Color is one of the most important elements in the design ecosystem. Each of the colors on the chromatic circle produces different sensations and emotions in each one of us. That is why color should also be one of the priorities when creating a brand or branding a commercial product. Since using the wrong colors can have a disastrous effect on the user experience.
What is the color?
It is necessary to understand the concept of color to work with its combinations, the definition of color is a sensation that it generates from the light rays that bounce off the surface of objects towards the sensors in our eyes. Color has three properties: hue, saturation or intensity, and value or brightness.
What is a color palette?
In graphic design, a color palette is the set of colors chosen to be used in an illustration, design, graphic piece or web page. The colors chosen in this palette tend to keep a certain degree of harmony and relationship with each other, to generate their own identity. There are several rules that can help in the selection of colors. To help you in the process of creating color palettes, we bring you tips and resources to build one quickly and custom.
How to create a color palette?
Before creating a color palette, you must first know the three great archetypes of color palettes:
Monochrome Colors
Monochromatic colors are all single-hued colors, including tones, tints, and shadows. That is why monochrome palettes are formed from a single color and its derivatives. To obtain these variations, black and white are added to the main color. This allows to have primary, secondary to even tertiary colors. You can choose within this matrix 3 to 4 colors to start assembling your designs, illustrations or products.
Advantages of working with a monochrome palette
Monochromatic colors convey a sense of unity and harmony. The process of creating this palette usually takes less time and effort. It is perfect to build minimalist designs and makes the brand’s style more recognizable.
Complementary colors
The complementary color palette uses colors that are opposite on the color wheel, for example red and green. Unlike monochrome palettes, these generate strong contrast that creates vibrant appearances when working with the right saturation.
Advantage and disadvantage of complementary colors
Complementary colors, being opposite, help each other to stand out, which manages to attract the attention of the human eye. However, it may not be the best option when using texts as it will make reading difficult. Consider the purpose of your color palette when defining it.
Analog Colors
Analogous colors are colors that are together or adjacent on the color wheel. This makes these colors very similar to each other, since they share hues in their matrix. For example: red, orange, and yellow are analog colors.
Advantages and Disadvantages of analog colors
Analog colors tend to create good combinations and create designs that convey serenity and comfort. Unlike the opposites, these complement each other, and generate an impressive level of consistency, which makes the brand easily recognizable. In addition, they are very versatile, and they lend themselves to different variations. It is advisable to use one color as the dominant, a second color as a support and the third to highlight.
Triad of colors
The Triada color palette is based on colors that are scattered symmetrically around the color wheel. The combination of colors based on the triad manages to convey a vibrant sensation.
To master the color palette, you need to have a good understanding of the theory behind color mixing. Once you gain experience, you can combine and try different combinations to get the perfect palette for your project. Remember to use portfolios of your favorite artists to be able to, Pinterest is the ideal platform to find better examples.
