Game of contrasts. How to combine contrasting colors

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Coloristics is a fascinating science that studies colors, their combinations and effects on a person. It would seem, what kind of science is it to consider colors? However, the study of color is given great attention in different areas: in interior design, web design, photography, fashion design, hairdressing, floristry, advertising, marketing and even psychology.

What does color study

Studying the nature of color is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. Color connoisseurs can talk for hours about what primary, secondary and compound colors are. A lot will be said about characteristics, about mixing colors, about contrasts, color harmony, coloring, color language, about spectra. This list is endless.

Coloristics is a very important science, since the right combination of colors is not only pleasing to the human eye, but also has a powerful effect on physiological processes and the psychological state of a person. Skillfully combining colors, you can evoke the necessary associations, emotions,form a certain image.

Colors. Human impact

Employees of advertising agencies skillfully use such a function of color as the formation of a certain image. With the help of psychologists, it was revealed that the advantage of certain colors in advertising can cause a certain feeling in a person.

• So, for example, red is identified with strong emotions, determination, danger. This color awakens desire.
• Green is both relaxing and invigorating. It symbolizes purity, freshness, nature, as well as a new beginning.
• Orange is the color of optimists.
• Blue is the color of stability, calmness, minimalism.
• Black is associated with luxury and elegance. It is not for nothing that many luxury goods, such as cars, watches or high-end alcohol, use dark-colored advertising.

Types of color combinations

Currently, there are 10 types of color combinations:

• Main.
• Complicated.
• Compound.
• Achromatic.
• Monochromatic.
• Neutral.
• Additional.
• Related.
• Contrasting.
• Related contrasting colors.

One of the most common ways to combine colors is the play of contrasts. Even if you do not know what contrasting colors are, you have definitely come across this phenomenon in your life. Have you noticed how harmoniously red ribbons and toys look on the Christmas tree? Allbecause red and green colors are contrasting. So what are "contrasting colors"?

Itten's color wheel

Professionals use special reference materials to determine the right combination of colors. There are hundreds of color combination tables, and each of them has its own advantages. But most often creative people use the Itten color wheel.

Johannes Itten is a real color expert. He devoted his entire life to the study of color. Itten gave this knowledge to the world in the form of a manual called "The Art of Color", which is a "bible" for artists, designers and everyone whose work is related to colors and design.

The color wheel contains 12 shades of three primary colors: red, blue and yellow. Contrasting colors are those that are sharply opposite to each other and are on opposite sides of the circle.

If you look at the image of Itten's circle, you can immediately see that yellow is a contrasting pair with purple, blue is with orange, and the contrasting color with red is green.

The right combination

Often contrasting color combinations are called complimentary. What are these combinations used for?

This combination is often used in painting when it is necessary to highlight something or emphasize some object of the picture. If you look around, you can see that nature is full of contrasts: a scarlet flaming fly agaric against the background of an emeraldgreenery beckons with its colors; a bright yellow sun blazing in a blue sky; blue waves caressing the golden sandy shore.

Interior designers have long recognized that it is the complementary combination of colors that looks extremely impressive. Color combination tables will help you choose a harmonious color pair, but you need to remember a few points that will help you “squeeze the maximum” out of the range of shades:

• Contrasting colors should not be in equal proportions - this will lead to an imbalance. The best option is to use one color as the main one and complement it with accents of a paired shade.
• Another way to combine contrasting pairs is to use different shades of two colors. This will balance the color gamut.
• To dim the brightness of complementary colors, "dilute" them with white or cream. For example, if an orange skirt and blue blouse combination looks too provocative, you can soften the look with white accessories.
• Professionals recommend using primary and complementary colors in certain proportions. For example, for a pair of red-green, this proportion will be 1:1, orange-blue - 1:2, yellow-violet - 1:3.

These rules will be useful if you take pure spectral colors. You can see them in the picture below.

How to use contrasting colors

If you are afraid of misusing contrasts, then remember thatmuted colors are easier to use as they are less "interrupting" each other.

The main rule for combining contrasting colors: the more intense the color tone, the smaller the surface area on which it is used.

Following these rules, you can create the most harmonious image, whether it be clothes, a bouquet, interior design or a website. Otherwise, disharmony, negative perception will appear.