Colors

Colors are one of the most important elements of design. In this writing, we will see the basic color theories and helpful tools we can use to experiment with colors.

Color Theory

The color theory is the theory to explain how a combination of colors can generally make a human feel in a certain way. The theory uses the wheel of colors that is comprised (Created by Isaac Newton) of the prime colors (red, blue, and yellow) which cannot be made by mixing other colors, and secondary colors, a combination of the primary colors (orange, purple, and green). Prime colors cannot be made by combining other colors.

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Terms

Now, let's see some of the basic terms in colors.

 

▶ Hue

This represents the original color of the main colors (red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, and green) in the wheel without tint or tone.

 

▶ Tint

It is created by adding white to the main colors (red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, and green).

 

▶ Shade

Created by adding black to the main colors (red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, and green).

 

▶ Tone

Created by adding grey to the main colors (red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, and green).

 

▶ Neutral colors

White, black, and grey

 

▶ Color

Every color that humans can differentiate (Hue, Tint, Shade, Tone,...)

 

▶ Value (brightness, intensity)

The brightness of a color when the color is converted to grey.

 

▶ Saturation

The intensity of a color when Hue is mixed with Tone(grey). The more Tone the weaker the intensity.

Color Harmony

We have three primary colors and three secondary colors. That sounds not much, but the mixture of the two (Tertiary color) can be countless combinations. The color harmony theory is a theory to help us understand in advance what each combination of colors will feel like in general to humans.

Color Harmony [Source: https://www.udemy.com/course/graphic-design-masterclass-everything-you-need-to-know/]

▶ Analogous

A combination of the colors that are close to each other on the color panel.

 

▶ Complementary

A combination of the colors that are opposite to each other on the color panel.

 

▶ Split-Complementary, Compound

A mixture of the Analogous and Complementary. The combination of the colors that are opposite to each other on the color panel and divide one end to colors on both sides that are adjacent to it.

 

▶ Monochromatic

A combination of one color (hue) with its variation of tint and shade

 

▶ Triadic

A triangular shape of colors on the panel.

 

▶ Tetradic

A square shape of colors on the panel.

Psychology of Color

Colors can have an emotional effect too. A general conception of colors is as follows.

Psychology of color [Source: https://www.udemy.com/course/graphic-design-masterclass-everything-you-need-to-know/]

Tools

Color Hunt

This site has a huge account of a pre-made combination of colors that we can choose and use.

Adobe Color

A tool provided by Adobe. It provides features like an accessibility test and a color harmony test.

Canva

A tool provided by Canve. Its simplicity is its best asset.

Design AI

This site also provides features like an accessibility test and a color harmony test like Adobe and its UI is similar to Canva.

In this writing, we have got to know the color theory and some of the useful tools when creating colors.