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Color Wheel

Color Wheel

Before you begin a design project, whether it be a logo or website, it’s good to take a look at the color wheel. This will help you and the designer brainstorm some ideas.

There are 12 main colors on the color wheel. The color wheel, and color theory, was invented by the theory of universal gravity guy Sir Isaac Newton. Sir Isaac’s color tests became theory that red, yellow and blue were the primary colors from which all other colors came from.

Primary Colors

Primary Colors

The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue (when referring to light it’s red, green, and blue).

Secondary Colors

Secondary Colors

The secondary colors are purple (violet), orange, and green.

Tertiary Colors

Tertiary Colors

The tertiary colors are blue green, yellow green, yellow orange, red orange, red violet, blue violet.

Complementary Colors

Complementary colors are opposite colors. If you take a look at the color wheel look at what is across from that color, that color is its complementary color.

The complementary color of yellow is purple.

The complementary color of orange is blue.

The complementary color of red is green.

Color Harmonies

If two colors look good together they may be complementary colors. Ever see a logo or design that just pops? Probably complementary colors. Opposites attract.

The best way to remember complementary colors is to remember the design, sports uniform, or season. For example, sports fans take a look at the uniforms of such teams as the New York Islanders, New York Mets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and more. These teams wear opposite colors.

If you celebrate Christmas, red and green hello! Complementary colors. Easter tends to lean heavy with the yellow and purple colors, just saying.

Color Wheel FAQs

What is a color wheel?

A color wheel is a circular diagram that illustrates the relationships between colors. It organizes primary, secondary, and tertiary colors in a way that helps users understand color harmony, mixing, and contrasts.

Who invented the color wheel?

Sir Isaac Newton created the first color wheel in 1666 as part of his exploration of the spectrum of light.

What are the primary colors on the traditional painter’s color wheel?

The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue (RYB). These are fundamental because they cannot be created by mixing other colors.

How does the RGB color wheel differ from the RYB model?

The RGB model (red, green, blue) is used for additive color mixing in digital screens and light-based systems, while RYB is used in traditional painting and subtractive color mixing.

What are secondary colors?

Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors:

  • Red + Blue = Violet
  • Red + Yellow = Orange
  • Blue + Yellow = Green.

What are tertiary colors?

Tertiary colors are formed by mixing a primary color with a neighboring secondary color. Examples include red-orange, yellow-green, and blue-violet.

What are complementary colors?

Complementary colors are directly opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g., red and green, blue and orange). When placed together, they create high contrast.

What is an analogous color scheme?

An analogous scheme uses three colors that are next to each other on the wheel, such as blue, blue-green, and green. This creates harmony and unity in designs.

What is color temperature?

Color temperature refers to whether a color feels “warm” (e.g., red, orange) or “cool” (e.g., blue, green). Warm colors are on one side of the wheel, while cool colors occupy the opposite side.

What is a tint, shade, and tone?

  • Tint: A hue mixed with white to make it lighter.
  • Shade: A hue mixed with black to make it darker.
  • Tone: A hue mixed with gray to reduce its intensity.

How is a color wheel used in design?

The color wheel helps designers create visually appealing combinations by selecting complementary, analogous, or triadic schemes for harmony or contrast.

Why are there different types of color wheels (RYB vs RGB)?

Different industries use distinct models based on their needs:

  • RYB: Traditional art and painting.
  • RGB: Digital displays using light.
  • CMYK: Printing processes with cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks.

Joe Maracic
LoudEgg
Joe Maracic is an artist, digital marketer, and tech enthusiast based on Long Island, New York. While his background in fine art has been a significant influence throughout his life, Joe loves being a geek at LoudEgg, a brand dedicated to technology, creativity, and strategy.