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Colors opposite one another on the color wheel are called complements (see example a in the
following figure), and create a striking contrast side by side. This can be the basis for a bold
graphical design, but it is an effect you should use with discretion, since it can be visually
fatiguing. Other bold combinations to consider are split complements—a color and the two
colors adjacent to its complement (example b)—and triads (three colors evenly spaced on the
color wheel (example c). Colors adjacent to one another on the color wheel result in subtle
harmonies.
The color wheel simplifies color relationships for the purpose of clarity, showing only
saturated or pure colors. Adding the myriad variations of each hue to the palette (more or less
saturated, darker, or lighter) creates a wealth of possibilities. Taking a pair of complements
from the color wheel and varying the saturation and brightness of one or both colors produces
a very different result from the pure complements. Combining a light tint of a warm color
with a darker shade of its cooler complement often gives pleasing results. Combining a darker
shade of a warm color with a light tint of its cooler complement produces an unusual effect
that may appeal to you.
Once you have mastered the concept of the color wheel, you have a good framework for
experimenting with color combinations. Many books targeted at graphic designers show
groups of preselected color combinations. Some are organized by themes or moods, and some
are based on a
custom color system
, such as PANTONE. The more you develop a critical
facility for judging color combinations, the more you will trust your own eye for color. For a
selection of books about design, see the
“Bibliography”
on page 75.
a
b
c
