Color Theory Simplified

What is color theory? Color theory is the collection of rules and guidelines for color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination.

THE COLOR WHEEL

The color wheel is a tool that artists use to understand all of the colors and how they relate to each other. The colors on the color wheel are categorized as "cool colors" (greens, blues, and purples) and "warm colors" (reds, oranges, and yellows).

PRIMARY COLORS

There are three primary colors - red, yellow, blue. These three colors cannot be made by mixing any other combination of colors together. You can make any other color by mixing different combinations of the primary colors together.

SECONDARY COLORS

Secondary colors are made by mixing two primary colors together. These are the colors orange (red + yellow), green (blue + yellow), and violet (red + blue).

TERTIARY COLORS

Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color. These colors are blue-violet, red-orange, yellow-green, green-blue, red-violet, and yellow-orange.

COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

Complementary colors are just what they sound like - colors that complement each other. These colors are opposites on the color wheel.

Red and Green - Orange and Blue - Yellow and Violet

Mixing these colors together will mute both colors, eventually turning the mixture brown or gray.

ANALOGOUS COLORS

Analogous colors are colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Red, orange, yellow or green, blue, and violet are a couple examples of analogous colors.

MONOCHROMATIC COLORS

Monochromatic color is when you use one color and add black and/or white to make the color more or less saturated.

Understanding the ways that colors go together help an artist put together a color palette that is pleasing to the eye. It can also help designers, business owners, and pretty much anyone is the design world better understand how to design their products, spaces, artwork, etc.