Color scheme

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The six main color schemes.

The color scheme (color accord, color harmony, color concept, color style) describes a color relationship (color combination), especially from the field of graphic design. Color schemes are an important part of the work of designers, photographers, and artists. For example, they play a role in the design of watercolors , company logos, geographic maps, military uniforms, atmospheric photographs or websites. There are painting concepts for railway wagons, airplanes or city buses in order to ensure recognition value. Even basketballs follow a common color scheme: an orange surface with black lines.

The color schemes can usually be determined quickly and easily with the help of computer programs on a color wheel. Above all, designers who create color combinations for a wide variety of purposes work with it.

Color harmony

There is often talk of color harmony. This does not necessarily mean only harmony in the sense of balance, symmetry, consonance, calm or agreement. Loud, shrill, restless color combinations can just as well be meant, which then attract special attention.

Color scheme types

The different types of color schemes differ essentially in terms of the number of basic colors (main colors) used.

  • The monochrome color scheme (monochromatic color scheme, monochromatic color harmony) includes a basic color that can only be shaded by white, gray or black. A special form is the achromatic color scheme ( grayscale colors, light-dark color scheme, neutral color scheme, unsaturated color scheme), in which the base color is gray. In general, the monochrome color scheme looks very harmonious and calm. In addition, the effect of the respective base color plays an important role.
  • The complementary color scheme (complementary color harmony) is a two-tone (dichromatic color scheme) in which the colors in the color wheel are opposite. The two contrasting colors appear accentuated, loud and charged with tension.

A color scheme with three basic colors (triad) offers three options:

  • The analog color scheme (analog color harmony) uses three colors that are next to each other in the color wheel. This combination of similar colors usually looks uniform, harmonious and calm.
  • In the triadic color scheme (triad), the three colors form an equilateral triangle in the color wheel. The effect can be extreme, loud, flashy, striking, but also colorful and lively.
  • The partially complementary color scheme (split or split complementary color scheme, complementary triad) consists of one color and the neighboring colors of the complementary color. This color scheme looks bold, but not as intense as the complementary color scheme.

Other color schemes:

  • In the tetradic color scheme (four-tone) four colors form a square or rectangle in the color wheel. Like the triadic color scheme, the tetradic color scheme is more colorful, extreme and lively.
  • The polychrome color scheme includes all possible, more or less bright colors. It can be chaotic, crowded, but also colorful, sociable and fun.

The color schemes mentioned are for guidance only. They provide starting points for an infinite number of "custom" possibilities. It is crucial that the color combination fulfills the desired function or effect.

development

As early as 1914, Wilhelm Ostwald (1853–1932) tried to establish rules for harmonious color combinations. He developed his Ostwald double cone . From cuts, inscribed triangles and connecting lines, he read off which color combinations should be considered harmonious.

Since the 1980s, colors can be put together quickly with the help of computer programs. The atmosphere, shapes, function, position in space, materials, surface structures or proportions must be taken into account for the harmonization. It is important that the compilations determined in this way meet the design goal.

literature

  1. Markus Wäger: Graphics and design . The comprehensive manual. 2nd edition, Galileo Press, Bonn 2011, ISBN 978-3-8362-1206-9 .
  2. Markus Wäger: The ABC of color . 1st edition. Rheinwerk Verlag GmbH, Bonn 2017, ISBN 978-3-8362-4501-2 .
  3. Jennifer Lapp: Introduction to color theory: This is how colors work. 2019. https://blog.hubspot.de/marketing/farbenlehre-einfuehrung . Retrieved on November 26, 2019.
  4. Kris Decker: The Basics of Color Theory. https://99designs.de/blog/design-tipps/grundlagen-der-farbenlehre/ . Retrieved on November 26, 2019.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ What are color harmonies? In: Blacklime Design advertising agency Hanover. Blacklime GmbH, accessed on November 26, 2019 (German).
  2. ↑ Kris Decker: The Basics of Color Theory - 99designs. 2019, accessed on November 26, 2019 (German).
  3. ↑ Markus Wäger: Graphics and design. The comprehensive manual . 2nd Edition. Galileo Press, Bonn 2011, ISBN 978-3-8362-1206-9 , pp. 179-186 .
  4. ↑ Martin Benad: Interior color scheme . 1st edition. Deutsche Verlagsanstalt, Munich 2010, ISBN 978-3-421-03587-5 , pp. 65 .