Color circle

Color wheel, how to achieve a harmonious combination of colors.

Definition of the color wheel

The color wheel (wheel) is widely used in design and coloring. In fact, this is a special rule that helps you navigate the variety of colors, create the right shades in any color model. In other words, the circle is a way of continuous color transitions. The sectors of the figure are painted in different colors, which are placed in a special order. Their mutual arrangement is due to the laws of color (color theory), so the circle helps to select harmonious combinations of shades.

Designers perceive the color wheel as a “cheat sheet” that reflects all possible color schemes. It can be viewed online or in print form. Nevertheless, a number of third-party factors influence the selection of shades, taking into account the data of the circle. Experts note that the color spectrum is perceived subjectively and is highly dependent on the rest of the composition in the room. The color perception is also affected by the size of the painted surfaces, their shape, so in each case you have to make a decision individually.

Cold and warm shades

In the circle there is another important division of all colors into two groups - warm and cold. Each of them has the main task - to successfully convey our certain emotions, inner mood, and also reflect the world around us. Warm shades give a lot of energy, but cold ones are calmness and balance.

An example of the division of the basic group of colors according to the principle of warm and cold.

The combination of colors from the cold and warm palettes explains Itten's color wheel in an extremely simple way. One “temperature pole” must always be complemented by another, that is, only cold or only warm colors cannot be used in the set. In each of the above schemes there is a principle of opposites, that is, one or more shades in the set are selected opposite, both in color and according to the “warm-cold” principle.

The combination of cold and warm shades in the wardrobe.

analog triad

An analog color scheme is formed by three adjacent colors in a twelve-sector color wheel. When using this scheme, it is possible to choose one color as the main one, the second one as a supporting one, and the third one to be used as an accent.

Scope of application

Initially, the main purpose of this tool was to simplify the process of finding the perfect color solution in the field of painting. Later, this color matching tool migrated to other areas, including her majesty fashion.

The use of color tools in fashion to create harmonious images.

All representatives of creative professions (photographers, fashion stylists, make-up artists) actively use the circle of Johannes Itten and other creators of such schemes in their work.

In general, the color palette of the circle helps a lot in achieving harmony and creating bright contrasts in the field of photography, design, wardrobe and makeup. This tool competently structures the primary colors, subordinating all the available shades to a certain logic that corresponds to our color perception.

After Itten, similar combination schemes based on color logic. Created by many artists, scientists and inventors. These circles can be very different, while all are subject to a single principle: the dominant colors of the spectrum are arranged in strict sequence.

The difference between them lies in the number of colors represented in one circle (twelve, twenty-four and more), in the visualization of the presented tones and a variety of additions (primary and secondary tones, scale of the degree of light shades). It is most convenient to start with the color wheel of Itten's color combination rule.

The use of the circle in the fashion industry

The selection of shades, according to various schemes and systems, is an integral part of the modern fashion industry. However, such knowledge is needed not only for the designer, but for every person who wants to create a fashionable image.

When walking through boutiques, many face the difficult task of choosing and combining several pieces of clothing in different tones into a single bow. Agree, the inability to successfully combine the available colors often leads to a disastrous result. It turns out a dull black or boring gray wardrobe, sometimes diluted with splashes of white. Alas, it is reluctant to wear such a set, and it is scary to combine brighter shades.

Color circles help form successful ensembles of clothes, combining bright, bold shades competently.

The color palette of the circle will help you understand the acceptable and correct combinations, suggesting how to always look perfect. The use of bright things in your wardrobe gives you a unique opportunity to create stylish fashionable bows in every case, guaranteeing a stunning success.

The color wheel allows you to create a wardrobe using bright and unusual combinations.

Automatic Palette Selection Tools

You can choose a combination of specific shades on the expanded color wheel. It allows you to accurately set the tone, saturation, brightness and find the right colors using Itten's circle schemes.

Adobe also has a handy tool. It is based on the same combination rules, but allows you to quickly edit the parameters of each color in the palette and see how the harmonious gamut changes from this.

What to do with thousands of other shades

There are only 12 colors in the circle, and the designer has to operate with countless shades. The Itten Circle is a simplified diagram, not a complete solution. But it can be used more widely.

Let's say you need a complementary color to turquoise. It is not on the circle, but we understand that it is between green and blue. This means that on the circle the color you need will be as far as possible from the border of these two colors. The farthest point is the border between red and red-orange. A mixture of these colors will be complementary to turquoise.

The choice of specific shades of turquoise and red-orange is the work of the designer.

It is also worth remembering about saturation and brightness. The color can be pale or rich, dark or light. For example, red is completely unsaturated - pink. Or very dark - burgundy. This also affects the perception of the picture.

How the Itten color wheel works

In such a scheme, all colors contrasting relative to each other are located on the opposite side. At the same time, it combines equally both cold and warm shades.

Itten's scheme includes 12 maximally saturated colors, obtained from three central ones, also called primary ones - these are red, blue and yellow. By alternately mixing adjacent shades, secondary ones are obtained - orange, purple and green. Next, another mixture is made, resulting in six tertiary colors.

Rectangular pattern

The rectangular scheme consists of four colors, each two of which are complementary.

This scheme gives, perhaps, the largest number of variations of the colors included in it. To make it easier to balance the rectangular scheme, one color should be chosen as dominant, the rest as auxiliary.

