COLOR SCHEMES ARE MEANINGFUL, balanced relationships of colors based on the twelve hue color wheel. Using color schemes eliminates the need for selecting colors based on trial and error. They are useful in establishing visual unity and preventing poor color combinations. The browser-safe palette of 216 colors gives consistent and predictable results across the MacOS, UNIX, and Windows platforms.

This palette allows you to choose an initial color and provides the corresponding complementary or triad colors. Simply click the arrow on the palette to select a color and you'll see the other one or two colors appear in the center. Click on each of the "wings" to see the variations of triad colors. The palette numbers and HTML numbers are shown below. 

The color schemes above are based on specific relationships of color around the color wheel below.

Any three colors with a balanced triangular relationship are triads. The basic triad consists of three colors equidistant on the color wheel. The best known of all color schemes are: the primary colors, red, yellow, and blue; the secondary colors, orange, green and violet; and the remaining tertiary colors, like red-orange and blue-violet. Triadic colors are usually considered pleasing to the eye. 

Primary triad colors (left) and secondary triad colors (right).

Two colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel are considered complementary. When these colors are placed beside each other, they enhance each other.

Bob Hoffman, PhD
SDSU Educational Technology

Andrea Saltzman
Graduate Student, SDSU Educational Technology