20 Color Theory Facts You Should Know

Everything about the color wheel you didn't learn in elementary school art class.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Colors play a huge role in the way we perceive the world. Without even realizing it, colors have the ability to evoke emotions and trigger certain reactions. Colors can even go as far as subliminally communicating an idea or brand message. Who can escape the light blue of a Tiffany & Co. box, the multicolored Google logo, or Coca-Cola's signature red?

When artists, advertisers, and designers create, they choose their colors wisely because they know how much weight such hues carry. In order to build the perfect compositions, a lot of them use the basic knowledge of color theory. See the world in a whole new way with 20 Color Theory Facts You Should Know.

The color wheel is the best representation of all the colors.

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There are three different types of colors.

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Primary colors are the most basic colors.

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Secondary colors are made by combining two primary colors.

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Tertiary colors are also called intermediate colors.

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Colors located near each other on the color wheel are known as analogous colors.

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Monochromatic colors are really just a variety of one color.

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Neutral colors are also known as earth tones.

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Complementary colors are more vivid when combined.

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You can identify complementary colors without a color wheel.

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A dominant color can change the whole appearance of an image.

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The painter's color wheel is different from the printer's color wheel.

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Saturation and value are two distinct measurements of color properties.

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Shades and tints are not the same.

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The additive and subtractive color systems are two ways of mixing colors.

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Color is a form of non-verbal communication.

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Cool colors are soothing.

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Warm colors are energizing.

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Colors can be optical illusions.

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There is a difference between active and passive colors.

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