The Elements of Design Color Schemes Part I

The Elements of Design Color Schemes: Part I

Color Schemes q What is a Color Scheme? q Color Scheme is a plan for organizing colors according to their relationship on the color wheel.

Monochromatic q Monochromatic means 1 color q q Designs use only one hue and the tints and shades of that hue. This creates a strong unifying effect, but can be boring.

Monochromatic Colors:

Analogous q Analogous means related. q q Designs use colors that side by side on the color wheel and have a common hue between them. Example: red- violet, and blue-violet.

Analogous Colors

Complementary q Complementary means opposites. q q This combination uses the strongest contrasting colors, opposites on the color wheel. The combinations are very contrasting and grab your attention.

Complementary Colors: red & green

Complementary Colors: yellow orange & blue purple

Color Triads q Color Triads uses 3 colors. q q This design uses 3 spaced equally apart around the color wheel. A primary color triad would be with blue, red, and yellow.

Color Triad: red orange, blue purple & yellow green

Split Complementary q Split complementary means using a combination of hues. q The combination of 1 hue with the 2 hues on each side of its complementary match.

Split Complementary: q q q Purple Yellow-Orange Yellow-Green

Can you identify the following color schemes?

Yellow Orange, Red Orange: Analogous

Yellow Green, Red, Purple: Split-Complimentary

Red Orange, Blue Purple, Yellow Green: Color Triad

Tints & Shades of Red: Monochromatic Colors

Red & Green: Complimentary

Color Wheel Activities

Assignment #1: Primary & Secondary Colors

Assignment #2: Discovering Tints, Tones & Shades

Tertiary Color Collage