Color theory is an important concept for artists, designers, and anyone looking to create visually appealing compositions. Two color schemes that are particularly useful are color triads and split complementary colors. In this article, we will explain what these color schemes are, how to use them, and why they work well together. With some basic knowledge of color theory, you can make more informed choices about color and create color combinations that are dynamic, harmonious and vibrant. Keep reading to learn all about triads and split complements!
What Are Color Triads?
A color triad is a color scheme composed of three colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel. The colors form a triangle on the color wheel.
Some examples of color triads include:
- Red, yellow, and blue
- Green, orange, and violet
- Yellow-orange, red-violet, and blue-green
Triads are made up of colors that are separated by 120 degrees on the color wheel. Each triad contains one primary color, one secondary color, and one tertiary color. The primary color is directly between the other two colors on the wheel.
For example, a red, yellow, and blue triad contains the primary colors red and yellow, with the secondary color blue between them.
The colors in a triad are evenly spaced for a harmonious, balanced look. The color relationship creates vibrancy and visual interest.
How to Use Color Triads
There are a few different ways to work with color triads:
- Dominant and supporting colors – Use one color as the dominant shade, with the other two for accents.
- Equally distributed – Use all three colors evenly throughout the composition.
- Gradient – Transition smoothly between the three colors to blend them.
When using one color as the dominant shade, choose the color you want to be the main focal point. Complement it with the other two colors in smaller doses.
For example, an orange dominant triad scheme might feature burnt orange as the primary color, with yellow-green and violet used sparingly to accent it.
Distributing the colors evenly creates the most vibrant effect. Each color gets an equal share of the viewer’s attention. Place the colors next to each other in fairly even amounts.
Blending between the colors as a gradient can create a bridge between the three shades. Gradually transitioning between the triad unifies them into a cohesive palette.
Why Use Color Triads?
Color triads offer many benefits for designers and artists looking to create dynamic compositions:
- Balance – The evenly spaced colors have an inherent balance.
- Harmony – Colors are far enough apart to avoid discord.
- Versatility – Triads make great palettes for all types of projects.
- Vibrancy – The color relationship creates visual energy.
The balanced spacing between the three colors results in a palette that feels harmonious, with no one color dominating. This versatility allows color triads to be used in nearly any type of design.
The colors have enough contrast to be vibrant without clashing. This makes a triad palette exciting and stimulating to viewers.
Triads are excellent tools for learning color relationships as all three colors relate directly back to a primary shade. Understanding how triads work builds a foundation for exploring more complex color schemes.
Examples of Color Triads in Design
Many iconic logos and designs have featured color triads:
- The Google logo – Blue, red, yellow
- The NBC logo – Red, blue, yellow
- Coca-Cola cans – Red, white, black
- Campbell’s Soup – Red, white, green
These triads use primary colors that create bold, eye-catching designs. The balanced color relationships convey energy and vibrancy.
Triads are also used extensively in interior design:
- Southwestern decor – Turquoise, red, yellow
- Tropical theme – Teal, orange, magenta
- Retro style – Avocado green, burnt orange, pink
These palettes take accent colors that work together in triadic harmony to create cohesive decor themes. The colors energize living spaces.
Split Complementary Colors
The split complementary color scheme is a variation on the standard complementary palette. While regular complementary colors are directly across from each other on the color wheel, split complements separate the shades into neighboring hues.
This creates a palette with:
- One base color
- The color on either side of its complement
For example, a blue color scheme would be complemented with orange. For the split complement, colors adjacent to orange, like red-orange and yellow-orange, are used instead.
Split complements give the visual punch of complements while expanding the color palette. The scheme has the same vibrancy but with more nuance.
How to Use Split Complements
There are a few approaches to working with split complements:
- Dominant hue – Use the base color most prominently with smaller accents of the split complements.
- Equal balance – Distribute the three colors relatively evenly throughout the composition.
- Double split – Use both splits of the complement colors as four total hues.
As with triads, a dominant color approach focuses on one main shade while bringing in the split complements as accents. For example, an orange dominant scheme might feature orange prominently with smaller amounts of blue-violet and yellow-green.
For a more vibrant technique, use the colors in close to equal proportion. This gives each hue visual weight and presence within the palette.
The double split technique expands the palette to four colors instead of three. Take the base color, both of its split complements, and use all together.
Why Use Split Complements?
Like triads, split complementary schemes offer useful traits:
- Harmony – Colors retain a harmonious relationship.
- Versatility – Works for any design style.
- Vibrancy – High contrast creates visual impact.
- Nuance – More options than standard complements.
The dynamic between complementary colors is preserved. This allows for a vibrant palette that still feels cohesive.
The split complementary relationship works across color schemes, offering more flexibility than strict complements. Any base color can be combined pleasingly with its adjacent hues.
Split complements also add subtle nuance over regular complements. The scheme offers richer options through the expanded three to four color palette.
Examples of Split Complements
Many brands have utilized split complementary palettes:
- Starbucks – Green, red-violet, yellow-orange
- Wikipedia – Blue, yellow-orange, red-violet
- Toyota – Red, blue-violet, yellow-green
These palettes take a primary brand color and accent it with split complements. The result is a distinctive, relatable color scheme.
Split complements also work well for interiors:
- Blue room – Blue, orange, yellow-green accents
- Red kitchen – Red, green, blue-violet details
- Purple living space – Purple, yellow, blue-green decor
Matching furniture and decor to a split complementary wall color brings visual flair. The harmonious relationship ties the whole room together.
Comparing Color Triads and Split Complements
While triads and split complements have their similarities, understanding their differences is key:
| Color Triads | Split Complements |
|---|---|
| Made of 3 colors | Made of 3 or 4 colors |
| Colors evenly spaced by 120 degrees | One color with adjacent complements |
| Contains primary, secondary, tertiary colors | Can use any colors |
| Fixed color relationship | More variable color relationship |
Triads always use three equidistant colors, one each of primary, secondary, and tertiary. Split complements center around one color of any hue.
Triads have a set color relationship, while split complements offer more flexibility. Both create vibrant, pleasing palettes.
Using Triads and Split Complements Together
For more complex color schemes, triads and split complements can be combined together into a larger palette.
Some ways to blend the two harmonious schemes include:
- Use a triad for a core palette, and pull split complements from it.
- Build patterns or gradients that transition between a triad and split complement.
- Let one color link together a triad scheme and a split complement palette.
For example, a triad palette of red, yellow and blue could take the red and blue to form a red-orange, blue-violet split complement. The yellow would act as a link between the schemes.
Used thoughtfully, blending triads and split complements creates palettes with depth, nuance, and visual interest. Take advantage of all the color relationships to build vibrant, multifaceted compositions.
Conclusion
Triads and split complements offer artists and designers two powerful, harmonious color schemes to work with. Both provide combinations that balance and accentuate each other beautifully.
With the basics of these color relationships down, experimenting with new palettes is the next step. Use triads and split complements as creative springboards for compiling color schemes that are unique to your own style and vision.
The world of color theory holds endless possibilities. Triads and split complements are just the beginning when it comes to exploring and learning how to wield color effectively. Master these harmonious schemes first to build an intuitive understanding. Soon you’ll be able to apply color with more confidence and visual impact than ever before.
