Color combinations basics for
presentation designers
The 12 colors in the color wheel can be
combined in different ways.
Some of the colors are considered warm,
and some cold. Some are considered be
complementary in different ways. Colors
next to each other are called analogous and
using the same color and its tints tones and
shades is called monochromatic.
We can use these color combinations in the
color wheel to create color schemes.
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CREATING COLOR
COMBINATIONS USING
THE COLOR WHEEL
Part II of Basic Color Theory for Presentation Designers
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WARM COLORS
The warm colors on the
color wheel are the reds,
oranges and yellows.
They are also called
advancing colors. RED
Warm colors | example
The quick brown fox jumped
Pack my box
A large fawn
Playing jazz
Warm colors | example
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COOL COLORS
The cool colors on the color
wheel are the greens, blues
and violets. They are also
called receding colors.
GREEN
Cool colors | example
The quick brown fox jumped
Pack my box
A large fawn
Playing jazz
Cool colors | example
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COMPLEMENTARY
COLORS
Complementary colors
are located across from
each other and offer
strong visual contrasts.
When mixed they
produce grey.
Complementary color
combinations
Complementary colors | examples
The quick brown
fox jumped
The quick brown
fox jumped
The quick brown
fox jumped
The quick brown
fox jumped
Complementary colors | examples
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SPLIT
COMPLEMENTARY
COLORS
Split complementary colors join
two adjacent colors with one
complementary color, creating
high contrast color combinations.
Split complementary
color combinations
Split complementary colors | example
Section 1
The Quick Fox The Quick Fox
Section 1
The Quick Fox The Quick Fox
Section 1
Section 1
Split complementary colors | example
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TRIADS AND
TETRADIC COLORS
Triads and tetradic color
combinations use geometric
shapes (triangle and
rectangle) to combine
3 or 4 colors across
the color wheel.
Triad & tetradic color
combinations
Triads
Tetradic
Triad colors | example
The quick brown fox
Pack my
box
A large
fawn
Playing
jazz
Triad colors | example
1 2 3
Tetradic colors | example
The quick brown fox
Pack my
box
A large
fawn
Playing
jazz
1 2 3
Tetradic colors | example
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ANALOGOUS COLORS
Analogous colors are colors
next to each other on the
wheel. They share an
undertone of the same color.
Analogous color
combinations
Analogous colors | example
The quick brown fox
Pack my
box
A large
fawn
Playing
jazz
1 2 3
Analogous colors | example
Analogous colors | example
The quick brown fox
Pack my
box
A large
fawn
Playing
jazz
1 2 3
Analogous colors | example
© Presentitude
MONOCHROMATIC
COLORS
Monochromatic colors
are created by
different saturations
(tints, tones and
shades) of the same
hue.
Monochromatic color
combinations
Monochromatic colors | example
The quick brown fox
Pack my
box
A large
fawn
Playing
jazz
1 2 3
Monochromatic colors | example
Monochromatic colors | example
The quick brown fox
Pack my
box
A large
fawn
Playing
jazz
1 2 3
Monochromatic colors | example
© Presentitude
Are
WARM, COLD, SPLIT,
COMPLEMENTARY, TRIAD,
TETRADIC, ANALOGOUS &
MONOCHROMATIC COLORS…
ARE YOU STILL WITH US?
Warm colors
Cool colors
Split complementary colors
Triad colors
Tetradic colors
Analogous colors
Monochromatic colors
Complementary colors Hues, tints, tones & shades
Cool colors
Split complementary colors
Triad colors
Tetradic colors
Analogous colors
Monochromatic colors
Complementary colors
Warm colors
Hues, tints, tones & shades
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How to use the color wheel to create colorful presentations