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Colour Palette Generator

  • Select a base colour using the colour block below.
  • Choose HEX, RGB, or CMYK format.
  • Click Generate Palettes to create matching colour schemes.
  • Tap any colour swatch to copy the code to your clipboard.
  • Click Download PDF to save your palette.ck to select the Text Element.

The Basics of Colour Theory: How Colours Work Together

Understanding colour theory is essential for anyone working with design, branding, interiors, art—or just choosing the perfect palette. Whether you're creating a logo, painting a room, or picking colours for your website, knowing how colours interact can make your work more effective and appealing.

What Is Colour Theory?

Colour theory is the science and art of using colour. It explains how colours mix, match, and contrast, and how they affect human perception and emotion.

At its heart, colour theory helps you answer questions like:

The Colour Wheel

The colour wheel is the foundation of colour theory. It organises colours in a circular format to show their relationships.

Primary Colours:
  • Red, Blue, Yellow
    These are the base colours. You cannot create them by mixing other colours.
Secondary Colours:
  • Green, Orange, Purple
    Made by mixing two primary colours together.
Tertiary Colours:
  • Created by mixing a primary and a secondary colour (e.g., red-orange, blue-green).

Colour Relationships (Colour Schemes)

Using the colour wheel, designers create palettes by choosing colours with specific relationships.

Complementary Colours

  • Opposite each other on the wheel (e.g., blue & orange, red & green).
  • High contrast, vibrant combinations.

Analogous Colours

  • Side by side on the wheel (e.g., blue, teal, green).
  • Harmonious and calming.

Monochromatic Colours

  • Variations of a single hue using different shades (darker), tints (lighter), or tones (muted).
  • Subtle and elegant.

Triadic Colours

  • Three colours evenly spaced around the wheel (e.g., red, yellow, blue).
  • Bold, balanced palettes.

Split-Complementary Colours

  • A base colour and the two colours next to its opposite.
  • Less contrast than complementary schemes but still lively.

Warm vs Cool Colours

  • Warm Colours: Red, orange, yellow
    Create energy, warmth, excitement.
  • Cool Colours: Blue, green, purple
    Create calmness, relaxation, trust.

Colour & Emotion

Colours influence mood and perception. For example:

Colour Emotion/Meaning
Red Passion, urgency, strength
Blue Trust, calm, reliability
Green Growth, balance, health
Yellow Optimism, energy, attention
Purple Luxury, creativity, wisdom
Orange Friendliness, enthusiasm
Black Sophistication, power
White Purity, simplicity