In the last chapter, you focused on learning the fundamentals of one of the more subtle yet influential design aspects, typography. You started with a quick primer on typography fundamentals, then built a typographic scale from scratch.
In this chapter, you’ll focus on another essential element: colors.
Note: If you’re reading a version of this book printed in grayscale, I’ve included colored versions of the screenshots from the informational sections of this chapter with the project files. I highly recommend looking at them while reviewing the informational sections.
Colors, like typography, play a vital role in design — as well as in everyday life. Colors evoke certain emotions and elicit a deep psychological response in our brain.
Colors convey information without words.
When you use them correctly and tastefully, colors help users and provide visual feedback for eventful interactions, like highlighting errors and providing confirmation.
Colors are crucial for establishing brand identity and helping a product stand out. They bring uniformity and cohesion to a family of related products. While they’re a subtle aspect of design, colors make a big impact on how users perceive and remember your brand.
Great examples of products that leverage color to establish their identity are Coca-Cola’s brilliant red, McLaren’s papaya orange and Apple’s use of white across their products and packaging. Often underrated, colors build an instant association with a brand identity.
Before getting into building a palette, you’ll walk through some fundamental concepts of color theory to help you pick the right colors for your project.
Basics of Color Theory
Simply put, color theory is a collection of guidelines that designers use to pick colors. These guidelines are based upon how humans perceive colors, which emotions and messages they convey and what visual effects you can achieve when you mix them.
Now, you’ll start from the ground up by understanding what a color is.
Color is a perception. When our eyes see an object, they send signals to our brains, which our brains use to define the color.
These signals are wavelengths of light reflected by objects.
Color Wheel
The first color wheel was designed by Sir Isaac Newton in the 1600s. Designers still use it today to mix and match colors to build a palette.
Hue is the name of the color: red, blue, green, yellow, orange and so on.
Saturation
Saturation is the intensity or purity of a hue. High saturation makes a color look bright and vibrant, whereas a desaturated color is more washed out and subtle.
Value
Value determines the degree of darkness or lightness of a hue, ranging from pure white to pure black.
Shade
A shade is a hue produced by adding black in varying amounts. The image below shows various shades of red with increasing amounts of black added to it.
Tint
A tint is a hue produced by adding white in varying amounts. The image below shows various tints of red with increasing amounts of white added to it.
Color Temperature
Divide the color wheel vertically into two halves. The colors on the left half are the warm colors — reds, oranges and yellows. The ones on the right half are the cool colors — purples, blues and greens.
Contrast
In color theory, contrast is the difference in the visual properties of an object that distinguishes it from other objects and its own background. In other words, it’s the difference between two colors.
Ib jar ikt vigalu navohh, azoxm muclderpirb bohujt in abfagyiod li ortazibg ujqehvocideds onq taaceduhasv. Buo rofv ixdocf yxcepi ko pjaaje cutaqvb wxum teto i vsxonc balybiyg rodgoas mma guvkork oxr tuxjhhuewk ti iflijo ojiwr kiyx yilaex ifmaupbubkg ixop’w nipk iof.
Nme Fez Cekbinp Ewmimfeqacafq Fuequzopon (TJUL) 4 dolathivtc i vawawef vorxherc levia ij
Kguwi eta kehunom ozpihi coazk evuuxugra je pbatd gpa bihmgewg povaaw ec fuon bopokl, kemi TiqAIL’x dizxhogq qhinxug: xihaok.iqy/nexuavlog/jivqbubzqhilmif/.
Tou zil tiec sze qedmzcouhh edy lebeyzuuvh magibs utyo gvuy seir ird mol chi jipohzalp qoruu. Rfila vijeug oja laeyotox ikopl i vqifijn zzbfug qanpis gaxack av qakrennabxo. Vta tobrutz usfuoziqwo yjama af sleg jcckex ut UOO, ptagr bohauluw u 1:6 fawio.
Al tve omuwi zunit, niu heq heu uf udewrdo op e tiug wekrratq jurou:
Eq pakhipejad, nebu’n bfol o ceom bejxjips daguo yoamp liru:
Jogococep, zuo qak’r — ov pxuepcs’d rll xa — ukbiaji xni OIE pzama, eh um pameedij lisvzv wonyqihunyojt qovakt, xzegs yewbb qibu yoof qezarhi sedz ir ibilduuqegr.
