WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:01.449 --> 00:00:03.000 Color. 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:07.359 It plays a vital role in design and everyday life. 00:00:07.359 --> 00:00:15.240 It can draw your eye to an image… evoke a certain mood or emotion… even communicate 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:20.010 something important without using words at all. 00:00:20.010 --> 00:00:24.610 So how do we know which colors look good together, and which ones don't? 00:00:24.610 --> 00:00:29.470 The answer is simple: Color theory. 00:00:29.470 --> 00:00:33.550 Artists and designers have followed color theory for centuries, but anyone can learn 00:00:33.550 --> 00:00:34.550 more about it. 00:00:34.550 --> 00:00:39.660 It can help you feel confident in many different situations, whether it's choosing colors for 00:00:39.660 --> 00:00:45.810 a design, or putting together the perfect outfit. 00:00:45.810 --> 00:00:51.430 All it takes is a little insight, and you'll be looking at color in a whole new way. 00:00:51.430 --> 00:00:57.600 Let's start at the beginning—the very beginning—with a refresher on the basics. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:01.450 Remember learning about primary and secondary colors in school? 00:01:01.450 --> 00:01:05.059 Then you already have some knowledge of color theory. 00:01:05.059 --> 00:01:12.380 Red and yellow make orange; yellow and blue make green; and blue and red make purple. 00:01:12.380 --> 00:01:17.770 If we mix these colors together, we get even more in-between shades, like red-orange and 00:01:17.770 --> 00:01:19.439 yellow-green. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:22.000 All together, they form what's called a color wheel. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:24.509 (You can probably see where it gets its name.) 00:01:24.509 --> 00:01:30.520 Now, let's take it one step further with hue, saturation, and value. 00:01:30.520 --> 00:01:35.080 These are terms you might not encounter in daily life, but they're the key to understanding 00:01:35.080 --> 00:01:41.999 more nuanced colors—like all those little paint chips at the home improvement store. 00:01:41.999 --> 00:01:48.499 Hue is the easiest one; it's basically just another word for "color." 00:01:48.499 --> 00:01:53.439 Saturation refers to intensity—in other words, whether the color appears more subtle 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.649 or more vibrant. 00:01:56.649 --> 00:02:02.039 Value has to do with how dark or light the color is, ranging from black to white. 00:02:02.039 --> 00:02:07.630 As you can see, this gives us many different shades, from a deep reddish brown… to light 00:02:07.630 --> 00:02:10.640 pastel pink. 00:02:10.640 --> 00:02:14.849 So how do we put this all together to create professional-looking color schemes? 00:02:14.849 --> 00:02:19.640 There are actually tried and true formulas based on something called color harmony that 00:02:19.640 --> 00:02:20.970 can help. 00:02:20.970 --> 00:02:24.370 All you need is the color wheel. 00:02:24.370 --> 00:02:30.840 The easiest formula for harmony is monochromatic because it only uses one color or hue. 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:35.140 Just pick a spot on the color wheel, and use your knowledge of saturation and value to 00:02:35.140 --> 00:02:37.440 create variations. 00:02:37.440 --> 00:02:42.520 The best thing about monochromatic color schemes is that they're guaranteed to match. 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:48.329 An analogous color scheme uses colors that are next to each other on the wheel, like 00:02:48.329 --> 00:02:54.150 reds and oranges... or cooler colors, like blues and greens. 00:02:54.150 --> 00:02:58.950 Don't be afraid to play with the palette and create your own unique interpretation. 00:02:58.950 --> 00:03:06.959 That's what these formulas really are: starting points to help guide and inspire you. 00:03:06.959 --> 00:03:12.510 Complementary colors are opposite each other on the wheel; for instance, blue and orange... 00:03:12.510 --> 00:03:15.440 or the classic red and green. 00:03:15.440 --> 00:03:20.780 To avoid complementary color schemes that are too simplistic, add some variety by introducing 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:25.540 lighter, darker, or desaturated tones. 00:03:25.540 --> 00:03:30.700 A split-complementary color scheme uses the colors on either side of the complement. 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:35.340 This gives you the same level of contrast, but more colors to work with (and potentially 00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:39.129 more interesting results). 00:03:39.129 --> 00:03:44.420 A triadic color scheme uses three colors that are evenly spaced, forming a perfect triangle 00:03:44.420 --> 00:03:46.290 on the wheel. 00:03:46.290 --> 00:03:52.329 These combinations tend to be pretty striking—especially with primary or secondary colors—so be mindful 00:03:52.329 --> 00:03:54.969 when using them in your work. 00:03:54.969 --> 00:04:01.099 Tetradic color schemes form a rectangle on the wheel, using not one but two complementary 00:04:01.099 --> 00:04:02.909 color pairs. 00:04:02.909 --> 00:04:08.999 This formula works best if you let one color dominate while the others serve as an accent. 00:04:08.999 --> 00:04:14.819 There are a few classic do's and don'ts when it comes to color. 00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:18.760 For instance, have you ever seen colors that seem to vibrate when they're placed next to 00:04:18.760 --> 00:04:20.600 each other? 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:26.100 The solution is to tone it down—literally—and there's a simple way do it. 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:31.130 Start with one color, and try adjusting its lightness, darkness, or saturation. 00:04:31.130 --> 00:04:37.050 Sometimes, a little contrast is all your color palette needs. 00:04:37.050 --> 00:04:40.670 Readability is an important factor in any design. 00:04:40.670 --> 00:04:45.090 Your colors should be legible and easy on the eyes. 00:04:45.090 --> 00:04:49.920 Sometimes that means not using color—at least not in every little detail. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:54.560 Neutral colors like black, white, and gray can help you balance your design, so when 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:59.780 you do use color, it really stands out. 00:04:59.780 --> 00:05:02.020 Every color sends a message. 00:05:02.020 --> 00:05:07.000 It's important to consider the tone of your project, and choose a color palette that fits. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:11.400 For example, bright colors tend to have a fun or modern vibe. 00:05:11.400 --> 00:05:16.000 Desaturated colors often appear more business-like. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:23.280 Sometimes it just depends on the context—you'd be surprised how flexible color can be. 00:05:23.280 --> 00:05:28.480 You can find ideas for color schemes in all kinds of interesting places, from advertising 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:33.110 and branding to famous works of art. 00:05:33.110 --> 00:05:38.740 You can even use a web resource to browse color palettes or generate your own. 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:42.860 Even experienced designers take inspiration from the world around them. 00:05:42.860 --> 00:05:49.130 There's nothing wrong with finding something you like, and making it your own. 00:05:49.130 --> 00:05:53.150 Everywhere you look, there's color, color, and more color. 00:05:53.150 --> 00:05:58.780 It can be intimidating to use it in your work, but it doesn't have to be. 00:05:58.780 --> 00:06:02.750 Just keep experimenting and remember what you've learned about color theory. 00:06:02.750 --> 00:06:10.430 Soon, choosing great-looking colors will feel like second nature. 00:06:10.430 --> 00:06:13.370 We hope you enjoyed learning the basics of color. 00:06:13.370 --> 00:06:18.470 Check out the rest of our design topics, including typography, images, composition.