Must-Knows of Color

Many designers would say that color and typography remain the two most important elements in one’s designs. Thus, I think it’s safe to say, we can all agree that even the most minor color glitch can make or break a design. So whether you are designing a website, creating an ad or poster or even painting a room of your house, it’s important to remember some basics rules regarding color. Here is a collection of a few color “must-knows” from several graphic designers. First of all, know your color wheel and know it well! It provides us with much more valuable information than simply helping us understand how we arrive at specific colors. It provides us with endless color combinations and schemes that can be categorized by temperature, emotion, and of course, the basic color combinations: primary, secondary, tertiary, analogous, monochromatic, and complementary colors. This information becomes a science in which we can determine what colors are harmonious together and those that clash. A more in depth analysis of the color wheel can also provide us with information regarding a color’s value and saturation. Another important rule to consider is that the appearance of a color will change according to it’s surroundings. This is also true when comparing two shapes of the same color—for instance a line and rectangle of the same color will appear to have different values when placed on a solid background. Outlines can also affect the appearance of colors. Using a darker shade to outline a shape will keep the color contained and minimize the appearance of spreading. In contrast, a lighter outline will increase the appearance of the color spreading into adjacent colors. In addition, understanding color psychology can be extremely beneficial to your design, especially for advertisers and web designers who desire a specific reaction to their designs. Lastly, do not forget readability when combining typography and color. This can have an extremely negative impact on your design if not used correctly. For someone like me, who isn’t shy about using several colors and experimenting with different combinations, these tools can be extremely helpful. What other elements do you believe are essential to a good design?

Written by: Karly Poole