How to Use Great Color Palettes

Color can make all the difference in design. Yesterday we listed a few sources for finding color inspiration. If you missed it, check out some of the sources we mentioned to get ideas. But building a color palette isn’t just about picking out colors you like. It’s about knowing how to use color to enhance your design, elevate your message, and move your audience.

As the experts at DesignLab remind us, “Picking great colors is one thing — using them effectively in a visual design is another.” So today, we’ll go over a few tips for getting the most out of the colors you’ve chosen.

Switch Your Background

Colors look different on different backgrounds, so it might help you to get a fresh perspective by placing them on different background color. This can also help you distinguish between colors that are closer in hue. And DesignLab encourages us to “remember the effect that light and dark have on our perception of visual depth. Against a dark background, lighter colors will appear to come to the front; while against a light background, it’s darker colors that are foregrounded.” So arrange your colors strategically, making sure the things you want your audience to focus on most are in the foreground.

Close Enough Won’t Cut It

When it comes to marketing, companies have very specific brand colors. Design giant Canva cites research that says specific colors can even increase brand recognition by up to 80%! So if you are presenting or designing for a company whose logo is a yellowish, lime green color, you shouldn’t trust your eye to pick out the exact color. Instead, you need to get the exact color code (check out our blog on understanding color codes here) from the company to use in your design. The slightest change in a color can make a logo feel “off.” But using specific brand colors can help to elevate your design. Even if you aren’t directly referencing a brand during your presentation, you may want to think about using colors that compliment the environment in which you’ll be presenting.

Keep it Balanced

Adobe shares a great rule of thumb to follow in their Creative Connection blog. “There is a simple interior design rule 60–30–10 that works well for many designs. It’s a timeless decorating technique that can help you put a color scheme together easily. 60% is your dominant hue, 30% is secondary color and 10% is for accent color. This formula works because it creates a sense of balance and allows the eye to move comfortably from one focal point to the other.” If you need more than three colors in your palette, designer Elena Genova gives this tip: “If you’d like to introduce a fourth (and so on) color, split the secondary color (or perhaps the dominant) but never the accent.”

Choosing a color palette for your design doesn’t have to be haphazard or random. You can use these tips to pick them and use them like a pro.

If you need more help with presentation design, or want to talk to presentation coach, get in touch with us now. We are here to help.

 

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