Color Matching Tips

[mAgz09]

can u give me some tips in combining colors in graphic designing...
what colors do match and what colors dont..?
what is the best partner for a specific color...?
help me pls....

[budafist]

Wow - that is a really broad question. I don't think it is something that can be answered outright. Colour is often about personal taste, and it also depends on what you are using it for and how.

Colour combinations are often to do with trends - what else is happening in society at the time. For instance today, dark blue is a good colour for corporates - banks, insurance etc. But it hasn't always been so. Dark blue is the colour used to symbolise the Virgin Mary.

What colour combinations "work" today depends on a lot of things. For example, I could say that red and pink don't go together. However, in some instances, they can make a bland design POP and look fantastic. I could say green and purple don't go together, but in the 80's designers may beg to differ.

Perhaps you would find more help if you posted your work that you have doubts about and asked for colour critique on these?

[capezio]

Colour theory is a whole subject in itself.

Many retail outlets selling paints etc have literature on colour matching. I picked up a nice book in the local B&Q last week which was explaining simply the colour wheel and how colours work in decorating and furnishing


Colour can mean different things in different cultures, so when designing for a different culture make sure you don't offend or signify the oposite of your intention by using the wrong colour.

[Samakimoto Graphics]

You can actually get this on the net.

Try the Google search engine.

[PrintDriver]

And who says school isn't important...

Definitely. Pick up some books on Color Theory.
It's one of the major concepts of design.

[Vikia]

Ditto what PD said.

There are some sites that can help you make selections based on color theories. But definitely pick up a book and learn about color theory and why & how certain colors work with or against each other. Otherwise using the following tools will only be a scratch on the surface.

http://www.interactive-earth.com/color/color_harmonizer.htm
http://wellstyled.com/tools/
http://www.degraeve.com/color-palette/

[mojoprime]

well, you could always start with the color wheel and move forward from there... ;)