Colour Wheel Basics

Our design team provide a few simple techniques to help you select colours on your next job. by Katherine Nimmo & Jeremy Kose

These six standard colour schemes are a great way to get you started. Whilst colour balance is important, remember to still have fun when choosing your next colour scheme. Monochromatic A single colour with variation to the lightness or saturation.   Analogous Uses adjacent colours. Centre colour dominates, others used to highlight.     Complementary Two colours which are directly opposite. Warm against cool works best.     Split Complementary Two colours which are directly opposite. Then the two adjacent of one colour.     Triadic Three colours equally spaced. A softer scheme than the complementary.     Tetradic Two complimentary pairs. Ensure you choose a dominant colour to avoid a messy scheme.