11 comments

  • Ian WilliamsIan Williams, 8 years ago

    One thing that really got me thinking was how colors interact with each other when you shift the whole palette. You still have a sense of how things relate to each other, but the colors are playing tricks on you.

    Let's take this dribbble shot as an example. The orange Rodrigo is using isn't necessarily a straight colorwheel orange, but because he's chosen to shift the entire palette in a cold direction. This causes all the colors to change slightly, adds interest, and unifies the palette as it's own unique thing.

    You can see this technique a lot, but I don't know that I've ever seen it talked about much. Firewatch is another great example. Even though the true shades in the game are mostly oranges, yellows, and reds, there is an illusion that you're getting a whole spectrum of color.

    And you don't have to go all the way with this technique, but knowing it can really pump up how you see colors relating to each other. You can choose to deviate and get some really striking effects.

    3 points
  • Chantal JandardChantal Jandard, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

    A bit of a stiff read, but a classic and thorough: http://www.amazon.com/Interaction-Color-50th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0300179359

    3 points
    • Csongor BartusCsongor Bartus, 8 years ago

      Maybe the best book ever on how to learn using colors.

      I've bought it last year and I've thought after reading it I'll know the magic formula how to use colors. Well there is no magic formula.

      That book / learning colors is not a theory it's practice. It's not mathematics it's art.

      You'll have to learn feeling colors and how they interact together. After this book I completely stopped using color palette generators like Adobe Kuler and I'm using my instincts creating colors for a design.

      2 points
  • Mitchel van EijgenMitchel van Eijgen, 8 years ago

    On one side its not that difficult just try a few and on the other side it so hard to pick the right color.

    I myself found that there were just to many colors, so I dumped them down by a whole bunch. I usually design for the web and HEX colors excised of six characters, but it is also possible to create three characters HEX colors, those are much easier to remember and there are a lot less of them. So I created this site for myself and found that its much easier to choose from 2000 colors then it is form 16 million.

    0 points
  • Dirk HCM van BoxtelDirk HCM van Boxtel, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

    Step 1: Colour conveys mood. Google a mood, or words related to said mood. Click "Images". Squint like you mean it. What you see there, is the base of your palette.   Step 2: Use a colour palette tool to finish the job. There's many. Just Google "colour palette creator" or something.   Full disclosure: I'm planning to buy Google shares from the first million I make.   .edit: This post, while tongue-in-cheek, is honest. Take what I wrote and try to see the big picture.

    0 points
  • Jacob TaylorJacob Taylor, 8 years ago

    Surprised they didn't teach you this at college.

    0 points