Color Palettes with CMYK Formulas
These color palettes feature shades of orange. 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.
C65Y35K15 | M90Y100 | M35Y100 | Y70 | C10K35 | C40K100
The orange and yellows of sunflowers with light green are the centerpiece of this palette.
C7M5Y10 | C7M90Y100 | C100M85Y10K6 | C40M25Y25K7 | C40K100
Bold blue and orange are tamed by shades of gray from silvery to charcoal.
M45Y100 | C40K100 | M3Y15
Orange and black (or charcoal gray) don't have to be just for Halloween. Pale yellow provides a lighter note.
M50Y100 | C100M37K15 | C25M10K4 | White
Opposites attract in this orange-blue palette. Vary the look by using orange as the accent or the medium blue as the accent.
C4M65Y100 | C80M10Y40 | M90Y50 | C30M100Y80K20 | C20M40Y85K5 | C45
Shades of pink with a burst of orange. Placing the blue between the orange and pink helps avoid visual vibrations.
C100M40 | M47Y100 | C10M95Y5
Orange with a complementary pink and an opposite of blue to suggest the sixties.
C70M5Y100 | M100Y100 | C53M100 | White
Red and green isn't just for Christmas. Make it an orangy red and throw in a dash of purple and white for a vibrating sixties color scheme.
C25M80Y90Y25 | C65M3Y65K15 | C5M85Y90 | C5M55Y85 | M20Y40 | C40K100
An earthy palette of brown, green, and orange.
A modern mix of peach, orange, yellow, and dusky purple. [See more Current/Modern 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.
