Applying Color Theory to Projects
Understand the Basic Rules of Color to Create Meaningful Designs
Jul 1, 2008
Color should always be chosen for a reason and reflect the message the designer is conveying to the public. Here are some tips on how to use the color wheel, how to choose colors for a project and simple rules of thumb when it comes to color.
Reading the Color Wheel
The color wheel is a great tool to use when choosing colors for a project. The wheel is made up of 12 basic colors:
- three primary colors (red, blue and yellow)
- three secondary colors (a blend of two primary colors)
- and six tertiary colors (a blend of a primary and a secondary color).
Using the Color Wheel
Depending on the feel of the project, designers will use harmonizing, complementary and contrasting colors to help set the tone for the viewer of the work.
Harmonizing colors are located next to each other on the wheel. These colors don't compete with the eye for attention and create smooth transitions of color within a project. However,if the colors are too similar, they will become washed out and lose their vibrance.
Complementary colors are separated by another color. There is a reason for this: they look great when given space, but tend to cause the eye to jump back and forth when they are side by side.
Contrasting colors are opposite each other on the wheel. These colors can work well side by side or within the same project to attract attention. Be careful not to use contrasting colors throughout the whole project, or the eye will not know where to look first.
Picking Colors for a Project
Colors can attract attention or fade into the background and knowing a few simple rules about how colors react will help a designer choose the best combination fir his or her project.
Here are a few color rules:
- Warm colors appear larger than cool ones and seem to be moving toward the viewer. Cooler colors recede into the background.
- Pure primary and secondary colors draw the eye toward them and attract attention.
- To create unity use one color with tints and shades of that hue or colors that contain the same hue. (These colors are located next to each other on the color wheel.)
- To draw attention to images or type don't use a color too close to black.
- Try not to think of black and white as colors but as neutral space.
Evaluating Color Choices
Since color has a huge impact on perception, it is wise to carefully evaluate the message of the work and to make sure the colors convey that message.
- What type of mood is the color setting for the viewer?
- Does this color support the message the client is sending?
- What relationship does the color have to the content?
- Is the color making the project too serious, too funny?
- Will there be a lot of text and/or images?
- Will the text be visible with these colors?
- Will the images look washed out against these colors?
Web and Print Color Formats
RGB (red, green, blue) are the three colors that make up every color viewed on the Internet. Computer monitors read color in the RGB format, so be aware that printed documents will never look exactly the same as they did on the screen before printing.
CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) are the colors used to create any color imaginable on offset and laser printers. While all printed documents will need to be converted into CMYK format before printing, computer monitors still show the work in RGB.
There are many software programs that calibrate computer monitors to more accurately reflect the printed color, but the best way to truly know what the color will look like printed, is to print it.
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