1. “The colors you choose can either work for
or against the brand identity you’re trying to create”
Color Theory for Designer
Creating Your Own Color Palettes
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/08/color-theory-for-designer-part-3-creating-your-own-color-palettes/

2. Traditional Color Scheme Types

3. Monochromatic color
schemes are made up of
different tones, shades
and tints within a specific
hue. These are the
simplest color
schemes to create,
as they’re all taken from
the same hue, making it
harder to create a jarring
Monochromatic or ugly scheme (though
both are still possible).

4. Monochromatic

5. 1 2 3 4 5
• Here are three examples of monochrome color
schemes. For the most part with these schemes,
the first color (if we look at this from left to right)
would likely be used for headlines. The second
color would be used for body text or possibly the
background. The third color would likely be used
for the background (or body text if color #2 was
used as the background). And the last two colors
would be used as accents or within graphics.

6. Monochrome

7. Analogous schemes are
created by using three
colors that are next to
each other on the 12-
spoke color wheel.
Generally,analogous color
schemes all have the
same chroma level, but
by using tones, shades
and tints we can add
interest to these schemes
and adapt them to our
needs for designing
websites.
Analogous

8. Analogus

9. Analogus
ere’s a color scheme with the
same hues as the one above,
This is a traditional but with the chroma adjusted
analogous color to give more variety. It’s now
scheme, and while it’s much more suitable for use in
visually appealing, there a website.
isn’t enough contrast
between the colors for
an effective website
design. Example of a traditional
analogous scheme.

10. Analogus

11. Dyads or Complementary
• Complementary schemes are created by
combining colors from opposite sides of the color
wheel. In their most basic form, these schemes
consist of only two colors, but can easily be
expanded using tones, tints, and shades.
• A word of warning, though: using colors that are
exact opposites with the same chroma and/or
value right next to each other can be very jarring
visually .This is best avoided (either by leaving
white space between them or by adding another,
transitional color between them).

12. Dyads or Complementary

13. Dyads or Complementary
A wide range of tints, shades,
and tones makes this a very
versatile color scheme.
Another complementary color
scheme with a wide range of
chromas.
Don’t forget that beige and brown are really tints
and shades of orange.

14. Triadic
• Triadic schemes are made up of hues equally
spaced around the 12-spoke color wheel. This
is one of the more diverse color schemes.

15. Triadic
Alternately, using one very
bright hue with paired muted
hues makes the single bright
hue stand out more
Using a very pale or dark
version of one color in the
triad, along with two
shades/tones/tints of the
other two colors makes the
single color almost work as a
neutral within the scheme.

16. Triadic

17. Double-Complementary (Tetradic)
Tetradic color schemes are probably the most
difficult schemes to pull off effectively.
A rather unimpressive tetradic
color scheme. The best way to
use a scheme like this is to use
one color as the primary color
in a design and the others just
as accents.

18. Double-Complementary (Tetradic)
Tetradic color schemes can
work well for creating color
schemes with similar chromas
and values. Just add a neutral
It works just as well for
(such as dark gray or black)
darker color schemes.
for text and accents.

19. Using Photos for Color Schemes

20. Using Photos for Color Schemes
Colorful

21. Using Photos for Color Schemes
Bright

22. Using Photos for Color Schemes
Dark

23. Using Photos for Color Schemes
Dark

24. 10 Sites With Great Color Schemes
• http://wentings.com/
• http://www.trivuong.com/
• http://www.oscarbarber.com/
• http://northeastpeace.com/
• http://www.mbaarc.com/
• http://www.studio13.fr/
• http://www.joyproject.it/en
• http://blog.morphix.si/
• http://www.eldesigno.ca/
• http://lemonstandapp.com/

35. 10 Super Useful Tools for Choosing the
Right Color Palette
• http://www.colorotate.org/
• http://kuler.adobe.com/
• http://colorschemedesigner.com/
• http://www.colourlovers.com/
• http://www.colourlovers.com/copaso
• http://www.colorblender.com/
• http://aviary.com/tools/toucan
• http://www.colormunki.com/
• http://www.colorsontheweb.com/colorwizard.asp
• http://colorexplorer.com/