Colour wheel theory in web design

This article examines the use of the coloring material wheel theory in relation to web designing. It explores the basic six coloring material schemes that are possible as well as touch on the history and beginning of the theory, its vantage and disadvantages.
This article examines the use of the coloring material wheel theory in relation to web designing. It explores the basic six coloring material schemes that are possible as well as touch on the history and beginning of the theory, its vantage and disadvantages.
The coloring material wheel theory is used for analyzing hues in designing, a very important factor to consider is that it by and large only mark hues and does not incorporate saturation or brightness levels. While this seems quite severe you must remember there are about infinite amounts of shadiness and a more limited amount of coloring material that can be analyzed.

Its beginning lie with Sir Isaac Isaac Newton and his experimentation to split light into various colours. His master colour wheel characteristic red, orange, yellow, green, cyan and blue and was joined at the ends by Isaac Newton to show the natural hue patterned advance. Over a century later Johann Wolfgang Johann Wolfgang von Goethe studied the psychological effects of coloring material and modified the coloring material wheel to split the coloring material into two sides, the plus and minus coloring material. Plus coloring material were ones that had a positive effect on psychological science and by and large included the warm coloring material such as red and orange. The minus coloring material generally invoked unsettled feelings in participants and tended to lean to the blue and green.
The next major revolution was by a Swiss art theoretician named Johann Itten. He modified the wheel to the form we see today based on the primary election triad and the 12 basic hues.

In web designing it is extremely recommended to stick to one of the followers colour schemes for your web design. To venture outside them causes colour "clash" and will spoil the overall impression of your page. Do remember however blacks and whites are neutral and (if used correctly) complement any of these schemes well.

Monochromatic

The monochromatic colour scheme is exactly what is sounds like, a simple theme that use differences in saturation and light/darkness in a single colour to give a design that's "easy on the eye". It can be very soothing to use and looks good in blue or green. Monochromatic is fantastic for simple web pages such as blogs as it prevents design elements drawing attention away from information.
Analogous Colour Scheme
This colour scheme centres around one main colour being gently supported by the two colours adjacent to it on the colour wheel. Like monochromatic it is a gentle colour scheme that is best applied to achieve calming effect. Blogs and certain online shops would be best to use this scheme.

Complementary Colour Scheme

The complementary colour scheme is made up of two colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel. This should always be achieved by picking your main colour then tracing a 180 degree line across the wheel to find its exact opposite. Some complementary sets do not suit web design as they are so high in contrast. While a complementary colour scheme can achieve great effects in highlighting areas for websites such as online shops I do not recommend it is sued heavily as it strains readers eyes after a while.

Split Complementary Colour Scheme
The split complementary scheme is used a little more often than its standard complementary brother in web design. It uses a combination of three colours which means you can create softer contrasts. It is done by picking one colour on the colour wheel and find the two colours that are adjacent to its complementary.

Triadic Colour Scheme

The triadic colour scheme is my personal favourite for web design. It uses a combination of 3 three colours that are equally spaced around the wheel. Its major advantage is that is strikes a great balance between harmony and contract. It looks especially good on online shops as it give you the ability to define several sections with different colours without creating a offensive contrast.

Tetradic Colour Scheme
The tetradic colour scheme is the most complex and varied stand colour wheel scheme. It is sometimes referred to as the double complementary as it uses two sets of complementary colours. Although there is no standard for defining which it is a good idea to ensure they are evenly spaced. While this scheme can be successfully applies to make a website look varied and colourful it is especially hard to balance.

I hope this article has been at least a small help to you in your search for additional information about web design and the use of colour. While I have written this article with web design in mind the colour wheel theory can be applied to almost any form of graphic design or art.