COLOR SCHEMES
MONOTONE: using a
single neutral color such as black, light to medium grays, beiges,
taupes, and off whites. Gives a feeling of calm, quiet quality or a
classic understated look. Very subtle and very appealing for use in
more expensive products. Not good for signage, packaging, advertising
or any other graphic application because the monotones are so subtle
that they appear unreadable, so some contrasting color or texture is
needed.
MONCHROMATICS:
using one color family in various values of intensities. Very effective
in imparting subtle nuances such as the refreshing quality of
contrasting green foliage or the deliciousness of rich chocolate
melting into a creamy mocha color. Also called
monochrome/monochromatic.
ANALOGOUS:
neighboring families on the color wheel. Colors that are closely
related such as blue, blue-green, and green; three or four colors that
are adjacent (touch) on the color wheel. Total harmony with analogous
colors is not necessarily a good thing because a too subtle use of
color may lack impact. Expanding the group by adding touches of another
neighboring color will get more attention. (blue-purple, purple,
red-purple, and red)
COMPLEMENTARY:
colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel, such as yellow
& purple, red & green, blue & orange. The red family appears redder
when contrasted with green as will orange with blue and yellow with
purple. Complementary colors balance as they are opposites — one warm,
one cool. In their brightest intensities, complements literally command
attention so are especially effective in packaging, advertising,
point-of-purchase, banners, sports uniforms or any other usage where
exuberant and instant attention is important. In softer or deeper
values, the effect is more subtle.
SPLIT COMPLEMENT:
use of the colors on each side of a complementary color, such as
yellow, red-purple & purple-blue; red, yellow-green & blue-green; blue,
orange-yellow & red-orange; orange-yellow, blue & purple; red-orange,
green & blue; red-purple, yellow & green; purple-blue, orange & yellow;
blue-green, orange & red; yellow-green, red & purple.
COLOR TRIAD: three
colors spaced an equal distance apart on the color wheel, such as red,
yellow & blue; orange, green & purple; yellow-green, purple-blue &
red-orange; blue-green, red-purple & orange-yellow.
TETRADS: color
harmonies based on four colors; using every fourth color; the tetrads
on the Prang color wheel; yellow-orange, red, blue-purple, and green;
orange, red-purple, blue, and yellow-green; red-orange, purple,
blue-green, and yellow.
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