Difference between revisions of "Colour Theory"

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== Starting out - The Colour Wheel ==
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== Starting Out ==
  
Learn how to use a colour wheel. I always see this thing posted but no one explains how the fuck it works so here's a 5 minute crash course.
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''This is a color wheel.''
  
 
[[File:Color_wheel.gif|left]]
 
[[File:Color_wheel.gif|left]]
  
This is a colour wheel. It has colours on it. Red, blue, and yellow are the primary colours. Orange, green, and violet are the secondary colours. In between these you have an infinite number of tertiary colours.
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Red, blue, and yellow are primary colors. Orange, green, and violet are secondary colors. In between these you have an infinite number of tertiary colors.
  
Complementary colours are the most basic of pairings. Pick any colour on the wheel and look at the colour that is directly opposite it by crossing through the centre of the wheel. Eg. the opposite of orange is blue, that means blue is the compliment to orange and vice versa. These combinations always look good together but some of them are so tired and played out (red and green) that they won't always work.  
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Complementary colors are the most basic of pairings. Pick any color on the wheel and look at the color that is directly opposite. For example, orange and blue are complements. While these direct complements work well in theory, with clothing it can often look tacky or too matchy-matchy, especially if the colors are very vibrant. Think red and green.
  
You can avoid this by doing what's called a split complementary, which is the same as a complementary but also includes the two colours right next to the complement. Eg. the split complementary of yellow is purple, violet, and blue. You can take yellow and match it with any, some, or all 3 of those colours and it will usually work.
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One way to avoid this is using a split complementary, which includes the two colors right next to the complement. For example, the split complementary of yellow is purple, violet, and blue. You can take yellow and match it with any, some, or all 3 of those colors and it will usually work.
  
Basically, use uncommon tertiary colours and then either complementary or split complementary combinations and you're pretty much set. Like you can actually make red and green work by using a really deep burgundy with a nice shade of olive or one of my favourites is a very burnt orange with a deep shape of navy.
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Use uncommon tertiary colors and then either complementary or split complementary combinations. For example, you could make red and green work together by using a really deep burgundy with a nice shade of olive.
  
P.S. None of this is set in stone but if you don't have a clue and need somewhere to start this can help a lot. It will also quickly explain to you why things like the orange and blue motif are so omnipresent in advertisements, everyone in marketing has a colour wheel. Black and white are neutral colours and go with pretty much anything but don't over use the two.
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Keep in mind that not just color, but contrast and saturation, are important (see infographs below). You want to keep a visual balance; if you were wearing a vibrant orange sweater, you could wear a muted grey trouser to balance out the outfit. Black and white go with pretty much anything but don't overuse them (or buy more interesting styles).
 
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'''Note - Well known combinations'''
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Be aware that some colors combinations don't work well because of contextual stigmas. Black trousers with long sleeve white dress shirts are associated with waitstaff.  Black trousers and short sleeve white dress shirts are associated with Mormons.  Bright blue polo shirts and khakis are associated with CIA agents.
Be aware that some colors combinations don't work well because there is a contextual stigma with it. Black trousers and long sleeve white dress shirt are associated with waitstaff.  Black trousers and short sleeve white dress shirts are associated with Mormans.  Bright blue polo shirts and khakis are associated with Best Buy employees.  Beyond specific uniforms there are more general associations.  Saturated red and green is associated with Christmas so even though they are complementary they should be avoided (It is possible to wear them if you play around with different proportions, hues, shades and saturation levels.)
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== Helpful Online Tools ==
 
== Helpful Online Tools ==
  
http://colorschemedesigner.com/ - When you arrive to this site, direct your attention to the drop-down menu at the top right. Hover your mouse over the Colorblind option, then select "Atypical Monochromatism." Go crazy with the other options.
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http://colorschemedesigner.com/ And its last version : http://colorschemedesigner.com/csd-3.5/ - When you arrive to the 3.5 version of the site, direct your attention to the drop-down menu at the top right. Hover your mouse over the Colorblind option, then select "Atypical Monochromatism." Go crazy with the other options.
  
 
http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/palettes - This site is good for inspiration and nothing more. Due to the wide mix of colors, many of these palettes do not apply well to clothing. As such you should not take it too seriously. It's not advised to use more than 2 or 3 different colors in your outfit unless you want to look like you just came from [http://i.imgur.com/HpEjpt3.jpg Tumblr].
 
http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/palettes - This site is good for inspiration and nothing more. Due to the wide mix of colors, many of these palettes do not apply well to clothing. As such you should not take it too seriously. It's not advised to use more than 2 or 3 different colors in your outfit unless you want to look like you just came from [http://i.imgur.com/HpEjpt3.jpg Tumblr].
  
== More Colour Theory - Hue, Saturation, & Contrast ==
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== More Color Theory - Hue, Saturation, & Contrast ==
  
 
[[File:Colour_Theory.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
 
[[File:Colour_Theory.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
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The guide on the left covers hue, value, saturation, contrast, and moods.
 
The guide on the left covers hue, value, saturation, contrast, and moods.
  
The guide on the right covers some basic colour theory in relation to clothing.
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The guide on the right covers some basic color theory in relation to clothing.

Latest revision as of 11:47, 6 May 2018

Starting Out

This is a color wheel.

Color wheel.gif

Red, blue, and yellow are primary colors. Orange, green, and violet are secondary colors. In between these you have an infinite number of tertiary colors.

Complementary colors are the most basic of pairings. Pick any color on the wheel and look at the color that is directly opposite. For example, orange and blue are complements. While these direct complements work well in theory, with clothing it can often look tacky or too matchy-matchy, especially if the colors are very vibrant. Think red and green.

One way to avoid this is using a split complementary, which includes the two colors right next to the complement. For example, the split complementary of yellow is purple, violet, and blue. You can take yellow and match it with any, some, or all 3 of those colors and it will usually work.

Use uncommon tertiary colors and then either complementary or split complementary combinations. For example, you could make red and green work together by using a really deep burgundy with a nice shade of olive.

Keep in mind that not just color, but contrast and saturation, are important (see infographs below). You want to keep a visual balance; if you were wearing a vibrant orange sweater, you could wear a muted grey trouser to balance out the outfit. Black and white go with pretty much anything but don't overuse them (or buy more interesting styles).





Be aware that some colors combinations don't work well because of contextual stigmas. Black trousers with long sleeve white dress shirts are associated with waitstaff. Black trousers and short sleeve white dress shirts are associated with Mormons. Bright blue polo shirts and khakis are associated with CIA agents.

Helpful Online Tools

http://colorschemedesigner.com/ And its last version : http://colorschemedesigner.com/csd-3.5/ - When you arrive to the 3.5 version of the site, direct your attention to the drop-down menu at the top right. Hover your mouse over the Colorblind option, then select "Atypical Monochromatism." Go crazy with the other options.

http://www.colourlovers.com/fashion/palettes - This site is good for inspiration and nothing more. Due to the wide mix of colors, many of these palettes do not apply well to clothing. As such you should not take it too seriously. It's not advised to use more than 2 or 3 different colors in your outfit unless you want to look like you just came from Tumblr.

More Color Theory - Hue, Saturation, & Contrast

Colour Theory.jpg
Colourguide1.png

The guide on the left covers hue, value, saturation, contrast, and moods.

The guide on the right covers some basic color theory in relation to clothing.