How to select color themes for your webpage.

In this article we will be talking about color themes. We will focus on some method you can use to select a nice color theme for your web page or graphic art. To begin there are some basic rules about colors.


Left: The Theory of Colours by Goeth Farbkreis Right: Modern Color Wheel

Color Theory:

Complementary Colors: The complementary colors refer to colors facing each other on the color wheel. They complement each other. They basically do what their name say. They bring out the best from each other.



Here we can see three examples of complementary colors. We can see RED & GREEN are complementary to each other, while PURPLE & YELLOW and BLUE & ORANGE are also complement each others.

Analogous Colors: These colors are the one located next or near one another. These colors often blend in softer with each other.

Monochromatic: This refers to where you stay with one color but uses different tint or shades.

So now that we know a little about the color theory, we can start choosing colors that do what we want to do. If we want a page that pops out, then we probably want to go with some complementary colors. You should choose monochromatic if you want stick with a single color theme. Often it is good to use a hybrid between Analogous and Complementary colors.

Techniques:

One technique you can use is borrowing from existing themes. Not saying you should go steal people's color theme, by borrowing we mean from nature, from everyday objects or places. We'll show you what we mean. For these, we just clip a small portion of your favorite picture. With this, you just have to trust your eyes on which section to crop.








After you have crop the section you want, the colors should look similar to the color theme you want to achieve. Now go to change the image size and shrink it to about 3-5 pixel width or height. When you zoom all the way in, you'll have a nice color theme without the noise. And there you have it. A nice and easy way to have organic yet dramatic color themes.