Design experiments with the color wheel

Designers are always looking for new ideas, prove hitherto unknown fashionable theorems and expand a number of axioms, offering their bold experiments, which, however, do not contradict color logic. Apply their ideas and recommendations, they will definitely help you find the right solution in the color of each bow. We offer some helpful tips:

• with red as the main one, choose delicate pink, pure white and neutral tones in addition;
• it is desirable to dilute yellow with saturation; bright red and black colors are ideal for this;
• choose nude for green with a cold undertone;
• brown with red - a new fashionable chip;
• turquoise goes well with amber-colored things;
• coral can be diluted with neutral gray-pearl for spice.
• The trendy combination in the women's wardrobe: brown and red.
• The trendy coral-gray duet in the women's wardrobe looks elegant and gentle.

Subtleties and nuances

How to use the color wheel correctly when creating a fashionable image? In order not to be thought of as a tasteless extravagant person, study and use the Itten circle and basic schemes. Leading fashion designers recommend choosing a dark color as the main one, diluting it with lighter elements of clothing.

Itten's circle of tone combination states that contrasting pairs should be based on equal proportions of applied shades. And only one of them should be bright. It is he who needs to be combined with pale tones, getting a stylish bow.

Pastel bows with a bright accent for her and for him.

Do you like bright colors? Such clothes need to be skillfully balanced with a neutral shade - this is the rule of balance. But leave the combination of bright color with black exclusively for stage outfits.

Bright wardrobe ensembles, the composition of which is based on the Itten circle and the rule of balance.

If you prefer clothes in neutral shades, choose no more than three things of the same color. And some bright accent will help to complete your image.

Beige elements of the wardrobe are best diluted with things in soft pastel colors. So we get an elegant and even romantic image.

Elegant pastel looks based on beige and nude wardrobe items.

By learning how to use the color wheel, you will learn how to competently and thoughtfully combine colors, your own unique style.

Basic combinations on the Itten circle

There are a lot of options for color combinations around Itten. Let's take a look at six of the most popular.

1. Complementary. The combination of colors located on opposite sides of the circle. Good for accents. To do this, one of the colors is made primary, and the other is secondary in order to highlight individual objects in the image.
2. Contrasting triad. It looks like a complementary, but instead of one of the additional colors, two neighboring ones are taken. The combination is contrasting, but not sharp. Suitable if you want to tone down the contrast of complementary colors or simply expand the palette.
3. Classic triad. The combination of three colors at the corners of an equilateral triangle. This option is suitable if you need more variety in colors.
4. analog triad. The combination of three colors located side by side on the outer circle. This palette is calm and restrained. Suitable if you need soft transitions between colors without harsh accents.
5. Tetrad. The combination of four colors in the corners of the square. In fact, here is a combination of two pairs of complementary colors. Suitable if you need to create a colorful and varied image.
6. Rectangular scheme. Unlike the tetrad, closer shades are combined here. In this combination, the contrast is achieved due to complementary pairs, but these pairs themselves are closer to each other on the spectrum. Suitable if you need a calm palette of four colors.

The benefits of the circle when creating fashionable images

The ability to correctly combine tones is at all times a necessary base for a person who wants to look stylish everywhere. How to achieve this and where to find inspiration for bold color combinations? The answer is obvious - using a color palette of color combinations. A successful harmonious combination simply works wonders!

Competently composed color combinations in the wardrobe always attract the eye and leave a sense of harmony.

When choosing elements of clothing, like makeup, the basic criterion is often the color wheel of a combination of colors (we will tell you how to use it below). This tool helps to achieve unique combinations in a couple of minutes.

The color wheel helps to correctly work with shades even without the help of a designer.

What are the practical benefits

Even the great Coco Chanel once said that the most successful color is the one that best suits you. It is difficult to express it more competently, but it is not always easy to follow this principle.

In the wardrobe of every fashionista there are things of different tones, it is not always easy to combine them with each other. Having delved into the essence of the harmony of colors, you can easily select the shades that are most suitable for the occasion.

Simple color schemes make it easy to combine all the items in your wardrobe.

It is important to study the nuances of color combinations, each time getting a unique harmonious bow and presenting yourself in a winning light. All kinds of shades with the right interaction always give luxurious color combinations.

The ability to combine different shades with each other will make the wardrobe much richer and brighter.

Understanding how to use the Eaton circle will help you figure out how to combine different tones with each other, easily choosing successful wardrobe combinations.

Color matching wheel device

The palette of colors in the circle is designed intricately and at the same time simply. As a result, the combination of all correctly selected tones looks harmonious. For all the time, many different variations of a single base have been created, however, the most popular version of them is a circle consisting of twelve colors.

primary colors - the foundation consists of only three tones (scarlet, yellow and blue);

secondary colors, they are obtained by mixing from a palette of two main ones;

tertiary colors arise by mixing colors from the primary and secondary circle or two secondary shades.

However, as can be seen from the photo of Itten's circle, it is not limited to only twelve tones, because behind each of the shades there is a huge range of different variations. They are obtained by adding traditional white and black. All received colors change their brightness and degree of saturation. So the number of different kinds of combinations is simply impossible to imagine.

Color characteristic

Color is not limited to the Itten circle of 12 shades. In this section, we will understand the varieties of color and its characteristics.

Colors are divided into:

• Chromatic - colored.
• Achromatic - white, gray and black shades.

Qualitative characteristics of color

Color can change towards saturation, tone or lightness. Let's consider these characteristics in more detail.

Color tone

This is the place of color in the light spectrum. Helps to identify the shade, give it a name and compare it with the rest.

light spectrum

Saturation

Helps to identify contrasting bright or dull colors. Saturation depends on the impurity of the gray tint.

Lightness

It is also called brightness. It is she who determines what the color will be: light or dark. Depends on the admixture of white or black shades.