Design Challenges

Color Palette Dilemma?

I used to use a site call colormatch in the past when I found myself at a lost for color creativity. Recently, I was pointed out that this tool had an upgrade; it is now known as Color Blender.

Color blender is a pretty nifty tool. It allows you to select a shade of color and it will suggest a six color palette to match. One major improvement from its predecessor is the ability to type in RGB values instead of using the sliders.

Speaking of sliders, it is pretty interesting to find where colors change. The color paletter changes when you cross from one small value to the next, either by changing an RGB value by one increment or using the slider. While a minute change in RGB value will maintain, or slightly change your original color, the color palette changes drastically. This raises the question, how efficient are these colors?

In my opinion, this tool is merely a way to gather a color palette when you can't seem to find the right colors for your design. As designers, we know that although one color sits well with another, there are also variations that would do the same job. Although other colors can match just as well, it all boils down to the intended goal and what emotions you are trying to achieve.

For example, yellow and red sit well together, but so do yellow and blue. Eventhough both combinations sit well together, both combinations yield very different emotions. Red is a strong color, it signifies anger, rage. Blue on the other hand draws on soothness, calmness, clarity and order.

Always keep your final goal in mind and use this tool accordingly. Blend On!!!