by Color theory can be a complex area of design. Understanding the relationship between different colors can help you use color more effectively in your designs, but even then choosing the right palette can be time consuming. Happily, Adobe has just shared a whole set of recommendations that will put us first and save time when we’re working around the clock.
The guys at Adobe Express have proposed a massive mix of 101 colors that can create styles and moods to suit a range of design projects, from ‘natural and earthy’ to ‘clean and modern’, ‘mean and gothic’ and many others. And if you find one that works almost but isn’t quite right, you can quickly edit it in Adobe Express.
Adobe used traditional color theory to create five-color palettes through a combination of analog, complementary, monochromatic or triadic combinations. The resulting color combinations can be a quick and convenient resource for designers looking for inspiration for what colors to use in their projects.
Illustrators may find inspiration for their art, and designers may find the perfect color palette for graphics, UI design for an app or even inspiration for home décor. Here are some examples of the combinations that have been suggested.
Natural and earthy
Natural, earthy tones have been popular in recent years, with warm desert colors and forest green trying to express a reconnection with nature. These could be hits at work for health and wellness brands.
Clean and modern
These suggestions mix muted colors for a light, clean feel with pops of brighter color for impact, for example, royal blue and more muted colors. Adobe recommends using these when the message needs to take center stage.
Bright neon
Not feeling subtle? These neon combinations with high-contrast primary and secondary colors are energetic and captivating. They can be garish in some cases but can work well for posters and advertisements that need to have a big impact.
90s throwback
You’ve probably noticed that the 90s are back with a bang lately. If you want to take advantage of the nostalgia wave, Adobe has some suggestions. It has come up with fun jewel-toned palettes (think Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Beverly Hills 90210) and more neutral grungy palettes (Twin Peaks or Friends soon) which could be completed with disturbing icons.
Moody and Gothic
It’s not all bright, uplifting color combinations. Adobe Express also has suggestions for some dark hatch palettes. Here there are hunter greens, navy blues, dusty pinks and deep jewel tones alongside charcoal blacks. Perfect for adding some atmospheric gravitas to everything from posters to social media posts.
You can see all 101 color combinations on the Adobe website (opens in a new tab). Designers will usually want to create their own custom color palette for each specific project, but Adobe’s suggestions are broad enough to provide plenty of inspiration, and each palette can be tweaked to make it more unique.
See our pick of some of the best uses of color in branding for more inspiration. And our piece on the golden rules of UI design deals specifically with the use of color in interfaces.
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