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A Designer's Guide to Understanding Colors
The meanings of cool, warm and neutral colors and how they affect design
By Jacci Howard Bear Jacci Howard Bear Writer A graphic designer, writer, and artist who writes about and teaches print and web design. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 24, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Design Graphic Design Photoshop Animation & Video 3D Design Understanding the meaning of colors as well as the cultural use of colors and how they interact is important in print and electronic design, among other fields. As we explore, colors are nonverbal communication that creates physical and emotional reactions. Proficiency in color theory conveys the right tone and message and evokes the desired response to a publication. The same is true when you work with clothing, household products, and room decor. The Meaning of Cool Colors and Their Positive Attributes
Cool colors tend to have a calming effect. At one end of the spectrum, they are cold, impersonal, antiseptic colors. At the other end, cool colors are comforting and nurturing. Blue, green, and the neutrals white, gray, and silver are examples. Blue is strong, important, peaceful, and intelligent. Some similar colors include azure, beryl, cerulean, cobalt, corporate blue, indigo, navy, and sapphire. Green signals growth, health, environment, and harmony. The Meaning of Warm Colors and Their Positive Attributes
Warm colors convey emotions from simple optimism to strong violence. The warmth of red, yellow, pink, or orange can create excitement or even anger. The neutrals of black and brown also carry warm attributes. Red is all about love, passion, heat, joy, and power. Also consider blood red, crimson, scarlet, and vermilion. Pink is sweet, nice, romantic, playful, and delicate, similar to fuchsia. Yellow is happy, joyful, cheerful, and for remembrance. Gold represents riches, extravagance, brightness, and tradition. Orange is energy, warmth, change, and health. The Meaning of Mixed Warm Cool Colors and Their Positive Attributes
Colors with attributes from both the warm and cool colors can calm and excite. These are colors derived from a mix of a cool and a warm color, such as blue and red or blue and yellow. Typically considered cool, green is really more of a mixed warm and cool color. Specific shades of individual colors may lean more to the warm or cool side. A grassy green is warmer than a deep, watery blue-green. Purple is royal, precious, romantic, and sacred. Fuchsia, lilac, plum, and violet are some similar colors. Lavender is full of grace, elegance, delicate, and feminine color. Green signifies growth, health, environment, and harmony, like chartreuse. Turquoise represents the feminine, sophisticated, retro look. Beige is conservative and relaxing. The Meaning of Neutral Colors and Their Positive Attributes
Neutral colors help to put the focus on other colors or serve to tone down colors that might otherwise be overpowering on their own. To some extent, blacks, browns, tans, golds, and beige are considered warm. Cooler colors, on the other hand, are white, ivory, silver, and gray. However, these warm and cool attributes are flexible and more subtle than those of reds or blues. Black reveals itself as conservative, mysterious, and sophisticated. Gray goes formal, conservative, and sophisticated as well. Silver says sleek, glamorous, and rich. White is for purity, innocence, and softness. Ivory whispers quiet, pleasant, understated elegance. Brown is earthiness, wholesomeness, simplicity, and friendliness. Beige is traditional, sober, and relaxing. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Design With Blue and Complementary Colors The 10 Best Instagram Filters for 2022 Use Color Families and Palettes for Your Site What Color Is Lilac? A Designer's Guide to the Color Dark Blue The Color Cobalt and How Is It Used in Publishing What Color Is Plum and What Is its Symbolism? Navy Blue: So Dark It's Almost Black Color Temperature and Your TV Learn About Adjacent Colors on the Color Wheel A Beginner's Guide to Contrasting Colors How to Make Your Cellphone Battery Last Longer All About the Color Chartreuse and Its Use in Design How to Identify Aftermarket Car Stereo Wire Colors Ivory Color Meanings A Guide to Understanding Database Dependencies Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies