Color Theory for Designers

Color in design is very subjective. What evokes one reaction in one person may evoke a very different reaction in somone else.

Sometimes this is due to personal preference, and other times due to cultural background. Color theory is a science in itself. Studying how colors affect different people, either individually or as a group, is something some people build their careers on. And there’s a lot to it.
Something as simple as changing the exact hue or saturation of a color can evoke a completely different feeling. Cultural differences mean that something that’s happy and uplifting in one country can be depressing in another.
This is the first in a three-part series on color theory. Here we’ll discuss the meanings behind the different color families, and give some examples of how these colors are used (with a bit of analysis for each).
Warm Colors :
1.RED (PRIMARY COLOR) 
2.ORANGE (SECONDARY COLOR)
3.YELLOW (PRIMARY COLOR) 

Cool Colors :
1.GREEN (SECONDARY COLOR) 
2.BLUE (PRIMARY COLOR) 
3.PURPLE (SECONDARY COLOR)

Neutrals :
1.BLACK 
2.WHITE 
3.GRAY 
4.BROWN 
5.BEIGE AND TAN 
6.CREAM AND IVORY 

While the information contained here might seem just a bit overwhelming, color theory is as much about the feeling a particular shade evokes than anything else. But here’s a quick reference guide for the common meanings of the colors discussed above:
Red: Passion, Love, Anger
Orange: Energy, Happiness, Vitality
Yellow: Happiness, Hope, Deceit
Green: New Beginnings, Abundance, Nature
Blue: Calm, Responsible, Sadness
Purple: Creativity, Royalty, Wealth
Black: Mystery, Elegance, Evil
Gray: Moody, Conservative, Formality
White: Purity, Cleanliness, Virtue
Brown: Nature, Wholesomeness, Dependability
Tan or Beige: Conservative, Piety, Dull
Cream or Ivory: Calm, Elegant, Purity

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