7 Major Color Schemes and How To Choose The Right One For Your Brand

Aug 29, 2022

It may have happened that color has reminded you of a specific brand. Maybe sometimes you have returned a nice dress just because the color wasn't right. Colors have a great value on our emotions and usual choices. They are also one of the most impacting visual communication tools in graphic design. Why? Because colors captivate the viewers, draw their attention and invoke specific feelings in them. Color theory and color schemes are vital to understanding how to use the colors to drive different tones and get the desired emotions from your viewers.

Some designers have a natural eye and understanding of colors and combining hues. Many need a little dive into the basics of different color schemes and quick tips on creating visually stunning designs. This blog will cover just that, introduce you to the 7 major types of color schemes and their meaning.

What is a Color Scheme?

A color scheme is the collection of colors that creates a visual impact when used together. There are 7 types of color schemes, and they are commonly used in graphic design, fashion, interior designing, and visual arts. With the advent of video content, the color grading for video production also needs a good understanding of color schemes. Color schemes create a unique aesthetic sense and inform the viewer's moods, emotions, and thoughts.

7 Different Types of Color Schemes and Their Meaning

1. Monochromatic

A monochromatic color scheme leverages different variations of a single hue. It creates a cohesive look and feel by mixing black, gray, or white colors into a base hue.

2. Complementary

On a color wheel, the colors opposite of each other form a complementary color scheme, and they are highly contrasting colors when used together. If you want to attract viewers' attention, this color scheme is used.

3. Split complementary

It is a three-color combination of a single base color and two complementary colors opposite a base hue. Using the base color as primary and the complementary colors as accents is the best way to use the split complementary color scheme.

4. Achromatic

This color scheme is devoid of hues and leverages only neutral colors such as black, white, and gray. These schemes are visually attractive and help your design look clean and simple.

5. Analogous

This scheme includes a base color and two adjacent colors on the color wheel. This color scheme is preferred to create a soothing and harmonious look.

6. Triadic

These color schemes form a triangle on a color wheel by combining three equally spaced colors. To create contrasting yet harmonious designs, the triadic palettes are leveraged.

7. Tetradic

Tetradic aka rectangle color scheme combines two complementary pairs of colors to form a rectangle on the color wheel. Designers use one color as a primary and the other three as accents to balance the look.

Conclusion

Color schemes and their meaning are essential for a creative job profile like a graphic designer or video editor. You can eye for positions such as Color Correction Artist with fundamental knowledge of types of color schemes and our courses such as Adobe After Effects Essentials and Video Editing and Compositing Adobe Bundle (Premiere + After Effects). With this knowledge, you can use colors effectively to make the right branding decisions, such as the logo color, the psychology behind the color of a website, and the types of colors that evoke different emotions in a consumer.

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