The concept of the color wheel is probably familiar to you, as we all studied it in school.
However, back then you were too young to fully understand how important marketing , advertising and defining the visual identity of companies is.
For this reason, today we want to refresh your memory and deepen your knowledge about this representation of primary colors and their derivatives.
We will also discuss the relationship of this famous and colorful wheel with marketing , brand management, design and many other valuable areas for business and entrepreneurship .
Don’t miss the rest of this material!
What is the color wheel?
Technically, it is a circle with 6 colors reflected in the decomposition of light with respect to the solar spectrum.
Specifically triad-equidistant harmony, the so-called chromatic disk segments the following colors:
- purple,
- red,
- yellow,
- green,
- cyan blue
- and dark blue.
These 6 colors can also be considered as families, from which others are derived based on variations in intensity and tones.
That is why in the complete color circle we can see up to 12 color alternatives.
What is the color wheel used for?
The main use of the basic color wheel is that it reflects the link of harmony and contrast between the primary colors and the secondary and tertiary colors.
For experts in visual art and different types of design , this concept is valued as a tool to discover and apply all possible color combinations triad-equidistant harmony .
What are the types of color harmony?
Precisely, the different types of color harmony are based on the principles of this chromatic chart, including:
Basic-tertiary harmony
It refers to compositions with basic (i.e. primary or secondary) and tertiary colors.
To make them, you must first choose 3 basic colors and then add 2 or 3 tertiary colors, which are those that arise from the combination of pairs of primary or secondary colors.
It is important that the tertiary colors chosen are not the result of mixing the basic colors selected first.
It consists of a color composition that uses those tones of the chromatic circle that are in the shape of an equilateral triangle.
In general, those of us who are not experts in design and other similar areas, and perhaps do not easily understand these concepts of harmony, must understand that the color wheel functions as a theory for the classification triad-equidistant harmony, combination and study of colors .
How to make a color wheel?
To make a color wheel simply follow these 4 steps:
1. Create a perfect circle
The beginning is crucial, so you need to be very thorough. Take a compass to make a perfect circle, and then define the order in which you will place the colors.
Typically, yellow is located at the top of the circle, purple on the right side, and cyan on the left.
If we look at it from the perspective of a clock, yellow is 12 o’clock, purple is 4 o’clock, and cyan is 8 o’clock.
2. Insert the 3 primary colors
The three primary colours must be placed equidistantly within the same colour, that is, forming an equilateral triangle. Only in this way can harmonious combinations be achieved.
3. Place the secondary colors
These types of colors should be placed between the primaries, right on the opposite segment of the primary color that complements each one triad-equidistant harmony.
As in the previous step, try to make these colors complete an equilateral triangle with each other.
4. Locate the tertiary colors
Finally, add the tertiary colors in the middle, between the colors that are needed for your mix. They should also be the same distance from each other and on the opposite side of the color they complement.
How are colors classified on the color wheel?
As we have already explained, a chromatic circle investor data has the primary colors (red, yellow and blue), which are the only 3 colors that we perceive when light hits our eyeballs and the 6 million cones that make them up.
In addition, this wheel has secondary colors (green, cyan and purple) and tertiary colors, which arise from mixtures of basic colors.
This gives a total of 6 colors, which reach 12 if we take into account the derivatives, that is, the tertiary ones.
Also, the colors of the chromatic circle can be classified into two groups according to the sensation they generate : warm and cold.
Warm colours are found in the middle of this circle and are associated with heat and fire, so they transmit energy and movement. We are talking about pink and yellow triad-equidistant harmony, for example.
As for cool colors, they are those that are related to natural environments and, at the same time, reflect calm. Green and the blue range are the main ones.
What color combinations are possible?
The colour wheel offers a wide range of possibilities in terms of colour combination and reproduction, and the RGB model stands out among them.
The RGB (red, green, blue) rendering model is common in digital devices and web design .
The sum of red, green and blue results in the total absence of light or, in other words, the color black.
In addition, do not forget that the color wheel includes 6 derivative or tertiary colors that can also be considered as combinations. These include greenish yellow, violet blue, and orange-yellow.
How important is the color wheel for Marketing?
Humans see the world in colors, and the color wheel is the element that allows marketing to use them strategically to manage and promote a brand analysing the advantages and disadvantages of shiprocketx, as well as its products and services .
Through colors, experts in promotion , advertising and marketing can transmit feelings, awaken sensations and consolidate the identity of an organization .
Among the elements that relate the color wheel to Marketing and that triad-equidistant harmony, at the same time, reflect the importance of this concept, are:
Psychology of colors
Did you know that every color has a psychological meaning? That is why they can be used to generate certain sensations in consumers .
For example, yellow represents energy, joy and extroversion. Red represents warmth, love, success, dominance and aggression. And green represents tenacity, growth, autonomy and nature.
Visual identity
The concept of the color wheel serves to conceptualize and develop antarctica business directory the visual identity of a brand in a coherent and strategic way triad-equidistant harmony.
Graphic design experts can work on a brand image based on a specific group of colors and certain combinations.