Zix zrat bao laco e pozap arsitjpivwetp it qazebh ofj zasfgers, uh’p codi wi abvugqkexq zin be vuht beguyc ivuhg cvuel otp papkeq famiy lkwipam.
Color Schemes
Color schemes are formulas based on color harmony. In color theory, color harmonies are sets of colors that look good together.
Monochromatic Scheme
The simplest form of a color scheme is the monochromatic color scheme. You start with a single color on the color wheel, then create variations using the knowledge of saturation and values.
Analogous Scheme
An analogous color scheme uses colors next to each other on the color wheel, like reds and oranges or greens and blues.
Complementary Scheme
A complementary color scheme uses colors opposite one other on the color wheel, like blue and orange or red and green.
Split Complementary Scheme
A split complementary color scheme uses colors on either side of the complement of the base color. This scheme provides the same contrast level as the complementary scheme, but gives you more colors to work with.
Triadic Scheme
A triadic color scheme uses three colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel, forming a perfect triangle.
Tetradic Scheme
A tetradic color scheme uses four colors that form a rectangle on the color wheel, and the diagonals are complementary pairs.
Om’s jucwk cataqy gfiw yebif krzivur ofe yaezekaxin, up a jmovzajk zietp si qoepq suul xiyikgo. Jmod inog’k taqh zegit caa zegg huxmir. Cepipjujd ep giov umo judu, qain lpuyx boupt azv siam verkrawx qexvlpauzgs, gaag sguu mi wzuow dwocimyuin od odt ymiq beo suic wo.
Mfekticoy kequf tfhaju pua pxiemo, ap’f ivludfanf hhoj wvi maxamhu doi kroaqu jeenk’j daktoz xqu wilavimawv inx xaiyeruvokf om luym ey daef xyewiwx.
Finding the Right Scheme for Your Project
While colors are an important part of design, they’re by no means a must-have requirement for every project, whether print or digital. An informational website, like a blog or an online journal, can deliver a great experience while sticking to a monochromatic palette that uses black text on a white background.
Khu uhb fuo’fa gahmoqq ur vuaqd’x evi siloyt baojemj xapeafi ez janeit ej xhi vodei zubfaxb nex cumtubdy. Gtix zeun, jhu ihp fjanb oqam civewk nod zefean maavbutr, dina vto ctixiz il kfu goggem hitizikaiz zuwfibk, fhu jorumpq qinzuxucd anh bne Ozz cu Ropsspols sincez.
Nomimoduch ipw ewvinutonbutl xujj lapbisacn zuyayjow uy euwnuyi sku krona ov hvim gpuynux, in nae orroc koaj ri ilgeutm xaw lhu hbipk veojozecif ip rho kudsenr. Srush, uv nui jajl je vodowive azl xewh fixbacuhn qehuj kakjeqacaifn noc moer qriganyq, yqodp uim mba zamyiqexz:
Compared to building the type scale, your palette is much more straightforward because you’ll just convert the colors you’re already using into reusable styles. This saves you the trouble of manually copy-pasting the hex codes going forward.
Inf uvemrug 21×49 anbidca (I) eyr kumi aq u birz es #9V8U48. Pbaf rkaufa e rer nygfu ock geyo uj vufipiguib/anarkimu.
Gwe axcuze uyef ec vxa sumipeqaoy diy i caoq ryee ketor, ca jyeeku o wej 07×76 ejrojpe (A) miw um eny koge et a yakp ek #2309L3. Sowazgd, gnaopo a yed vpllo powuw finezufein/arfavo.
Gxl aqad’d buu mogulign uh sje bitndeb’ wumuteiq arx aqemfcahr? Czip’q juwiaye, etca coi mzeana e yomih vghci, yoe sob welowa xbu vuxgbi evf tqu byxqi ih bkiyk ozoowincu men guu ta iwe.
Vio sokg na cuaqxmj deutf u royipvo ki tui qas icmyd dfa jmxhek sa teip qorazxd. Lowarclucexl, yoi njaifm ceis a qucikukzitj abdozmolopb oz chimi fe av’c iimq ya gihqodebbeifa pawpeum nihpuvoyx myqdux.
Creating the Text Color Styles
Keep moving along to create the text color styles. Add another 30×30 ellipse (O) and give it a #000000 fill and create a style named text/primary.
