Create color combinations that look good together

A color wheel is a visual chart that shows how colors relate to each other. Designers, artists, and marketers use it to choose color combinations that look good together and communicate the right mood. The wheel places colors in a circle to show how they mix and transition from one to another. It organizes them into primary, secondary, and tertiary colors so it is easy to see which colors complement, contrast, or harmonize. By understanding the color wheel, you can create balanced color palettes, guide attention, and build a clear visual hierarchy in both digital and print design.

The color wheel typically includes 12 main colors: three primary colors (red, blue, yellow), three secondary colors (green, orange, purple), and six tertiary colors (yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple, red-purple, red-orange, yellow-orange). However, the wheel can be expanded to include more shades and tints, resulting in a broader spectrum of colors.

Creating a color palette with the color wheel involves understanding color relationships and harmony. Here is how to use it:

Step 1: Choose a base color

Start by selecting a base color that you want to build your palette around. This could be a color that represents your brand, sets the mood for your design, or simply a color you like.

Step 2: Select a color scheme

Use the color wheel to choose a color scheme that complements your base color. Common schemes include:

• Monochromatic - Colors created from one hue by adding black or white. This color scheme is simple, but it’s not recommended for use in User Interface (UI) design because it can be hard to visualize information with just one color.
• Analogous - Three colors next to each other on the color wheel. This scheme is commonly found in nature. Pick one color as your primary color and use the other two as accents.
• Complementary - Colors opposite of each other on the wheel. This color scheme creates high contrast.
• Split-Complementary - Combination of complementary and analogous color schemes. Results in three colors, two next to each other and one opposite of them.
• Triadic - Three colors evenly spaced around the color wheel. This creates a scheme with high contrast and a sense of harmony.
• Tetradic - Created by combining two complementary pairs resulting in four colors in a rectangular pattern on the color wheel. Pick one color as your primary color and use the others as accents. This color scheme can be harder to balance.
• Square - Four colors evenly spaced around the color wheel. This scheme is more versatile than the tetradic scheme, as all colors can be used in a similar amount, creating a more balanced design.

Step 3: Apply to your design

Once you have selected your color scheme, apply the colors to your design. Use the base color for primary elements and the accent colors for secondary elements, highlights, or call-to-actions. Make sure to maintain good contrast and balance in your design to ensure readability and visual appeal.

The color wheel was invented by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666. He created the first color wheel by arranging the colors of the visible spectrum in a circle. Newton's color wheel was based on his discovery that white light can be split into a spectrum of colors using a prism. He identified seven colors in the spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Newton's color wheel laid the foundation for our understanding of color relationships and has been used as a tool for artists, designers, and scientists ever since.

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel, for example, red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple. When placed next to each other, complementary colors create strong contrast and make each other appear more vivid. In UI design, a complementary color pair is often used to draw attention to key elements like buttons or alerts. For large areas of color, complementary pairings can feel intense, so designers often use one color as dominant and the other as a small accent.

Warm colors (reds, oranges, and yellows) are associated with energy, warmth, and excitement. They tend to advance visually, meaning they appear closer to the viewer and draw immediate attention. Cool colors (blues, greens, and purples) feel calm, trustworthy, and receding. They tend to sit back in a composition, making them good choices for backgrounds and supporting elements. In UI design, warm colors are often used for calls to action and alerts, while cool colors dominate interface backgrounds and navigation.

Color harmony refers to a pleasing arrangement of colors that feels balanced and visually cohesive. When colors are in harmony, they work together to create a unified look rather than competing with each other. The color wheel makes it easy to identify harmonious combinations through established schemes: analogous colors create a gentle, natural feel; complementary colors create bold contrast; triadic colors create vibrant balance. In design, color harmony helps guide attention, convey emotion, and build a consistent visual identity across an interface.