An Introduction to Color Theory for Web UI Design

What is Color Theory?

Color Theory actually covers a number of things, but at the most basic level it is the interaction of colors in a design through complementation, contrast, and vibrancy.While the first part of this definition is straightforward (and admittedly bland), it is the last 3 terms which define the basic Color Theory:

Complementation

Complementation refers to the way we see colors in terms of their relationships with other colors. When colors occupy opposite ends of the color spectrum, they lead people to consider a design visually appealing by establishing a happy medium the eye can reside in. Rather than straining to accommodate for a particular area of the color spectrum, the eye is provided a balance. Complementation can take you to new heights of design sophistication when you can begin to master the intricacies of color combinations.

Contrast

Contrast reduces eyestrain and focuses user attention by clearly dividing elements on a page. The most apparent example of contrast is an effective selection of background and text color, as shown below:

If you’re ever in doubt, the best practice is usually to choose a very light color for the background, and a very dark color for the text itself. This is one area where color theory is crucial to the usability of a Web UI Design; In most projects, large text areas aren’t a place to try to be really creative – so keep it simple and legible.

Along with establishing readable text, contrast can also draw the viewer’s attention towards specific elements of a page. Think about highlighting a textbook: when you want to draw your attention to a specific portion of the page, you make the surrounding area look different than the rest of the text. The same principle applies to Web UI Design: Using a variety of contrasting colors can help focus the viewer’s attention on specific page elements.

Vibrancy

Not to sound silly, but vibrancy dictates the emotion of your design. Brighter colors lead the user to feel more energetic as a result of your design, which is particularly effective when you are trying to advertise a product or invoke an emotional response. Darker shades relax the user, allowing their mind to focus on other things.

Ways to Make Your Life Easier

Thankfully, there are a few tools at our disposal that make color selection extremely easy when utilized properly. And best of all, they will further our understanding of Color Theory.

By experimenting in a guided environment, we are able to learn how to apply these principles without becoming frustrated when things are not working perfectly. Think of these tools as a sort of “color theory safety net”, to help you explore your own creativity without ever needing to stray far from the established rules for pleasing color combinations.

Kuler

A tool developed by Adobe, Kuler is aimed at providing an intuitive way to create a color palette. Every color on the palette can be individually modified, or chosen as the base color, with a few simple clicks. Palettes can be saved and published, and there are a number of great community entries available on their site. Under each color, the export codes are provided (including hexadecimal). However, the interface can be cumbersome at times, adjusting the vibrancy of a specific color can alter the entire palette (I wish they had a “lock” feature which prevented other colors from shifting). Overall, I would recommend this tool for those with a decent grasp of the concepts and patience for when things don’t run as smoothly as they would hope.