BY: A L L E C I A M I TC H E L L

COLOR SCHEMES

CONTRAST DESIGN PRINCIPLECOLOR SCHEMES

The contrast design principle is wide ranged. The whole point of contrast is to grab the attention of the audience. Using a good color scheme in a design can help do accomplish that goal.

COLOR WHEEL

Color can either create interest or detract from the point of the design. The color wheel can help to make correct decisions on what colors to use together to make an attractive design.

PRIMARY & SECONDARY COLORS

The three primary colors are:

RedBlueYellow

The primary colors help make the secondary colors, which you see in the image to the right.

Secondary colors are:

GreenPurpleOrange

TERTIARY

Tertiary colors:

• Indigo• Violet• Brick• Gold • Lime• Teal

The Image to the right shows the how it all looks in a full color wheel.

COLOR SCHEMES

There are several ways to choose a color scheme for a design to create great contrast.

Common Color Schemes:

• Complementary• Split Complementary• Big/Triad Split

Complementary• Analagous• Triadic• Tetradic

COLOR SCHEMESCOMPLEMENTARY

There are: • Direct

complimentary• split

complementary Triad complementary.

There are three different ways to choose a complementary color scheme.

COLOR SCHEMESMONOCHROMATIC & ANALOGOUS

Monochromatic is one color but using different shades, as shown below. It is very useful to use one shade as the dominate color while the others act as accents colors.

Analogous color schemes use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. They usually match well and create serene and comfortable designs. Make sure you have enough contrast when choosing an analogous color scheme.

COLOR SCHEMETRIADIC & TETRADIC

Tetradic color schemes (as shown in images above) use four colors arranged into two complementary pairs. The tetradic color scheme works best if you let one color be dominant.

A triadic color scheme uses colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel. To use a triadic harmony successfully, the colors should be carefully balanced. Let one color dominate and use the two others for accent.