Color Schemes

There is a significance to the ordered arrangement of colors on the color wheel. Colors that are grouped into sets based on a specific relationship that they share in common are called color schemes.

There are six basic schematic groupings. Before they are listed, it’s also important to know that the neutral colors can be used within each of these color schemes to provide variation to the color appearance - either by using them as a separate color within the group, or by mixing them into the group colors to alter their properties.

MONOCHROMATIC: A monochromatic color scheme is based on a single color on the color wheel. All colors can be chosen except yellow. Yellow can be tinted but when it is shaded it turns green.

COMPLEMENTARY: A complementary color scheme is based on two to six sets of direct color opposites on the color wheel. The complement of a primary color is a secondary color and vice versa. The complement of a tertiary color is another tertiary color. Complements neutralize each other when mixed together. The color appearance is dulled when a little complement is mixed in and its appearance is cancelled when mixed equally.

TRIADIC: A triadic color scheme is based on three colors located equidistant from each other on the color wheel. There are three colors between each color in this scheme. The primary colors make up a triadic set. The secondary colors make up a triadic set. There are two tertiary triads.

TETRADIC: A tetradic color scheme is based on four colors located equidistant from each other on the color wheel. There are two colors between each color in this scheme. A color tetrad is also a complementary color scheme.

ANALOGOUS: An analogous color scheme is based on three to five colors that are adjacent (next to each other) on the color wheel.

SPLIT-COMPLEMENTARY: A split-complementary color scheme is based on three colors - a key color and its two near opposites.

Examples of the six color schemes are shown below.

Additive/Subtractive Color   |  Color Properties  |  Traditional Color System