Harmonies of Contrasting Colors
Contrasting color harmonies create more vibrant and energetic effects by using colors that stand in opposition to each other on the color wheel.
1. Direct Complementary:
- This
harmony uses two colors that are directly opposite each other on the color
wheel (e.g., red and green, blue and orange). Complementary colors create
strong contrast and high visual impact.
- Example: Red and green are often used together in Christmas-themed decorations because of their strong contrast.
2. Double Complementary:
- This scheme
involves two complementary color pairs. It creates a rich contrast while still
maintaining balance.
- Example: Using blue and orange along with purple and yellow in a design. This results in a visually interesting, dynamic color scheme.
3. Split Complementary:
- In this
harmony, one base color is used with the two colors adjacent to its
complementary color on the color wheel.
- Example: Blue with yellow-orange and red-orange. This scheme offers the visual interest of complementary colors but with less intensity.
4. Triadic Harmony:
- This
involves using three colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel
(e.g., red, yellow, and blue). Triadic schemes are balanced but tend to be very
vibrant.
- Example:
Red, yellow, and blue is a classic triadic color scheme often seen in
children’s toys and primary school designs because of its brightness and
simplicity.
