Understanding the Color Wheel
The color wheel is the foundation of color theory, organizing colors in a circular format that shows relationships between them.
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors
- Primary: Red, Yellow, Blue - cannot be created by mixing
- Secondary: Orange, Green, Purple - created by mixing primaries
- Tertiary: Combinations of primary and secondary colors
Color Harmonies
- Complementary: Colors opposite on the wheel - high contrast
- Analogous: Colors adjacent on the wheel - harmonious
- Triadic: Three colors equally spaced - vibrant balance
Color Psychology
- Red: Energy, passion, urgency
- Blue: Trust, calm, professionalism
- Green: Growth, nature, health
- Yellow: Optimism, clarity, warmth
60-30-10 Rule
Use your dominant color for 60% of the design, secondary for 30%, and accent for 10%. This creates visual balance.
Conclusion
Color theory provides the foundation for effective visual design. Use our free color tools to explore harmonies and find perfect palettes.
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