![color picker theory wheel color picker theory wheel](https://spinthewheel.app/assets/images/preview/food-color-picker.png)
But if too many colors in a design are hyper-saturated, it kind of hurts to look at. Overly saturated color gets your attention, like a moth to a flame. Saturation is another case of a little goes a long way.
![color picker theory wheel color picker theory wheel](https://www.creatopy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/the-color-wheel-creatopy.jpg)
If we go back to the cooking analogy, you don’t need to use every spice in the rack. Any more than that and you’d better know what you’re doing because it can get real ugly real fast. The right two colors can go a long way.Īs a rule of thumb, try sticking with two or three different colors at most. There’s a reason why black-and-white photos are so universally admired. But unless you’re trying to lead people to your pot o’gold, you probably don’t need to use that many colors. Remember that color wheel? I know, it’s pretty. And since I enjoy numbered lists, let’s go over the top three reasons why your color probably sucks. There are some principles at work here that we can learn from. Same illustration, but this one is much easier on the eyes.īut why is that? Spoiler alert: color decisions. (I do wonder what purple smells like, though.)īetter, right? Go ahead and wipe the tears of relief from your cheeks. In the case of color, we’re using our eyes and not our nose. We all pretty much agree about how something smells, but it’s a slightly different experience for everyone.
![color picker theory wheel color picker theory wheel](https://i.etsystatic.com/35639285/r/il/945af4/4176661787/il_1140xN.4176661787_85in.jpg)
In the simplest terms, color is a sensation. I’ll also include a free download with a bunch of my favorite color resources. And not only will I explain by example, but I will leave you with some handy tips along the way… So, today we’re going to cover some basics for how to work with color. And it doesn’t matter if it’s for graphic design, illustration, or motion design. But once you understand some fundamental rules, working with color will become something you look forward to. Now, I’m sure of a lot of you reading this struggle with how to use color. Not literally, of course, but it will look bad and the world will judge you accordingly. But use color the wrong way and it will make your eyes bleed. Maybe it’s the high stakes that come with it: Use color the right way and it will make the experience richer and more vibrant. And it can be intimidating to work with.įor whatever reason, thinking about color is my favorite part of the creative process. It is a complex thing when you really think about it. (Okay, maybe you didn’t think black metal.)Ĭolor is this intangible and visual experience that comes with an emotional response. When you think of color, you may think of a blue sky, green grass, and black metal music. Which explains why a lot of us make arbitrary decisions about color. If you took any kind of art class growing up, chances are your instructor mentioned the term “color theory.” And that was probably the last time you gave that term any kind of thought.