Colors play an important role in our lives. We are surrounded by colors everywhere we go. Colors influence our moods, emotions, and behaviors in powerful ways. Understanding the basics of color theory can help designers, artists, and anyone who works with color use it more effectively.
What are primary colors?
The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. These colors can’t be created by mixing other colors together but they can be mixed together to create all other colors. This is why they are called primary colors.
When you look at light through a prism it separates into bands of these 3 colors. This demonstrates that all other colors are derived from these 3 hues. Paint pigments also function in the same way. The primary colors are like building blocks – all other colors stem from them.
Characteristics of the primary colors
Each primary color has specific characteristics:
- Red is associated with passion, energy, danger, and excitement. It grabs people’s attention and conjures up strong emotions.
- Yellow is energetic and lively. It represents happiness, optimism, enlightenment, and warmth.
- Blue is calm and peaceful. It suggests stability, tranquility, wisdom, and trust.
These colors elicit certain psychological and physiological reactions in people. Designers keep these associations in mind when working with color.
What are secondary colors?
Secondary colors are created by mixing equal parts of two primary colors. The 3 secondary colors are green, orange, and purple.
To make secondary colors:
- Green = Blue + Yellow
- Orange = Red + Yellow
- Purple = Red + Blue
Secondary colors blend some characteristics of the two primary colors used to create them but also have unique associations:
- Green symbolizes nature, health, renewal, and environment.
- Orange represents excitement, enthusiasm, creativity, and adventure.
- Purple evokes mystery, spirituality, luxury, and royalty.
What are tertiary colors?
Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color that does not contain that primary color. There are 6 tertiary colors:
| Tertiary Color | Made From |
|---|---|
| Red-orange | Red + Orange |
| Yellow-orange | Yellow + Orange |
| Yellow-green | Yellow + Green |
| Blue-green | Blue + Green |
| Blue-purple | Blue + Purple |
| Red-purple | Red + Purple |
Tertiary colors have the virtues of the 2 colors used to make them. They are not as intense as primary or secondary colors. For example:
- Red-orange has the energy of red mixed with the cheerfulness of orange.
- Blue-purple combines the stability of blue with the mystery of purple.
With just 3 primary colors and their combinations, it’s possible to create every color in the rainbow. This is the basis for the color wheel and modern color theory.
The color wheel
The color wheel shows the interrelationships between the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. It’s a useful tool for understanding color relationships and finding color schemes.
On the color wheel:
- Primary colors sit opposite each other
- Secondary colors are between the primaries
- Tertiary colors fill in the gaps
Complementary colors sit directly across from each other. These pairings create high contrast and vibrancy. Some examples of complements are red & green, purple & yellow, blue & orange.
Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel. They create harmony and are easy on the eyes. Analogous schemes use 3 or more adjacent colors – such as yellow, yellow-orange, and orange.
The tertiary colors act as bridges between the primary and secondary colors. This allows for lots of flexibility when creating color schemes.
Color properties
In addition to their relationships, colors have properties that are important to understand:
- Hue – The pigment or shade of the color.
- Value – How light or dark the color is.
- Saturation – The intensity or purity of the color.
Changing any of these 3 properties creates variations of a color. For example, light blue has a high value, navy blue has a low value. Pink is an unsaturated red, while crimson is highly saturated.
Understanding how to manipulate hue, value, and saturation gives endless options for generating colors.
Color models
Color models provide a standardized way to specify colors numerically. Each color has a specific set of values in a given color model. Some common color models are:
- RGB – For digital displays, based on mixing red, green, and blue light.
- CMYK – For print design, based on mixing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink.
- HSB – Indicates hue, saturation, and brightness.
- Hex codes – Six-digit codes representing red, green, and blue values.
Color pickers let you pinpoint the exact hue you want and get its numeric values for digital design work. This brings precision and consistency in color choices.
Color harmonies and schemes
A color scheme is a set of colors used together in a design. Schemes are based on logical color relationships stemming from the color wheel. Using harmonious schemes creates attractive, balanced designs.
Some popular types of color schemes include:
- Monochromatic – Shades, tones, and tints of one hue.
- Analogous – Colors next to each other on the color wheel.
- Complementary – Colors opposite each other.
- Split complementary – A color plus the two colors adjacent to its complement.
- Triadic – Colors equally spaced around the color wheel.
- Tetradic – Two complementary pairs.
Color schemes don’t have to be complicated. Even something as simple as different shades of a single color can create an elegant, polished look. The most important thing is choosing colors that align with the desired mood and style of the design.
Psychology of color
Color psychology examines how color affects human behavior and thinking on a subconscious level. Extensive research has uncovered many insights into the impacts of different hues, which are important for design, marketing, and beyond.
Here are some key findings about color psychology:
- Red stimulates appetite, increases respiration and heart rate.
- Blue creates a sense of calm and security. It slows metabolism.
- Green relieves anxiety and improves focus. Hospitals often use it for its calming effect.
- Yellow sparks creativity, happiness, and energy. But it can also cause eye strain.
- Black evokes power, sophistication, and mystery.
- White projects purity, cleanliness, and virtue.
Effective use of color psychology can help craft more thoughtful, intentional designs that evoke the desired feelings in an audience. But cultural associations also influence color meanings, so these are not strict rules.
Color trends
Color preferences and popular palettes shift over time with society, culture, and technology. Keeping up with color trends in specific industries can help designers and brands stay current.
Some color trends to note:
- Vibrant neon colors are popular in fashion and branding currently.
- Pastel shades lend a pleasant, relaxed aesthetic that is widely appealing.
- Neutral, earthy hues like sand, gray, and rustic greens and browns connect people to nature.
- Maximalist designs use bold, contrasting color combinations for visual impact.
New technologies like brighter screens and better inks also drive color capabilities and inspiration for designers. Trends come and go, but understanding the fundamentals of color never loses relevance.
Conclusion
Mastering color usage takes time, but grasping the essentials opens enormous possibilities. Whether planning a palette for a client project or just developing your personal design skills, keep these key principles in mind:
- Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors form the basis for the color wheel and all color relationships.
- Properties like hue, saturation, and value allow endless color variations.
- Color schemes based on harmonious relationships produce balanced, attractive results.
- Color psychology impacts emotions, perceptions, and behaviors.
- Follow color trends, but focus on timeless foundations first.
Understanding the basics of color theory helps unleash one of the most powerful tools in design. Use color thoughtfully and purposefully, and see how much it can elevate your creative work.
