The color wheel is a graphic representation that segments and organizes colors based on the tone or hue of each one.
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Jun 29, 18 | 6 min read
Reading time: 5 minutes
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 are.
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 withs australia whatsapp number data reflected in the decomposition of light with respect to the solar spectrum.
Specifically, 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.
chromatic circle
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 .
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.
Triad-equidistant harmony
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, 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.
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.