Colors fall into three general categories: warm, cool, and neutral. The way we mix those colors along with attention to value, can add interest, enhance the design concept, or convey specific messages.

This lesson is not intended as an in-depth study of color symbolism and color schemes but it will help to acquaint you with some of the basics of mixing and matching colors.

The first page of the supplemental material is a general overview but it also covers warm, cool, and neutral colors briefly and recaps some previous discussion of harmonizing, contrasting, and clashing color combinations. Then each subsequent page covers a single color or related colors. Learn about the emotions of each color and ways in which that color is typically used.

• Color Meanings and Colors That Go Together:

• Cool Color Meanings (calming): Blue, Green, Turquoise, Silver
• Warm Color Meanings (exciting): Red, Pink, Yellow, Gold, Orange
• Mixed Cool/Warm Color Meanings: Purple, Lavender, Green, Turquoise
• Neutral Color Meanings (unifying): Brown, Beige, Ivory, Gray, Black, White

Hands-On Exercise
Look at brochures, books, ads, business cards, and other print projects and find examples of warm, cool, and neutral color palettes. Find 2-3 examples that you consider excellent use of color. Find 2-3 examples that you consider poor use of color. What makes each example work or not work? Look for overuse of color, color pairings that clash horribly, and unusual color combinations that 'work.' Compare the colors used and purpose of the piece to the general color symbolism described in the supplemental material. Is there a connection or did that piece 'fly in the face of convention' and use those colors in an unexpected way?

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