Idea Book
Color Theory

by Heidi Walczak

Color Types

Primary are three true colors that cannot be made from blending other colors together. They are red, blue, and yellow. Each of these three colors will take up one-third of a color wheel.

Secondary are colors that come from blending equal amounts of primary colors. They are purple, green and orange.

Tertiary are colors that come from blending primary and secondary colors. These are the colors that fill-out a color wheel, give hues and tints and shades.

Warm Tones are the reds, yellows and oranges that create a feeling of warmth and comfort in a layout.

Cool Tones are the blues, greens and purples that create a soothing and relaxing layout.

Color Schemes

Monochromatic  -  Various tints or shades of one color. Great for creating elegant and sophisticated layouts.

Complimentary  -  One primary color and one secondary color opposite each other on the color wheel. Great for creating eye-catching and visually-interesting layouts.

Double Complimentary  -  Two primary colors and their two complimentary colors, totaling four colors for a layout.

Split Complimentary  -  One primary color and the two colors adjacent to its complimentary color totaling three colors for a layout.

Alternate Complimentary  -  This uses a triadic colors scheme plus one complimentary color totaling four colors for a layout.

Triadic  -  Three colors evenly spaced apart on the color wheel.

Tetrad  -  Four colors evenly spaced apart on the color wheel.

Analogous  -  Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Great for creating soft and soothing layouts.