Seven principles of skilled designers (2): Color application

Limit your colors

Part 2 of 7 Simple Principles for Becoming a Top Designer

Limit your colors. It seems that the previous rule is to restrict you from using your fonts, right? Very right! The reason we restrict our colors is the same as the reason we restrict our fonts. Reducing the number of colors in our design will make it more harmonious. Basically, everything will look very consistent, just like a sportswear for a sports team or a company trademark. —We want to make the uniform (sports suit) look the same color as a whole.

Like choosing a font, limiting the number of colors you use is just a reference guide, not a criterion. You can use rainbow colors well in your design, which will look very nice. But at the beginning, you need a strategy to use colors and stick to it. Make it throughout your design.

For beginners, let's talk about the color value. The color value of a color is its brightness and darkness. For example, a yellow is a very bright color, while a purple is a very dark color. Of course a color can have its color range. For example, purple is a color that reminds most of us of dark colors, but purple also has a bright purple. Here is an example about some colors and their related color values. Then, what you can see is a color value range of color.

So when I'm using a color scheme I use one rule: make sure there is a range of color values ​​in your color scheme. In any design you need some light colors and some dark colors to contrast. If you want to give an example, if the background you design is dark, you need a light colored text and pictures. In this way, the text and pictures will be easily read. Conversely, if you have a light background, you need a dark picture, text or something.

I will also represent only 2-5 colors to perfect my color scheme. Reduce the number of choices and you will get a good result in your design. Here is an example of color schemes I put them together. As you can see, I took a dark color, a midtone color and a light color. Starting from the right, I have established a range of color values ​​for each color. These color combinations are like my palette and I will apply them to my design projects. Once I have this palette, I will do my best to use only these colors.

Okay, we just mentioned some tips on color adoption, such as how many colors you need to choose and what their color value should be; so what is the next step? I will tell you what the next step is and the hardest part; that is how to decide these 2-5 colors! I personally think this is a difficult task sometimes. Here is a table that helps me adopt my color scheme:

Determine a range of warm and cold tones.
It is to use warm or cool colors. Warm colors include red, orange, yellow, brown, etc. The cool colors are blue and purple. I think green is a pretty middle color. If you put all the colors you choose in one tone, they will surely be very harmonious.
Go to www.colourlovers.com to learn inspiration. This wonderful website is all about color schemes. You only need one page to click on the color scheme.
Pay attention to the color schemes around you everywhere. Take a look at the packaging of the food store, look at the paint colors of your local Starbucks coffee shop, and look at nature! If you see some pleasant colors, just take a note in your mind and see if it can be copied to your computer.
Pay attention to some existing company trademark colors. I often use some existing trademark colors. I will look at their logos, color schemes and make them my original idea. Then maybe just one or two colors are added.
Here is a design I've completed, which shows the restricted color scheme.

As you can see, the compact color scheme and uniform font really make everything organized.

I know these courses are very basic…but that’s the cornerstone of design. So, it will never hurt a person who is regaining his spirits. The following 5 guidelines are coming out soon, and I promise that the next 5 will be more interesting. Thanks!