Theory of color and 3D design

It is well-known that colors, shades and patterns carry a certain emotional charge and a hidden message. We don’t even need to have special knowledge on the subject to intuitively feel that some colors evoke warm, positive associations in us, inspire our confidence, they have a calming effect and put us in an optimistic mood, while others, on the contrary, make us feel overwhelmed or even depressed.

However, it is worth learning the basics of color knowledge, as it turns out to be very useful – both in everyday life and in certain professions.

Where and when knowledge on color theory can be useful?

Every day we surround ourselves with colors and patterns, perhaps without even fully realizing it or paying attention to it. Often, when we enter a particular house or room, we immediately feel that it is cozy and we want to stay there for a long time.

Another, on the contrary, may appear to us as cold, unfamiliar and austere, although we often don’t even fully understand why. Interior design and construction are industries where color theory probably plays the biggest role. In fact, however, it is also useful in everyday, trivial matters – such as fashion and composing one’s closet, matching the shades of clothes and accessories to the color and texture of one’s complexion, hair and warm or cool beauty type. It is also valuable in makeup, where you should have the ability to choose, for example, eye shadows that will highlight a particular eye color best. Color and design theory is also often used in advertising and marketing, photography, film, as well as graphic design, web design, visualization development, and, of course, painting and art.

What is color theory?

What does color theory actually mean? It says that having three basic colors at one’s disposal, namely red, blue and yellow, one has a vital and fully sufficient base from which any other color can be created. This theory goes all the way back to the times of Isaac Newton! However, over time it has been enriched with many interesting, valuable and useful discoveries and rules. The so-called “color wheel” is often used, which graphically, clearly and pictorially depicts how colors contrast with each other, intermingle, which are similar and closest to each other, and which, on the contrary, lie on the opposite side. In addition, a division is used between warm colors (reds, oranges and yellows) and cold colors (blues, purples, greens), as well as the aforementioned primary colors and secondary colors (orange, green and purple). White, black and gray are considered neutral colors. With their help, a given color can also be easily and quickly darkened or lightened. Color theory also applies when mixing colors, allowing you to get the perfect shade and chroma.

Understanding the psychology of color

Is it worth delving so deeply into color theory? Isn’t it enough to be guided only by whether or not we like something and if it conforms to our own individual taste? Definitely yes, especially if it can become useful in our professional work, for example, a computer graphic designer or an interior designer. It is useful to know what colors are well associated, inspire trust, stimulate appetite, or linger in the memory, in order to best match them to a particular theme or brand you are working with, such as creating a logo or website. We also immediately identify certain companies or products with a certain color or design. Sometimes all it takes is one glance, a flash from an advertisement, and we already know what we are dealing with. This just goes to show the enormous power and potency of color and design theory.

There is no denying how strongly colors affect our mental state and mood. For example, we often change our closet depending on the season – in spring and summer we opt for cheerful, energetic colors like pastels or neons, while in autumn and winter we go for the more conservative ones – dark, dim, earthy colors.

The importance of color theory in interior design

Interior design, creating beautiful arrangements is the perfect scope for playing with colors, prints, patterns. It’s not just a matter of making sure everything fits together well and forms a cohesive whole. The choice of colors will vary, depending on whether one is designing an office or open-space, where the most important thing is to support and stimulate focus and motivation for work, or perhaps cozy apartments and suites in a bungalow estate, ideal for families with young children, and yet another for an exclusive hotel or restaurant.

When it comes to interior design, it is also common to take advantage of the unique qualities that colors bring – bright ones can optically enlarge a given interior, so they are often used particularly for small rooms. Dark ones, on the contrary, can visually diminish a given space. In interior design, monochromatic combinations are often used, that is, combining different shades of the same color or colors close to each other (harmonic system). Thus, the effect of harmony, purity and order can be achieved. Of course, you can also create beautiful interiors based on contrast, that is, combining colors that lie on opposite sides of the color wheel. This type of design is definitely impressive and memorable. Here, however, the task assigned to the designer is a bit more difficult, so it is advisable to have adequate knowledge and experience. It is also possible to use as many as three dominant colors, that is, to take advantage of the color triad principle.

How can you affect the viewer and potential customer through colors?

Marketing and advertising apply color theory very eagerly. Although on the surface these seem to be unimportant details, in fact it is the proper visual issues that often determine the success and popularity, or on the contrary, the poor performance of a given product or brand. For example, by using colors that inspire confidence, you can increase sales and reach more prospects. We are talking about packaging, logos, billboards, advertising spots, flyers, as well as websites, which should not only be intuitive and trouble-free to use, but also pleasing to the eye. Although it seems impossible and improbable at first glance, often a given color or packaging, label design can significantly affect the choice we make when we are, for example, shopping. We will associate certain colors with joy, carefree, hot summer, freedom (orange, yellow, pink, purple), others with peace and harmony (shades of green). Black or blue are colors that evoke associations of reliability, professionalism, inspiring our confidence. Red has been associated with romance and passion for years.

What about patterns? Do they also matter so much? Besides the fact that patterns and prints come in a particular color, so they can already draw fully from color theory in this respect, they can also carry a certain message themselves. Some symbols arouse certain emotions in us – both positive and negative, for example, polka dots, stripes or animal patterns immediately create certain images and associations in our minds.

Color theory in 3D?

Obviously, color and design theory also works well in virtual reality. When creating advanced 3D designs, three-dimensional models, photos or videos, it is worth paying attention to the right choice of colors and patterns. The color theory is being used by creators of films and computer games. Every computer graphic designer should have at least a basic understanding of the subject in order to make his works even more refined and sophisticated. It is worth expanding your knowledge and taking various specialized courses, for example, architectural visualization in 3D technology.

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