Red - extreme, passion, excitement and energy
Meaning. At all times, the color red has carried many associations: on the one hand, it is always fire, danger and blood, on the other, love, sexuality and passion. It is in every way a bold, energetic, vibrant color, symbolized with strength, confidence and power.
Helpful advice. Since red is such an ambitious color, it should be used sparingly in branding. But if you want to stand out from the crowd, red is the perfect option.
Advertising brochures for fasfion brand Kombi
The Canadian brand Kombi produces warm clothes, so the red color fits perfectly into the logo design: it is associated with warmth and with the colors of the national flag of Canada.
Swedish Democratic Youth League branded products
Red is the color of the Democratic Party in Sweden, which in turn is associated with the symbol of the red rose. It is not surprising that the Democratic Youth League chose this color scheme for itself.
Tint, tone, and shade
These terms are often misused, but they describe a fairly simple concept in color. The main thing to remember is how different the color is from its initial hue. When white is added to a color, this lighter variety of color is called a “tint.” When a color is made darker by adding black, the resulting color is called a “shade.” If you add gray, each gradation gives you a different tone.
Shades (add white to pure color).
Shadows (add black to pure color).
Tonalities (add gray to pure color).
Symbolism of white color
Color-border, “non-color” (nothing or something before any beginning), daylight. White is the sum of all light. In the atmosphere it is the sum of colors, and its decomposition produces a rainbow. White is a symbol of purity, innocence, and naturalness. It emphasizes the idealism of character and the desire for perfection. This is the color of eternity and deities. Sufis (Islamic ascetics) associate the color white with the secret of inner light.
If you are dressed in all white from head to toe, then be careful not to look too “hospital” or create the impression of emptiness and infinity. White is often associated with absence, with something non-existent (“white crow”, “white spots”, “white ticket”...). It seems to symbolize anticipation: wedding, baptism, and so on. Reluctance to give up white in clothing may indicate a fear of leaving adolescence.
Symbolism of black color
Black represents the absence of all light and all color. It symbolizes: firmness of conviction, as well as elegance and sophistication. It gives a person moderation, exclusivity and mystery. Black is often associated with negative or dubious values (dark humor, black hole...).
It would be unfair to reduce it only to them, but we must admit that the color black means a lack of imagination and joy. Black is a symbol of mourning, anxiety, depression. It drowns you in the crowd and can push others away - it often indicates an impenetrable character, a desire to dominate, and rigidity. If it is worn too often, it can mean persistent anxiety or fear of leaving adolescence.
To see a situation in black terms means to exaggerate its negative aspects. Indulging in black thoughts means experiencing deep sadness... In many religions, black means death. The Romans marked “fateful” days with black stones, and the expression “for a rainy day” has survived the centuries. English schoolchildren call the first Monday after the Christmas holidays “Black Monday”.
Orange - freshness, youth, creativity and adventure
Meaning. Orange combines the warmth of red and the optimism of yellow. Oranges and carrots are also orange, making this color a symbol of health, youth and energy.
Helpful advice. Since orange is more associated with youth and newness, it may not be suitable for luxury brands and companies engaged in serious activities.
Feeding the Self staff business cards
Feeding the Self helps South Africans improve their own gardens. Their logo is a perfect reflection of their activities.
Symbols of the creative agency Full Orange
Orange in the colors of the logo is a symbol of creativity and energy of the company.
Symbolism of blue
Deep, cold, intangible color, the color of truth: symbolizes water that cleanses, nourishes and refreshes. The color blue also symbolizes inner life, femininity, kindness, a sense of duty, devotion, stability, and the pursuit of ideals. This is the color of a personality that is trustworthy, constant, collected, calm.
It corresponds to divine truth, faith, loyalty. Dreams associated with this color provide a sense of self-absorption. This is the color of cold, azure, sky and paradise. It sets the mood for relaxation, because it does not push the gaze away, but allows it to get lost in itself. Blue imparts rigor and dignity; it conceals originality and exactingness.
- Dark blue color is order, inflexibility, power, instigation, respect, prudence, intuition, giftedness.
- Light blue: creativity, dreaminess, sensitivity, tenderness, sense of duty.
- Lavender: a symbol of emphasized femininity and sophistication. This is a noble, even arrogant color, which speaks of a subtle, charming, sociable, artistic personality.
- Purple: Spirituality, respect, divine power, power, spiritual authority, the mystery of life, truth, wisdom, serenity, depth, freshness, modesty.
