Have you ever imagined a world without colour? Colour plays a vital role in our minds. Colour significantly affects our thoughts, emotions, and ability to visualize as well. You will be astonished to know that most of the time, colour affects how we think and influences our decisions. Yes, you got that right! Different colour portrays different emotions associated with them. Due to this reason, it is very crucial for a graphic designer to understand colour theory very precisely. Our brain is a blessing for us as we can interpret each colour differently. Our brain can easily comprehend that bananas are yellow, roses are red, and tree leaves are green.
In our surroundings, there are so many distinct hues. Artists have long studied the realm of colour to comprehend its nature and beautiful yet aesthetic composition fully. Materially, each colour affects the human mind in a particular way. Colours and emotions are closely related to one another.
For Instance:
- Red: For love and anger
- White: For peace, cleanliness
- Black: Mystery, Strength & evil
- Yellow: Optimism and cherry
- Blue: Wisdom, loyalty and truth
- Pink: Romance, love & gentleness
Therefore, we understood the fact that colour is one of the most essential elements in graphic design. It can convey several emotions, set the tone, and influence the overall perception of a design. Graphic designers need to have a solid understanding of colour theory in order to choose colours for their designs with knowledge of whatever they are creating. Therefore, in this blog post, we will be exploring the role of colour theory in creating impactful designs. But before that, let us check what exactly colour theory is!
What is Color Theory?
The study of how colour interacts with each other, how they can be mixed to evoke various moods and feelings, and how they can be utilized to transmit meaning is known as colour theory. The colour wheel, a graphic representation of the colours that can be combined to make all other colours, serves as the foundation for colour theory. The inventor of the colour circle was Isaac Newton. He displayed a circle divided into numerous pieces, each containing a different colour, in his book “Opticks,” published in 1666.
- The primary, secondary, and tertiary colours were all combined to create the colour wheel.
- The objective was to make colour theory simple to understand and show how colours connect to one another so we could pick the perfect shade and mix colours to create original colour schemes.
Primary Colors
- The primary colours are red, blue, and yellow.
- They are the building blocks of all other colours and cannot be created by mixing other colours together.
- When primary colours are mixed together, they create different secondary colours.
Secondary Colors
- Secondary colours are created by mixing two different primary colours together. That means:
- The secondary colours are green ( which is created by mixing blue and yellow), orange ( which is created by mixing red and yellow), and purple ( which is created by mixing blue and red).
Tertiary Colors
- Tertiary colours are created by mixing a primary colour with a secondary colour.
- For instance, mixing red and orange creates red-orange, which is a tertiary colour. In total, there are six tertiary colours.
Color Harmony
Colour harmony refers to the way in which colours are combined to create a pleasing and balanced effect. There are several different types of colour harmony, including monochromatic, complementary, analogous, and triadic. In this section, we will focus on each one of them. Well, the best way to learn colour harmony and colour theory is with the assistance of graphic design courses. These courses have an updated curriculum that offers proper aspirant knowledge. There are reputed institutes which are providing graphic designing courses in Kolkata.
Monochromatic Color Harmony
Monochromatic colour harmony is created by using different shades and tints of the same colour. It creates a simple, clean, and cohesive look. Monochromatic colour schemes are often used in minimalist designs.
Complementary Color Harmony
Complementary colour harmony is created by using colours opposite each other on the colour wheel. For example, blue and orange are complementary colours. Complementary colour schemes are often used to create contrast and excitement in a design.
Analogous Color Harmony
Analogous colour harmony is created by using colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel. For example, blue-green, green, and yellow-green are analogous colours. Analogous colour schemes are often used to create a harmonious and natural feel.
Triadic Color Harmony
Triadic colour harmony is created by using three colours that are equally spaced on the colour wheel. For example, red, yellow, and blue are triadic colour schemes. Triadic colour schemes are often used to create a bold and vibrant look.
Using Color to Create Emotion
Colour can be used to evoke specific emotions in a design. For instance, red is often associated with passion, love, and excitement, or it may also be used as a colour of danger as well. On the other hand, blue is often associated with calmness, trust, and stability. Therefore, understanding the psychology of colour is therefore essential when designing for a specific audience or purpose as well. Here’s another blog on Reasons for Choosing Graphic Designing as a Career Option.
Using Color in Branding
Likewise, for graphic designers, colour is an essential aspect of branding as well. Brands often use specific colours to create a solid and recognizable visual identity. For instance, the colour red is commonly used in the branding of fast-food chains as it is often associated with energy and excitement. On the other hand, the colour blue is commonly used in the branding of financial institutions because it is associated with trust and stability.
To Wrap Up
Therefore, we understood the fact that it is obvious that colour is never used in design in a vague way. Instead, the colour employed in design has a psychological effect on the targeted audience. Various different hues have different impacts. To employ colours correctly in impactful designs, skilled designers must be aware of these colour theories and how each of them is used. Although with the assistance of graphic design courses in Kolkata, you can easily learn about them.
Hence, we can easily say that colour theory is a fundamental aspect of graphic design. Understanding how colours interact with each other, how they can be combined to create different moods and emotions, and how they can be used to convey meaning is essential for creating impactful designs. By using colour theory to create colour harmony, evoke specific emotions, and develop a strong brand identity, designers can create designs that are not only visually appealing but also effective in achieving their intended goals.
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