Graphic artists work together in teams to create advertisements, such as these magazine ads I have collected. Photographers, layout artists, color consultants, typographers, and graphic designers will collaborate, each putting a piece of the puzzle together before the final image ever goes to press. They have been trained in color theory as well as the psychology of color - they understand which colors will make their product stand out! Each of these advertisements is using a color scheme - can you identify which one? Another "real life" example of how color schemes would come in handy is if you get a job designing websites. Click on the link for an example: canva.com - website color schemes.
COMPLEMENTARY.... ANALAGOUS....OR MONOCHROMATIC?
This image uses complementary colors - opposite colors on the color wheel. When you place these side by side, they make each other stand out! There is no other color that looks better next to yellow than purple, or next to red than green! They are opposites, and opposites attract! #4, 5, and 14 also use complementary colors.
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| blue and orange complementary colors |
However, if you mix together complementary colors they cancel each other out. They will make brown or gray if combined! This 6th grade student demonstrates what happens if you mix the complements of yellow and purple:
This image is based on an analagous color scheme; the colors used are all next to each other on the color wheel - orange, yellow, green, and blue are all neighbors! The other analagous advertisements are #2, 3, 7, 8, and 11.
Finally, this advertisment is based on a monochromatic color scheme. There is only one color; purple, plus black, white, and gray. Neutrals don't count in the color scheme, only the colors from the color wheel do. #1, 9, 10, and 12 also use monochromatic colors.