- Turquoise: symbol of beauty, tranquility, trust, devotion, idealism. This color protects against bad thoughts. It emphasizes strength of character, wisdom of body and spirit. Speaks of a sensitive, sophisticated, intelligent, stable, persistent, but somewhat detached from the outside world personality.
For a long time, no importance was attached to the blue color of different shades. Only from the 12th century did it acquire noble properties thanks to the progress of the dyeing craft and for a more symbolic reason - thanks to the cult of the Virgin Mary. It became the color of kings, and the Virgin Mary was traditionally depicted wearing a cloak and cape of an azure hue.
Stones: turquoise, hematite. 5th chakra color: blue. A symbol of the mind, the desire for purity and infinity. It represents the power of thought, faith, acuity of perception, consciousness, depth of being, devotion. 6th chakra color: dark blue. A symbol of communication, self-expression, creativity, tranquility. Stones: blue agate, tourmaline (indigolite).
Purple - royalty, majesty, spirituality and mystery
Meaning. The purple palette evokes rather neutral emotions. Deep shades create an atmosphere of mystery and grandeur, while lilac, lavender or amethyst look feminine and sentimental.
Helpful advice. Research shows that purple is most suitable for female audiences. For well-known brands, the use of this color is rather an exception.
Tidepool business cards
For medical software company Tidepool, using dark purple is a way to stand out from the crowd of competitors and emphasize its status.
Business card of Bella Casa design agency
The purple color in the Bella Casa logo symbolizes the French charm and chic of Victorian interiors. An excellent choice for a design company.
Symbolism of green
Too much green is boring and predictable. The grass is always greener in the next meadow... unless the colorblind see it. The green cross is a symbol of pharmacies and environmentalists. Green is a natural color. It is associated with water and young plants. It is a “feminine” color, reflecting beauty, youth, vigor and vitality. Green is the color of the rebirth of nature, as well as spiritual rebirth in the hope of immortality. Green is the color of warmth and friendliness, a symbol of good luck, superstition, and longevity.
It represents flora, growth, fertility. It is calm and pacifying, encourages tolerance, evokes feelings of harmony, hope, balance, self-confidence, and sharpens insight. The light green shade is calming and relaxing. Dark green means trust, solidity, seriousness. In the Muslim paradise, the saints are dressed in green, like the prophet himself, because they have Knowledge.
In India, green water in ancient times gave life, and Vishnu, who upheld the world, is depicted as a turtle with a green face. The goddess of primal matter, who is born in the sea of milk, has a green body. Green expresses the back and front, good and bad luck, destiny and fate. Stones: jade, heliotrope. This is the color of the 4th chakra: a symbol of balance, renewal, Love, acceptance, compassion, harmony.
Saturation
Related to chromaticity, saturation tells us how a color looks under different lighting conditions. For example, a room painted one color will look different at night than during the day. During the day, although the color will remain unchanged, its saturation will change. Saturation has nothing to do with the words “dark” and “light”. Instead, use the words "pale", "weak" and "pure", "strong".
The saturation is the same - the same intensity, different tones.
Saturation contrast - different levels of filling, the tone is the same.
Saturation, also called “color intensity,” describes the strength of a color relative to its brightness (value) or lightness (luminance/lightness). In other words, color saturation indicates its difference from gray at a certain brightness of light. For example, colors close to gray are desaturated compared to lighter colors.
In color, the property of “lively” or “full” is nothing more than the absence of an admixture of gray or its shades. It is important to note that saturation is measured along lines of equal brightness.
Saturation: 128
Symbolism of pink
Pink is a very positive color, symbolizing seduction, purity, and devotion. This is a symbol of femininity and love.
This color also has an aspect indicating relaxation and can symbolize the joy of life, a period of success. See life in pink: be joyful, look optimistically into the future. Pink color is romanticism, modesty, timidity, gentleness. It is an emblem of the divine, associated with Venus. This is a symbol of tenderness and delicacy.
Pink color expresses sympathy, responsiveness, but also the search for safety, affection, protection. Writer Barbara Cartland preferred to wear pink clothes, put on pink makeup, use pink objects in everyday life, and so on. Pink was her thing! She achieved success in literature, but was also known for her eccentric gait. She always wore airy pastel pink and caramel pink suits.
Color looks brilliant only in a certain environment, just as eyes only smile on a face. Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher
