Color Palettes with CMYK Formulas
These color palettes feature shades of yellow. Although I've made a few suggestions here and there about the 'amount' of each color to use, experiment. For best results don't use even amounts of each color in the palette. Choose one or two dominant colors and use the rest for accents. Keep in mind that due to the differences between color in print and on the Web that these colors may not appear the same on paper as they appear here on the screen.
These aren't just random color combinations. Each of these are based on actual historic and modern formulas used in posters, packaging, ads, and other design work over the past century. For a much more comprehensive selection of color combinations refer to The Designer's Guide to Color Combinations by Leslie Cabarga.
M100Y100 | M20Y100 | C40K100 | White
Use the yellow sparingly against red or use a touch of red against a background of yellow for two entirely different eye-popping looks.
C80M100Y100K15 | M60Y80K10 | M35Y100 | M15Y35K25 | C40K100
A mellow, earthy yellow blends nicely with dark brown and orange.
C65Y35K15 | M90Y100 | M35Y100 | Y70 | C10K35 | C40K100
The orange and yellows of sunflowers with light green are the centerpiece of this palette.
Y100 | M100 | C100 | C50Y100 | C70M70
Here's a psychedelic look for you: pure yellow, magenta, cyan, green, and purple.
C100Y100K50 | K40 | C10M25Y80 | C40K100 | White
The harmonizing colors of green and yellow are accompanied by black and white.
M27Y100K6 | C100M43K18 | White
Opposites attract - blue and yellow - while white adds light to this slightly dark palette.
M9Y45K5 | C95M80Y30K15 | C45M40Y10K5 | M80Y100
More attraction between yellow and blue (both a light and a darker blue) with a dash of orange thrown in.
Y65 | C10M45Y45 | C40M30Y30 | White
Pastel gone bad? This washed out combo of pale yellow, pale pink, gray, and white just might work for you.
Seven colors in shades of yellow, brown, and green combine for this Victorian era color scheme. [See more Victorian Color Palettes]
A rather tame mix of colors for the 1960s (compared to other color combos of the time) it does have a nice bright yellow. [See more Sixties Color Palettes]
Color Meanings and Mixing Colors
Discover the cultural meanings for these colors and more ways to mix and match colors.
More Color Palettes
Explore more color palettes to evoke a certain mood or make a color statement.
Use Swatch Books
Use PANTONE Color Guides to get just the right shades for your color palettes and to find CMYK-PMS color equivalents.
