COLOUR THEORY

•Monochromatic – Take one hue and create other elements from different shades and tints of it.

•Analogous – Use three colors located beside one another on the color wheel (e.g., orange, yellow-orange and yellow
to show sunlight). A variant is to mix white with these to form a “high-key” analogous color scheme (e.g., flames).

•Complementary – Use “opposite color” pairs—e.g., blue/yellow—to maximize contrast.

•Split-Complementary (or Compound Harmony) – Add colors from either side of your complementary color pair to
soften contrast.

•Triadic – Take three colors which are equally distant on the color wheel (i.e., 120° apart: e.g., red/blue/yellow).
These colors may not be vibrant, but the scheme can be as it maintains harmony and high contrast. It’s easier to make
visually appealing designs with this than with a complementary scheme.

•Tetradic – Take four colors that are two sets of complementary pairs (e.g., orange/yellow/blue/violet) and choose
one dominant color. This allows rich, interesting designs. However, watch the balance between warm and cool colors.

•Square – A variant of tetradic; you find four colors evenly spaced on the color wheel (i.e., 90° apart). Unlike tetradic,
square schemes can work well if you use all four colors evenly.
The Color Wheel is a fundamental
tool, created by Sir Isaac Newton in
1666.
•Primary colors - yellow, red, and blue. These are basic colors that cannot be broken down into any simpler
colors.

•Secondary colors - these are created by mixing two primary colors. The secondary colors are orange, green, and
purple. Mixing yellow and red creates orange; mixing blue and yellow creates green, and mixing blue and red
creates purple.

•Intermediate or tertiary colors are created by mixing both primary and secondary colors to form a hybrid, such
as yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, and yellow-green. On a larger color wheel
than the one shown above, a mix between intermediate, secondary, and primary colors would create quaternary
colors.
Monochromatic Scheme
The monochromatic scheme is based on the colors created from different tints (created by adding black or white to
the original color), tones, and shades of one hue. In theory, it’s the simplest of all the schemes. A monochromatic
scheme is commonly used in minimal designs because one hue should result in a less distracting layout.

Analogous Color Scheme

The analogous scheme is based on three colors located next to each other on the color wheel (e.g., red, red-orange,
and red-violet). This scheme can easily be found in nature – just think of trees in the autumn as the leaves change
color.
There is a variant on this scheme, the “high-key” analogous color scheme. It’s achieved by mixing your analogous
shades with white. This version is commonly found in impressionist art – particularly early impressionist art. The
effect achieved is one where the colors seem to “shimmer” and “blur” into each other – when viewed from a
distance, it can create the illusion that only a single color is in use.

Complementary Schemes
Complementary color schemes use one (or more) pairs of colors that, when combined, “cancel each other out”. For
example, when you combine the two colors, they produce white or black (or something very similar from the gray-
scale). For that reason, this scheme is also known as the “opposite color” scheme.
When you put two complementary colors next to each other, they show the greatest contrast. In modern color
theory, the pairs are red/cyan, green/magenta, and blue/yellow.
Split-Complementary (occasionally “Compound Harmony”) Scheme
This is a combination of using the complementary color scheme and the analogous color scheme. In essence,
complementary colors are chosen and then the colors on either side of them on the color wheel are also used in the
design. It’s considered to soften the impact of a complementary color scheme, which can, in some situations, be too
bold or too harsh on the viewer’s eye.

Triadic
The triadic scheme is based on using three colors at equal distances from each other on the color wheel. The easiest
way to find a triadic scheme is to put an equilateral triangle on the wheel so that each corner touches one color. The
three colors will be exactly 120° from each other.

Tetradic
Tetradic schemes utilize two sets of complementary pairs: four colors. These can create very interesting visual
experiences, but they are hard to keep in balance.

Square (A Variant of Tetradic)

The square scheme is a variant of the tetradic scheme. Instead of choosing two complementary pairs, you place a
square on the color wheel and choose the colors that lie on its corners. Therefore, you’ll find four colors that are
evenly spaced at 90° from each other. Unlike the tetradic color scheme, this approach often works best when all the
colors are evenly used throughout the design.
Color Temperature
Colors can be used to convey emotive content as well as assist with the look and feel of your website.

However, if you want to follow the color wheel approach, there are three indicators of color temperature: “warm”
and “cool” and “neutral”:

•Warm colors–These are colors located on the half of the color wheel that includes yellow, orange, and red. These
colors are said to reflect feelings such as passion, power, happiness, and energy.

•Cool colors– These are colors located on the other side of the color wheel, including green, blue, and purple. Cool
colors are said to reflect calmness, meditation, and soothing impressions.

•Neutral Colors – These are not said to reflect any particular emotions. These colors include gray, brown, white,
and black.
Simply put, tints, tones and shades are variations of hues, or colors, on the color wheel. A tint is a hue to which white
has been added. For example, red + white = pink. A shade is a hue to which black has been added. For example, red +
black = burgundy. Finally, a tone is a color to which black and white (or grey) have been added. This darkens the original
hue while making the color appear more subtle and less intense.
•White: As many of our readers have suggested, the color white can feel fresh and clean. The color
is often used to evoke a sense of youth and modernity.

•Black: Our readers often describe black as a "powerful" color, which might be the reason why
black is the most popular color for luxury vehicles. People often describe the color as sexy,
powerful, and mysterious.

•Silver: It's the third most popular vehicle color and is linked to a sense of innovation and
modernity. High-tech products are often silver, so the color is often seen as new, modern, and
cutting-edge.

•Red: Red is a bold, attention-getting color, so preferring this type of car might mean you want to
project an image of power, action, and confidence.

•Blue: People often describe blue as the color of stability and safety. Driving a blue car or SUV might
indicate that you are dependable and trustworthy.

•Yellow: According to the experts, driving a yellow vehicle might mean you are a happy person in
general and perhaps a bit more willing than the average person to take risks.

•Gray: The experts suggest that people who drive gray cars don't want to stand out and instead
prefer something more subtle.