-color scheme rather than just three colors, you can also add two extra colors (which are located next to the two outside colors).

3. Complementary

A complementary color scheme is built on the use of two colors that are situated next to one another on the color wheel as well as appropriate tints of those colors, as you may have guessed. The greatest amount of color contrast is provided by the complementary color scheme. As a result, you should exercise caution when choosing how to incorporate complementary colors into a scheme.

4. Split Complementary

One dominant color and the two colors that are directly opposite the dominant color's complement make up a split complementary scheme. In contrast to a complementary color scheme, this results in a more nuanced color palette while still preserving the advantages of contrasting colors.

5. Triadic

High-contrast color schemes with the same tonality are available in triadic color schemes. By selecting three colors that are equally spaced in lines around the color wheel, triadic color schemes can be made.

6. Square

Four colors that are equally spaced apart on the color wheel are used in the square color scheme to produce a square or diamond shape. Choosing one dominant color rather than attempting to balance all four is a good idea even though this evenly-spaced color scheme gives your design significant contrast.

7. Rectangle

The rectangle approach, also known as the tetradic color scheme, is comparable to its square counterpart but takes a more subdued approach to color selection.

 

How to Pick the Right Color Scheme

1. Make use of spontaneous inspiration.

The best examples of complementary color combinations can be found in nature, which includes everything from the blue skies and white clouds to the green stems and vibrant blooms of flowering plants.

2. Create an atmosphere with your color scheme.

Consider the tone you want your color scheme to convey while keeping a few color options in mind. Lean more toward red or more vibrant yellow colors if fervor and energy are your top priorities. Focus on lighter shades of blue and green if you want to evoke a sense of calm or peace.

3. Consider the context of color.

It's important to take into account how colors are interpreted in contrast. Consider how much contrast you want throughout the design when selecting colors for your graphic designs.

4. Make use of the color wheel.

Then, think about your color wheel and the aforementioned schemes. To see what stands out, choose a few distinct color schemes using techniques like monochrome, complementary, and triad.

5. Create numerous designs.

Create and use various color schemes on your website to see which ones stand out. After that, wait a few days before checking once more to see if your favorites have changed.

Understanding color theory can make a huge difference in how you use color when it comes to choosing colors. This can make it simple to create branded graphics, especially when using design templates that allow you to change the colors.

What does color theory mean in plain English?

The science and art of using color are both a part of color theory. It explains how color is perceived by people as well as the visual effects of how colors blend, complement, or contrast one another.

What makes the color theory so crucial?

Knowing where various hues and saturations are located on the color wheel enables us to determine which hues complement one another to produce a pleasing palette.

Is color theory a skill?

It takes a lot of practice to get good at using color. It can be difficult to develop harmonious color schemes and successfully apply them in design projects.

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