Color plays an important role in design. It can attract or repel the viewer. Certain colors have specific meanings, and what a color stands for can differ in various cultures.
We use color as a tool to communicate and to make a successful, positive and persuasive impact in fields like graphic and interior design, fashion, architecture, advertising, photography, marketing or landscaping to just name a few.
Most of us have favorite colors and we often surround ourselves with the colors we like and are attracted to.
Having a good understanding of color theory, combinations, and meaning is crucial when designing. When I start brainstorming a project, I almost always think about the colors I would like to use very early in the process.
Here are some of the tools I find helpful for inspiration and when defining colors for a project.
Screenshots
Every time I see a graphic or image online whose neat colors attract my attention, I take a screenshot, save the file in a designated folder or bookmark it. Pinterest.com or Icebergs.com are great tools for bookmarking. I go back to browse these galleries whenever I am looking for inspiration.
Adobe Kuler
“Capture colors from a mural, garden, or wherever you happen to be. Create and share your own color combinations, browse thousands of themes from the Kuler community, sync your themes right to Adobe® Illustrator® CC, and start using them in your designs.”
Adobe Kuler helps you create color themes. It’s available as application in a browser or as iPhone app. Users can create color combinations with the color wheel or by uploading images, explore color themes created by other users, and save their own combinations. Each theme consist of five colors, and color models are available in CMYK, RGB, LAB, HSB and HEX. It’s a very user friendly and intuitive tool.
Illustrator Color Swatches & Libraries
“Swatch libraries are collections of preset colors, including ink libraries such as PANTONE, HKS, Trumatch, FOCOLTONE, DIC, TOYO, and thematic libraries such as camouflage, nature, Greek, and jewel tones.”
If I don’t know where to start, I open Illustrator and flip through the thematic libraries to find inspiration. Adobe has already put together color combinations and swatches for its users – so why not take advantage of these libraries. Examples include color combinations for topics such as art history, earth tones, foods, nature, but also some scientific color combinations that are based on the color theory (analogous, complementary, split complementary, tetrad, triad).
Hardware Store
I can never walk by the paint department at my local hardware store without browsing the wall with color palettes, samples and brochures. If I have a project in mind and one or two colors I want to work with, the samples are a great way for visualizing. For more inspiration, I visit Behr.com or Home Depot’s website to explore the latest trends and galleries online.
Pantone
Another great website to visit for the latest color trends is Pantone.com. Known for its Color Matching System (PMS), a standardized color reproduction system, the company regularly publishes Pantone Fashion Color Reports. The report introduces the top ten colors for the upcoming season for women and men and interviews designers and influencers about their outlook on the latest color trends. Some of the top fall colors for women and men this season are for example Sangria, Misted Yellow, Cognac, and Bright Cobald.
>> Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2014
Nature
While there is a lot of information about colors, combinations, and trends online, I find that natures is often still the best source for inspiration. Each season, especially here in Michigan, shows a great inventory and variety of colors that magically match and look stunning. So, go for a walk with open yes and take it all in. You will be surprised what rich resources nature has to offer – and that without being connected to the internet 🙂
Here are some more links to website that talk about color: