Color combinations

Color combinations may pass unnoticed when pleasing, yet offend dramatically when compositions seem to clash. One outcome you seek in the final form or composition, is a successful use of color. Planning a successful color combination begins with the investigation, and understanding, of color relationships. Using a color wheel, the relationships between colors are easy to identify.

Concerning the two color combinations, the most suitable is that of remote or close colors. In the first case (when we join 2 remote colors) we can talk about color contrast. If we take a look at the color circle, this means blue and yellow, purple and green or red and greenish blue. We can also have contrast between warm colors (red, orange, yellow) and cold colors (blue, violet, green). For example, the combination green-red is extremely pleasant.

combination green red

Usually, contrast compositions give dynamism and tension to the image, while harmonious compositions suggest tranquility and calmness. When we combine two close colors we can speak about (color) harmony. In this category we can place the photos that contain more hues of the same color, or pairs of warm or cold colors.

pairs of warm or cold colors

Colors that are pleasant taken separately tend to be pleasant in combinations also. Usually, red and blue are the most pleasant ones, while yellow and orange are the least enjoyable. If the brightness and/or the saturation of a color are increased, the color is even more pleasant, and this is applicable to combinations as well.

red and blue are the most pleasant