Creating a Color Scheme

CREATING A COLOR SCHEMEKaren BallengeeOctober 2008

Primary Colors

• Red• Yellow • Blue

Secondary ColorsCreated when two primary colors are added

•Green •Orange

•Violet

Color WheelUses All the Primary Colors, Secondary Colors, and Colors in

Between

Tints and Shades

Tints-add white Shades-add black

Color Schemes

• Monochromatic• Analogous• Complementary• Split Complementary

Monochromatic

Analogous

Complementary

Split Complementary

How do I use this information to create beautiful Power Point

Slides?

Go to the Design Tab

In the Design Menu…•Click Colors•Scroll down to create new theme colors

Click on Create More Colors

A Color palette similar to the color wheel will appear

Click the Custom Tab

• Pick a Color• A scale of the tints and

shades of that color will appear

We’re going to use Complementary using blue and orange

Blue and Orange with Tints and Shades

Based on our color scheme, which rectangle is easiest to read? Which is the hardest?

Reference

Holtzschue, L. (2006). Understanding Color: An Introduction for Designers. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.