Color Theory in Graphic Design

What is Color Theory?

Color theory explains how colors interact, the emotions they evoke, and how to combine them harmoniously. It's essential for effective design.

The Color Wheel

• Primary — red, blue, yellow.
• Secondary — green, orange, purple.
• Tertiary — mixes of the above.

Color Schemes

Scheme	How
Complementary	Opposite colors (high contrast)
Analogous	Adjacent colors (harmonious)
Monochromatic	Shades of one color
Triadic	Three evenly spaced

Color Psychology

• Blue — trust, calm (banks, tech).
• Red — energy, urgency (sales).
• Green — nature, growth, health.
• Yellow — optimism, attention.

Practical Tips

• Use the 60-30-10 rule (dominant-secondary-accent).
• Ensure text/background contrast for readability.
• Limit your palette to 3-4 colors.

FAQs

What is the 60-30-10 rule?

60% dominant color, 30% secondary, 10% accent — a balanced palette. More in our Graphics Design guides.

How do I pick colors?

Use tools like Coolors or Adobe Color for harmonious palettes.