Color Studies
Explore color theory, psychology, and famous brand palettes
Color Theory Basics
Color theory is a framework for understanding how colors interact, combine, and influence perception. At its core are the primary colors (red, yellow, blue in traditional; red, green, blue in digital), which combine to form secondary and tertiary colors.
The color wheel organizes hues in a circle, making it easy to identify harmonious relationships. The three properties of any color are hue (the color family), saturation (intensity or purity), and lightness/value (brightness from dark to light).
Complementary
Colors opposite on the wheel. Maximum contrast and visual tension.
Analogous
Adjacent colors on the wheel. Harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
Triadic
Three colors equally spaced (120° apart). Vibrant and balanced.
Split-Complementary
A color plus the two adjacent to its complement. Strong contrast, less tension.
Tetradic
Four colors forming a rectangle on the wheel. Rich, needs careful balance.
Monochromatic
Variations of a single hue. Cohesive and elegant, never clashes.
Interactive Color Wheel
Click the wheel or drag the slider to explore color harmonies in real time.
Color Psychology
How different colors influence perception and emotion in branding.
Red
Energy, passion, urgency. Used by brands wanting to evoke excitement and appetite.
Blue
Trust, stability, professionalism. The most popular corporate color worldwide.
Green
Growth, health, nature. Common in organic, financial, and environmental brands.
Yellow
Optimism, warmth, attention. Creates urgency but can strain eyes if overused.
Orange
Creativity, enthusiasm, confidence. Balances energy of red with warmth of yellow.
Purple
Luxury, wisdom, creativity. Often associated with premium and imaginative brands.
Pink
Playfulness, femininity, romance. Increasingly used in gender-neutral modern branding.
Black
Sophistication, power, elegance. The go-to for luxury and high-fashion brands.
Famous Brand Palettes
22 iconic brand color palettes for study and inspiration.