Black
Black has the connotations of power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery.
Black is a mysterious colour associated with fear and the unknown (black holes). It usually has a negative conections (blacklist, black humour, 'black death'). Black also signifies strength and authority; it is seen to be a very formal, elegant, and prominent colour (black tie, black Porshe). Black is also considered the symbol of grief.
Black can define distance and perspective, hpwever a black background reduces readability. Black clothing can make you look thinner. Black is used as a background to make bright colours stand out. When black is linked with red or orange it portrays a very aggressive colour scheme.
Red
Red is the colour of fire and blood, so it is identified with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.Red is capable of portraying powerful emotions. It relates to the different systems in the body like the metabolism, respiration rate,blood pressure. It's easily noticed, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are often painted red. Traditionally red is used to signify courage. It is a colour found in many national flags, (England, Japan, Italy, France, America, Germany) all involved in the world wars which denotes the military and power influence.
Red can make texts and images stand out. It's often used in marketing or advertising as its bold and makes the 'Buy Now' or 'Click Here' buttons on Internet banners and websites more visible. Furthermore in advertising, red is often used to arouse erotic feelings (red lips, red nails, red-light districts, 'Lady in Red', etc). However in contrast red is commonly used to indicate danger (high voltage signs, traffic lights).
Light red signifies joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love.
Pink represents romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness.
Dark red suggests, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, and wrath.
Brown is associated with stability and denotes masculine qualities.
Reddish-brown is connected with Autumn.
Orange
Orangeis a combination of the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It has connotations of joy, sunshine, and exotic destinations. Orange can highlight enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.
Orange is a very hot colour, so it gives the sensation of heat. Nevertheless, orange is not as aggressive as red. Orange increases oxygen supply to the brain, produces an invigorating effect, and stimulates mental activity. It is highly accepted among young people. As a citrus colour, orange is associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite. Orange is the colour of fall and harvest. In heraldry, orange is symbolic of strength and endurance.
Orange has very high visibility, so you can use it to catch attention and highlight the most important elements of your design. Orange is very effective for promoting food products and toys.
Dark orange can mean deceit and distrust.
Red-orange corresponds to desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, aggression, and thirst for action.
Gold evokes the feeling of prestige. The meaning of gold is illumination, wisdom, and wealth. Gold often symbolizes high quality.
Red-orange corresponds to desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, aggression, and thirst for action.
Gold evokes the feeling of prestige. The meaning of gold is illumination, wisdom, and wealth. Gold often symbolizes high quality.
Yellow
Yellow is the colour of sunshine. It's associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.
Yellow creates a warming effect, makes people cheerful, helps to stimulate mental activity, and generates muscle energy. Yellow is often identified with food. Bright yellow grabs the audiences attention, which is the reason taxi's are painted this colour. However if seen too much, yellow may have a disturbing effect; apparently babies cry more in yellow rooms. Yellow is normally noticed first when placed against black; this combination is often used to issue a warning - the hazardous sign for corrosion. Yellow indicates honour and loyalty, it is often used to display class and status, it is popularly used to highlight royalty. Yellow has been connected with cowardice as it is a soft colour.
Yellow promotes children's products and items related to leisure. Yellow is very effective for attracting attention, so use it to highlight the most important elements of your design. Men usually perceive yellow as a very playful, 'childish' colour, so it is not used when selling masculine, expensive products to men – nobody will buy a yellow business suit or a yellow Mercedes.
Dull (dingy) yellow represents caution, decay, sickness, and jealousy.
Light yellow is associated with intellect, freshness, and joy.
Dull (dingy) yellow represents caution, decay, sickness, and jealousy.
Light yellow is associated with intellect, freshness, and joy.
Green
Green is the colour of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional connections with safety; wait for the green man when crossing the road. Dark green is also commonly associated with money; the american dollars.
Green has great healing power as it is the most restful colour for the human eye; it can improve vision. Green suggests stability and endurance. Green can highlight hope and growth.
Green is used to indicate safety when advertising medicines as its reassuring for the audience. Green is related to nature, so it to promotes eco-friendly products.
Dark green is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy.
Yellow-green can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord, and jealousy.
Aqua is associated with emotional healing and protection.
Olive green is the traditional colour of peace.
Dark green is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy.
Yellow-green can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord, and jealousy.
Aqua is associated with emotional healing and protection.
Olive green is the traditional colour of peace.
Blue
Blue is the colour of the sky and sea. It connotates trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.
Blue is considered good for the mind and body as it slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect. Blue is heavily connected with tranquillity and calmness. Blue can be used to promote products and services related to cleanliness (water purification filters, cleaning liquids), air and sky (airlines, airports, air conditioners), water and sea (sea voyages, mineral water). Blue is associated with consciousness and intellect. Blue also suggests precision when promoting high-tech products; blue-ray.
Blue is a masculine colour; according to studies, it is highly accepted among males, which is why baby boys are aften dressd in blue.
Blue supresses appetite therefore it's not commonly used when advertising food. Blue-yellow-red is a perfect colour scheme for a superhero as it highlights power and high impact.
Light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquillity, understanding, and softness.
Dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.
Dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.
Purple:
Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.
According to surveys, almost 75 percent of pre-adolescent children prefer purple to all other colours. Purple is a very rare colour in nature; some people consider it to be artificial.
Light purple is a good choice for a feminine design. You can use bright purple when promoting children's products.
Light purple evokes romantic and nostalgic feelings.
Dark purple evokes gloom and sad feelings. It can cause frustration.
Dark purple evokes gloom and sad feelings. It can cause frustration.
White
White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. It is considered to be the colour of perfection.White means safety, purity, and cleanliness. As opposed to black, white usually has a positive connotation. White can represent a successful beginning. In heraldry, white depicts faith and purity.
In advertising, white is associated with coolness and cleanliness because it's the colour of snow. You can use white to suggest simplicity in high-tech products. White is an appropriate colour for charitable organizations; angels are usually imagined wearing white clothes. White is associated with hospitals, doctors, and sterility, so you can use white to suggest safety when promoting medical products. White is often associated with low weight, low-fat food, and dairy products.
