Can I mix these two colour palettes and how do I pair up the colours?
February 9, 2018 7:48 PM Subscribe
I'm making a board book and I need a colour palette. I like these two 1, 2 . But I am not a designer. 1. Would these two palettes work together? 2. Each page spread (11) will have two colours on it. How do I figure out which colours to pair with which? 3. If the two palettes won't combine well, please help me pick a colour palette.
It's a counting book. Green screened photographs with a single colour background and then a large number in the other colour for that page. Text in black. So a page spread would be Background Colour A, with say a banana (not actually) on the right side, and on the left page would be a big Number 1 in Colour B and underneath it would say "One banana" in black. The photos will be in neutral colours (not yellow like a banana, so no concerns there).
I want a bright kid-like, whimsical colour scheme. I like the first colour scheme, but I tend more toward bright non-primary colours (probably not the right word). Like I prefer teals over blues, raspberries over reds, etc. So that's what I feel like the second palette brings in. It's for a boy, so not a big deal to have one of the pages or numbers be in the pink-spectrum, but that shouldn't be dominant.
So A) Can I pull colours from both of these and put them in the same book? B) How do I figure out how to pair them? Should I maybe pair within schemes instead of across? And how within schemes do I match them up?
If these are just a no go and you happen to know enough about colour and language to describe colour to search more effectively than I can, can you recommend another palette with lots of colours (i'll need 11 pairs. Obviously I can re-use colours so I don't need 22 unique colours, but lots to choose from would be good).
Yes, I've now used both my questions for the week on the same project. Book A is finished and it looks fantastic.
It's a counting book. Green screened photographs with a single colour background and then a large number in the other colour for that page. Text in black. So a page spread would be Background Colour A, with say a banana (not actually) on the right side, and on the left page would be a big Number 1 in Colour B and underneath it would say "One banana" in black. The photos will be in neutral colours (not yellow like a banana, so no concerns there).
I want a bright kid-like, whimsical colour scheme. I like the first colour scheme, but I tend more toward bright non-primary colours (probably not the right word). Like I prefer teals over blues, raspberries over reds, etc. So that's what I feel like the second palette brings in. It's for a boy, so not a big deal to have one of the pages or numbers be in the pink-spectrum, but that shouldn't be dominant.
So A) Can I pull colours from both of these and put them in the same book? B) How do I figure out how to pair them? Should I maybe pair within schemes instead of across? And how within schemes do I match them up?
If these are just a no go and you happen to know enough about colour and language to describe colour to search more effectively than I can, can you recommend another palette with lots of colours (i'll need 11 pairs. Obviously I can re-use colours so I don't need 22 unique colours, but lots to choose from would be good).
Yes, I've now used both my questions for the week on the same project. Book A is finished and it looks fantastic.
The traditional answer is that colors that are either opposite each other on the color wheel (i.e., blue-orange, green-red, yellow-purple) or adjacent (e.g., blue-green or blue-yellow) are most harmonious. That should be a guide, but beyond that, just experiment and see what looks good to you. Use the eyedropper tool in Photoshop (or Paint, for that matter) to put swatches of your palettes with each other.
posted by kevinbelt at 7:29 AM on February 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by kevinbelt at 7:29 AM on February 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
These are nice, kid-friendly palettes, so no problems there.
I agree that complementary colors will read well (red and green, blue and orange, yellow and violet), as will analogous colors (orange, yellow and green, or pink, purple and blue).
Good sources I've used for colors that work together are books on quilting and crochet, online color charts of state and international flags, and color theory websites. Check the local library and bookstore and see which age-appropriate books catch your attention.
Another idea is contrast. Palette 1 shows some lighter and darker versions of each color.
Yellow is typically a light color (dark yellows turn into golden browns and olive greens), so reads well with medium and dark versions of others on the color wheel. White also has this effect, as do pale neutrals like silver grey and beige. These make good alternatives for lettering over a dark color (think highway signs at night).
Note how some software like Microsoft Word will automatically switch text box lettering from black to white when the background color is changed to a darker shade. The lighter the background, the more contrast with the black lettering.
Which do you prefer when looking at Christmas decorations: strong reds and greens together, or a strong color with a darker or lighter complementary color? If the item was photographed in black and white, would there still be contrast in the shades of grey?
One more point: some people are color-blind. Contrast can still make details relevant, even when colors are not perceived.
The green-screened photos do make a color statement, so a natural-looking banana will have impact. It will appear more "green" and unripe against a pink or red background, and the same photo will appear more "orange yellow" and delicious against a green or blue background.
Advertisements featuring the same products can give some helpful hints.
If the photos are "neutral colors," there can still be confusion if the young reader is expected to recognize a... purple banana. A black-and-white line drawing can work (but expect the crayons to magically appear!)
Good luck with your project!
posted by TrishaU at 10:00 PM on February 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
I agree that complementary colors will read well (red and green, blue and orange, yellow and violet), as will analogous colors (orange, yellow and green, or pink, purple and blue).
Good sources I've used for colors that work together are books on quilting and crochet, online color charts of state and international flags, and color theory websites. Check the local library and bookstore and see which age-appropriate books catch your attention.
Another idea is contrast. Palette 1 shows some lighter and darker versions of each color.
Yellow is typically a light color (dark yellows turn into golden browns and olive greens), so reads well with medium and dark versions of others on the color wheel. White also has this effect, as do pale neutrals like silver grey and beige. These make good alternatives for lettering over a dark color (think highway signs at night).
Note how some software like Microsoft Word will automatically switch text box lettering from black to white when the background color is changed to a darker shade. The lighter the background, the more contrast with the black lettering.
Which do you prefer when looking at Christmas decorations: strong reds and greens together, or a strong color with a darker or lighter complementary color? If the item was photographed in black and white, would there still be contrast in the shades of grey?
One more point: some people are color-blind. Contrast can still make details relevant, even when colors are not perceived.
The green-screened photos do make a color statement, so a natural-looking banana will have impact. It will appear more "green" and unripe against a pink or red background, and the same photo will appear more "orange yellow" and delicious against a green or blue background.
Advertisements featuring the same products can give some helpful hints.
If the photos are "neutral colors," there can still be confusion if the young reader is expected to recognize a... purple banana. A black-and-white line drawing can work (but expect the crayons to magically appear!)
Good luck with your project!
posted by TrishaU at 10:00 PM on February 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
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My suggestion would be, consider contrast. Have a light background with a dark number in the foreground, and vice versa. Don't pair a light yellow background with a slightly darker yellow background, or similarly hued pink (which will barely be visible) or something. Make your objective such that everything is clear and distinct.
You might want to look at a color wheel and read about complimentary colors, colors directly opposite one another on the color spectrum, or read up on color theory. In any event your project sounds like it will be lovely.
posted by Armed Only With Hubris at 10:40 PM on February 9, 2018 [1 favorite]