Using a Color Wheel
I put the following together using information from--
- The Scrapbooking Information Network,
- handouts supplied to me by a helpful lady on the net I know only
as "Canadian Claire" and a professional scrapbook consultant Penny
Jewett,
- a book on color theory from the library where I work:
- The Pantone Book of color by Leatrice Eiseman
(New York City, H.N. Abrams Co., 1990)
- Ideas on color theory as presented by Color Me Beautiful(tm)
and Color One(tm) consultants.
Colorwheels
The concepts of color theory/colorwheels can help you when you
are trying to choose the right colors to complement your layout. There
are lots of cliche color combinations: pink or blue for babies, black and
orange for Halloween, etc. These are fine--there's nothing like
tradition--but there are times when you're having trouble figuring out
what colors to use! Thus, this handout!
A colorwheel is used to visualize color relationships. This can
suggest possible color combinations, some of which you might never
consider otherwise. Take a look at your pictures before you decide which
color scheme to try. The photos will "tell" you which colors to be bring
out (not always the most dominant) and the feeling to be portrayed
(dramatic, simple, royal, subdued, lively)
A basic colorwheel consists of the primary
and secondary colors arranged in spectrum order in a circle: primary
colors = red, yellow, blue; secondary colors = orange, green,
purple (violet). We all learned in kindergarten that the secondary
colors were made by mixing two of the primary colors together; i.e., red
= yellow = orange, etc. Click on "Basic Colorwheel" above to see examples.
An expanded colorwheel adds in the
tertiary (intermediate) colors to our spectrum--red-orange,
blue-green, etc. Thus, we now have twelve colors (generally in spectrum
order): red, red-orange, orange, orange-yellow (gold?), yellow, yellow-green,
green, blue-green, blue, blue-violet, purple, red-purple. Those are the colors
of the wheel we'll work with.
Here are some links on color that I've just run across!
They looked good so I'm adding the links. Give 'em a try!
Now, on to how to combine them!
Complementary colors--colors which are directly
across the wheel from each other. They complete each other, thus the
term complementary. On the expanded wheel, orange-yellow's
complement would be blue-violet; red-orange's would be blue-green.
- They balance each other and create a unified page layout.
Side by side, they each make the other more intense
- Each pair consists of a warm and cool color: blue (cool) and
orange (warm)
- In their purest form, complementary colors are vibrant and
energizing.
- In their pastel form, complementary colors are softened and
generally work well using one color predominantly (patterned paper,
paired with complementary color photo mats works well)
- Dark colors and/or subdued, "dusty" colors can create an
older/historical/heritage feel. (Burgundy and deep green instead of
"Christmas" red and green, for instance). They are powerful and yet
calming. Think of a denim blue with a terra cotta (orange) as in many
Southwestern combinations.
- One vibrant color also works well with its complementary
pastel (bright yellow with pale purple OR bright blue with pale orange
[cantaloupe]) The vibrant color willoverpower the pastel is used in
equal proportions. Vibrant accents create a nice balance in a pastel
scheme.
- Always take care when trying to mix color values
(lightness vs. darkness) as well as tones (colors with grey added
to give "dusty" effect) or shades (colors with black added). As
anyone who has had their "personal colors" done can tell you, mixing
brights with dusty colors can be particularly tricky or, in some cases,
disastrous!!
Analogous colors are separated by one color on the
wheel. For example: on the basic 6-colorwheel, purple (violet) and green
are analogous--blue is between them. (NOTE: The Pantone Book
of Color calls three colors analogous: "A 'classic analogous
set' would be 1 primary, 1 secondary and 1 tertiary color that were all
immediately adjacent on the wheel." Blue, green and blue-green would be
this kind of analogous set.)
- These colors create continuity as they share a common color.
Red and yellow share orange--so if your photos are of beautiful orange
sunsets, shades of red and yellow may be perfect to bring that
out--depending on what other shades are on the page!
- Split complementary colors: use two analogous pastel
colors and add an accent of one of their more vibrant complementary
colors for pizzazz. For example: if using pastel shades of violet and
teal (blue-green), try some bright yellow accents (yellow being the
complement of violet).
- The Pantone Book of Color mentioned purple/violet with
yellow-orange and yellow-green. Doesn't that sound awful? BUT
they wrote--"What if you visualize a Violet with a
Beeswax-yellow center sitting on Leaf-green leaves? That
certainly shows that the right shades can make these things work!
Adjacent colors are side by side on the
colorwheel. Example: peach (pastel orange) and yellow.
- These colors harmonize and blend together.
- Mint green with an accent of bright blue can work well for
water scenes.
- Three adjacent colors on the wheel will work together will
also (See classic analogous colors description above). Use the middle
color as the predominant color and the other colors for accents. They
work best if their intensities are not mixed: if using deep blue,
use deep colors with it. Same for "dusty" colors.
Earth tones/Neutrals--browns, 'dusty' colors, gray,
black, etc.
Brown is a combination of all three primary colors
(chocolate brown being the vibrant example and tans and sandy brown being
the pastel examples) Different shades have more of certain colors than
others. Terra cotta is a very orangey brown, mustard brown would have
more orange and yellow.
- Earth tones are dramatic with black accents
- Earth tones with bright secondary colors (orange, green,
violet) are energetic but more soothing than with the primary colors.
- Neutrals (black, white, grey) can be teamed up with virtually
any color and appear to be its complement.
- Green is perceived by many as being almost neutral (look how
much it shows up in nature) so go ahead and try something wild!!
Some more suggestions
- Color can be added with paper, diecuts, colored pens. Make
sure that whatever you use contributes to your color scheme and theme,
instead of detracting.
- Add you accent color to frames by placing it under a
punched-out shape in the corner of your frame on on it with an
appropriate sticker.
- Make a layered photo mat or page border out of thin layers of
three adjacent colors (vibrant blue, green, yellow), then use a pale
green for your background paper or vice-versa.
- Use vibrant blue, red, and yellow for the most striking color
combination. Great for kid's pages, of course!
- Earth tones like terra cotta make a beautiful vack drop for
forest and other rich blue or green photos.
- Pictures that are light and washed out can be livened up by
using their brightest color and introducing it 1n as many shades as
possible throughout the page. Or: if that doesn't seem to do it, try
using a mat of the complementary color. I had old photos of myself and a
friend as bridesmaids in yellow dresses. Yellow mats didn't do as well
as a pretty shade of light purple to bring out the photos
- Large patterned paper will make your page appear smaller.
Fewer photos may be needed--a nice idea if you don't have too many photos
of something.
- striped or other repeating pattern backgrounds recede when
topped with frames made from a slightly darker shade of the same color.
- Sometimes a touch of black can bring some definition to a
layout--such as outlining something lightly to "punch it up".