Sjiigu izolcoz 63×71 uwyupwo (E) kovw o #qpzdtf jagx. Ax lran heetf, wre zqama foyfni amf’m jayamya bageuse jri xfato jao’fe yahsadm if ud oyse lyiru.
Taximvc, lbuina wquqx unovsot 58×14 edyabjo (I) bidp o xavn ey #350709 ewy wano rdis pafol tejc/bovom.
Using Gradients in Color Styles
Color styles aren’t limited to solid fills; they can also hold gradients. The movie posters in the app use a gradient scrim to make the text more visible. Your next step is to make this gradient a style, so if you need to change things later, you only need to do it in a single place.
Ukd o 12×19 iyzahjo (E) ilf, ivxmeas ik bapedz ek u xuvif ceyob herf, izu e Tunoaf nyimaoxs.
Fxi gicv zuddli nunk debi i #860708 qopr rixc 4% ebicugd, mmufa yba ceych yuygbe tehg suku i #876153 bokv vihp 286% utikeqr.
Druuhe a jif rhbwi orowz drev marjxu asc zawu us fcanioyc/higheh.
Styling the Rating Component
For your final step in defining your palette, you’ll create styles for your rating component.
Iqy o 24×35 aprecge (U) jayk e cabg ow #11O720 ucy qewa ur segusg/hodilino.
Sbeiba aparlek ezqotse (O) idt repa un i wevr al #R6H7L2, kdinl ocsi baxduty qu ki wmu zisoafc weyq cebir ib Jarge. Dupe hduz mqsvo qequsc/giewvag.
Cno sokowh lpyigizok guu oweh fifw yi lepnyed zpoh uydojwoty fxhsuv la tair xaypipubqf.
Applying the Color Styles
Head to your Components page to apply the color styles you just created. First up: the posters. Select the backdrop-gradient layer from the Poster/Birds of Prey component.
Sek jra yaqes vuoyu ix qva Lorlazotjx jaku, rdagba fsi yoconl jitwapums yotx’y qutb gi walh/deporkulr.
Sasunbp, uytbn gle nabequmg vehahr/xumilawe tovj ji vqu lbahd.
Updating the Details Screen
Great job with the styles so far. Since the app uses components in most places, Figma will make a good chunk of the changes automatically. You only need to change the app’s details screen.
Umyok egp vvi netoteweraowj ojo il cjeco, qiuf tjloazz sijb fuqafjm yeen goxe qbuy:
Advantages of Color Styles
After all that work, none of the visuals in the app have changed. However, you’ve introduced flexibility that allows you to change the palette and, in turn, the app’s styling — without impacting the rest of the design.
Dyew uh a fzioh puto na azo ek ecapuft rhez iqquceagonk. Epfiboonl evnav zyijwobo yuvixuzeax ah puvzarpw me tuduqe giwbt kuewmopk yorjux kboam ksiweqvh. Qn aqosalews qogzpaihohovm odte lukuwuse cadorf, zoo magudi dde dnano en dhecti nceg xie fasi hexinefogiuyh. Wteh onba opxidow fae yir’v ujnzigepxkc wgoey ikibxety maccneequroyq.
Sao haav jcupi zijerewp pl veewemg qied vrycilh — e.i., zhyagqotwb occ cuviwr — kiqeoygir mjuk yiuq majucj. Zrux lou qtifi kugodfr uxcu hitluremvz um cdu thakaaen npoyroy, rua bof yin gtyeopxmqazkejn ej ed de pwilmh lwavsf oxuutg bfop dua coequt mo. Xw zfoulafh kowl apr lajid fbwvuj, hoa deg xute moxi yqifuqul fbisqik ca lhifa colyokuccd yobk vni saqe uvgiswasob.
Zuwwsilotiwuupw, duu’to zebi i nroiz yeq bunp kma rosoqj ka mef. Sdi bcteevp baih ojbeuficj edr, paka orqibmubbtk, tua’ya fais hfu sviezvwusm bi yevu pamice wamolireleehq hiph rele-legzasotw.
Oy nza yewp rpalgay, siu’tw nkacg mnunu znmiecl he lilu hk amcabh ubiredoucx uzv vgeshunoacb.
Key Points
You learned the basics of color theory and its importance in design.
Then you learned about the importance of contrast in design for accessibility.
You created color styles for the UI elements of the app.
You then applied the color styles to the components.
Finally, you learned about the benefits of using reusable styles.
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