Color Theory Guide

Master the Art of Color

Learn how colors work together to create stunning palettes for your designs

Quick Tips

60-30-10 Rule

Use dominant color 60%, secondary 30%, accent 10% for balanced designs

Color Occurs in Pairs

No color looks the same next to different colors - test your palette in context

Warm vs Cool

Warm colors advance, cool colors recede. Use this for depth in your designs

Limit Your Palette

3-4 colors is usually enough. More creates visual chaos and user confusion

Color Properties (HSL)

Hue

Symbol: H

The pure color on the wheel - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple

Range: 0-360°

Saturation

Symbol: S

How vivid or muted a color appears - colorful vs. gray

Range: 0-100%

Lightness

Symbol: L

How light or dark a color is - bright vs. dark

Range: 0-100%

Color Harmonies

Complementary

Colors directly opposite on the color wheel

Best for: High contrast, dynamic designs, call-to-action buttons

Tip: Use one color as dominant and the other for accents. Too much can feel jarring.

Analogous

Colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel

Best for: Harmonious, serene, comfortable designs

Tip: Create a natural color flow. Works well for backgrounds and subtle UI elements.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced on the color wheel

Best for: Vibrant, playful designs with balanced contrast

Tip: Let one color dominate and use the others as accents for balance.

Split-Complementary

A color plus the two adjacent to its complement

Best for: High contrast with less tension than complementary

Tip: Easier to use than complementary while still offering strong visual impact.

Tetradic (Rectangle)

Four colors arranged in two complementary pairs

Best for: Rich, varied palettes for complex interfaces

Tip: Hardest to balance. Choose one dominant color and keep others subtle.

Monochromatic

Different shades and tints of a single color

Best for: Clean, modern, minimalist designs

Tip: Always looks cohesive. Great for creating depth without color clash.

Ready to Create?

Use these color theory principles to generate beautiful palettes with ColorStory

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