If you are mildly or heavily invested in the world of design, we are certain you may know a thing or two about the significance of color theory. For a designer, it is pivotal to know the ins and outs of color theory to create designs that foster an impact.

Color is an approach that influences almost everything we visually perceive and encounter on a daily basis. If you google the definition of color theory, you will be subjected to a plethora of concepts and meanings, however, only a few will thoroughly explain how it helps you. Understanding how color is formed and the relationship between colors can help broaden your perspective and aid in elevating your potential as a designer.

5 Awesome facts about Color that will thrill you!!

Colors can be optical illusions and can trick your mind.

Men and Women see the color Red differently.

Some people have a phobia of colors.

People are more likely to forget something when it’s in black and white.

Red is the first color a baby sees.

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So, what really is the Color Theory?

If you think back to school, you may remember the color wheel being taught at a very basic level. Let us hit rewind and go back to our school days – There are three primary colors – Red, Yellow, and Blue and can combine to create secondary colors that in turn combine to create tertiary colors. All in all, all colors are made from the primaries.

Color theory is the comprehensive collection of principles and guidelines that are heavily used by designers to communicate with viewers through different interfaces. It creates a balanced structure for color. To pick the best colors and establish exclusivity, designers take the help of the color wheel that helps them in designing elements with regards to psychology, hum2an optics, diversity, etc.

The Color Wheel

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The color wheel is an abstract illustrative tool of color hues around a circle that helps establish relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. In layman’s language, it’s a combination of art and science to determine what colors look cohesive to create harmony in designs. Let us delve deeper into this topic to find out what the color wheel entails:

1) Tints Vs. Shades

A tint is achieved by combining a pure color with white. A shade on the other hand is the opposite and is achieved by combining a pure color with black. Even just a tiny dollop of black/white to a pure color can turn it into a tint or a shade.

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2) Warm Vs. Cool

One group of the color wheel is associated with the colors that represent warmth and fire and are called warm colors. These colors primarily evoke a sense of warmth in individuals. The wavelengths of warm colors are long and are striking to the eyes. The other group is associated with the cold are called cool colors. These colors tend to have a soothing effect on individuals. While designing a creative, a designer can easily study the significance and goals of the brand to use warm or cool colors to create the desired outcome.

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3) Complementary Colors

Have you ever gone to a clothing store and seen an outfit with a heavy contrast? Well, you just experienced complementary colors in full glory. Complementary colors are placed opposite of each other on the color wheel. These pairs have the highest contrast which gives them a striking effect. This can sometimes have a negative effect as well as it can make the creative look too powerful. Designers need to pay heed to the requirement of the design in order to use complementary colors the right way.

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4) Split-Complementary Colors

It is a complementary scheme but one of the colors is split into two halves. The separation between the split is ideal for brands or designers with a limited color palette as it establishes a sense of harmony of a complementary color scheme while involving a broader assortment of colors.

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5) Triadic Colors

Three colors simultaneously and evenly spaced in the color wheel are called Triadic Colors. This can oftentimes pose a challenge to amateur designers as it can make the contract hard to contain.

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6) Analogous Colors

Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel. So, there is very little contrast and is usually used to create balance and harmony. Using too much of analogous colors can cause the design to look boring, hence designers should make use of a little contrast in these sorts of color palettes.

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Conclusion:

So, now that you understand the nitty-gritty of the Color Theory, write to us at marketing@apric.in with what your take on the Color Theory is. We would love to hear from you. Till then, we are working hard towards writing more insightful blogs for you so be on the lookout for our upcoming blog. Ciao!