Color Theory Fundamentals
Master the science and art of color to create beautiful, harmonious palettes
The Color Wheel
Primary Colors
Energy, passion, urgency
Trust, stability, calm
Optimism, creativity, attention
Secondary & Tertiary
Nature, growth, harmony
Warmth, enthusiasm, creativity
Luxury, mystery, spirituality
Color Wheel Basics:
- • Primary colors cannot be created by mixing other colors
- • Secondary colors are made by mixing two primary colors
- • Tertiary colors are created by mixing primary and secondary colors
- • The color wheel shows relationships between all colors
Color Harmony Types
Colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Creates maximum contrast and visual impact.
Best for:
- • Call-to-action buttons
- • Highlighting important elements
- • Creating visual tension and energy
- • Logos and brand identities
Pro tip: Use one color as dominant and the complement as an accent for best results.
Examples:
Colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel. Creates serene, comfortable designs.
Best for:
- • Background gradients
- • Nature-inspired designs
- • Creating calm, relaxing atmospheres
- • Subtle color variations
Pro tip: Choose one color to dominate, another to support, and a third for accents.
Examples:
Three colors equally spaced on the color wheel. Offers high contrast while maintaining harmony.
Best for:
- • Playful, dynamic designs
- • Children's applications
- • Creative and artistic projects
- • Balanced, vibrant interfaces
Pro tip: Let one color dominate and use the others as accents for better balance.
Examples:
Different shades, tints, and tones of a single color. Creates sophisticated, unified designs.
Best for:
- • Professional, minimal designs
- • Brand consistency
- • Photography portfolios
- • Elegant, sophisticated interfaces
Pro tip: Vary the lightness and saturation to create visual hierarchy and interest.
Examples:
Color Psychology
Red
Energy, passion, urgency, danger, love
Orange
Enthusiasm, creativity, warmth, playfulness
Yellow
Optimism, attention, happiness, caution
Blue
Trust, stability, calm, professionalism
Green
Nature, growth, harmony, freshness
Purple
Luxury, creativity, mystery, spirituality
Practical Application
Healthcare
Blue (trust), green (healing), white (cleanliness)
Technology
Blue (trust), gray (sophistication), white (clean)
Creative
Purple (creativity), orange (energy), pink (playful)
❌ Don't Do This:
- • Use too many bright colors together
- • Rely solely on color to convey information
- • Ignore color accessibility guidelines
- • Use colors that clash with your brand
- • Apply trends without considering context
✅ Do This Instead:
- • Start with a neutral base and add color accents
- • Use icons and text alongside color coding
- • Test contrast ratios for accessibility
- • Choose colors that align with your message
- • Focus on timeless, purposeful color choices
Practice What You've Learned
Now that you understand color theory, put it into practice with paletteIO's color harmony generators.