A Read the text and complete it with words and expressions from the list below. B Watch the video and check your answers.How do
we know which colors look good together and which ones don't? Artists and designers have followed color
theory for
centuries, but anyone can learn more about it. It can help you feel confident
in many different situations, whether it's choosing colors for a design or putting together the perfect outfit.
Color
basics
Let's start at the beginning with a
refresher on the basics. Remember learning about primary and secondary colors? Primary colors, including red, blue and yellow, are the source of all other colors.
пустоValue are created by combining two primary
colors. Red and yellow make orange; yellow and blue make green;
and blue and red make purple.
If we mix these colors together, we get even more in-between
shades, like red-orange and yellow-green. All together, they
form what's called a color wheel.
A
closer look
Now that you know about the color wheel,
let's take it one step further and focus on the terms which are the key to
understanding more nuanced colors. пустоSplit‑complementary is the easiest one; it's basically just
another word for color. In the example
below, you might describe the hue as coral pink or light red, depending
on your interpretation.
пустоSaturation refers to intensity — in other words,
whether the color appears more subtle or more vibrant.
пустоTriadic colors are brighter or richer. пустоTried‑and‑true formulas colors
have less pigment and therefore less oomph.
пустоDesaturated has to do with how dark or light the
color is, ranging from black to white. This gives us many
different shades.
Creating
color schemes
So how do we put this all together to
create professional-looking color schemes? There are actually пустоColor wheel based on something called color harmony that can help.
Color harmony uses the пустоComplementary to illustrate time-tested color
combinations. We'll explore some of the most common types of harmony below.
The easiest formula for harmony is пустоSecondary colors because it only uses one
color or hue. The best thing about it is that these colors are guaranteed to match. The colors suit each other perfectly because they're all from the same family. To create this kind of color scheme, pick a spot on the color wheel, then use your
knowledge of saturation and value to
create variations.
An пустоHue
color scheme uses colors that are next
to each other on
the wheel, like reds and oranges or blues and greens. Don't be afraid to play
with the palette and create your own unique interpretation.
That's what color harmony is all about; the formulas are merely starting points
to help guide and inspire you.
пустоAnalogous colors are opposite
each other on the
wheel; for instance, blue and orange or the classic red and green. To avoid color schemes that are too simplistic, add some variety by introducing lighter, darker, or
desaturated tones.
A пустоTetradic
color scheme uses the colors on either
side of the complement. This gives you the same level of contrast as a complementary color scheme but
more colors to work with (and potentially more interesting results).
A пустоMonochromatic
color scheme uses three
colors that are evenly spaced, forming a perfect triangle on the wheel. These combinations tend to be pretty
striking — especially when they include primary or secondary colors — so be mindful when using them
in your work.
пустоHighly saturated color schemes form a rectangle on the wheel, using not one but two
complementary color pairs. This formula works best if you let
one color dominate while the others serve as an accent.
Avoiding
common mistakes
There are a few classic dos and don'ts
when it comes to color. For instance, have you ever seen colors that seem to vibrate when they're placed next to each
other?
The solution is to tone
it down—literally—and there's a simple way do it. Start with
one color, and try adjusting its lightness, darkness,
or saturation. Sometimes
a little contrast is all your color palette needs.
Readability is an important factor in
any design. Your colors should be legible and easy on the eyes,
especially when working with text.
Sometimes that means NOT using color—at
least not in every little detail.
Neutral colors like
black, white, and gray can help you balance your design, so when you do use color, it really stands out.
Choosing
the right colors
Every color sends a message. It's
important to consider the tone of your project, and choose a color
palette that fits.
For example, bright
colors tend to
have a fun or modern vibe.
Desaturated colors
often appear more serious or businesslike.
Sometimes it just
depends on the context. With
practice and creativity, there's no limit to what you can do.
Finding
inspiration
You can find ideas for color schemes in all kinds of
interesting places, from advertising
and branding to famous works of
art.
You can even use a web
resource to
browse color palettes or generate your own.
Experienced designers often take
inspiration from the world around them. There's nothing wrong with finding
something you like and making it your own.
Putting
it all together
Everywhere you look, there's color,
color, and more color. It can be intimidating to use it in your work, but it
doesn't have to be. Just keep experimenting, and remember what you've learned about color
theory. Soon, choosing great-looking colors will feel like
second nature.