Black paper can make a striking background for vibrant colors to really stand out. But not every color will show up well on black. Some shades get lost or turn murky when placed against the dark background. So what colors actually look good on black paper? Here’s an in-depth look at how different colors appear on black and which ones make the biggest visual impact.
Primary Colors on Black Paper
The primary colors – red, yellow and blue – are a great place to start when choosing colors for black paper. Here’s how each one looks:
- Red – A bright, true red really pops against the black background. It creates a bold, attention-grabbing contrast. Darker reds like burgundy or maroon can work too, but lean more sophisticated than vivid.
- Yellow – Sunny, mustard and lemon yellow hues stand out beautifully on black. They bring light and energy against the darker shade. Soft pastel yellows, however, can get washed out.
- Blue – Cooler shades like royal, navy and cobalt blue look striking on black paper. But light tones like sky blue get lost and appear muted.
In general, the more saturated the primary color, the better it stands out on black. Muted, pale or pastel versions won’t have enough contrast.
Secondary Colors on Black Paper
Secondary colors – purple, green and orange – can also make an impactful statement against the black background. Here’s how they compare:
- Purple – Rich jewel tones like violet, eggplant and magenta purple stand out beautifully on black. Light lilac shades get washed out.
- Green – Vibrant lime, emerald and forest greens really shine on black paper. Olive and mint tones get lost.
- Orange – Bright tangerine, pumpkin and coral oranges make a bold impact on the dark background. More muted apricot and peach struggle to stand out.
As with the primary colors, deeper, brighter versions of the secondary colors work best on black. More pastel shades don’t have enough presence.
Tertiary Colors on Black Paper
Tertiary colors are made by mixing primary and secondary shades. Here’s how tertiary colors typically look on black:
- Citrus Colors – Vibrant lime greens, lemon and tangerine oranges make a bright splash. More muted sherbet colors get lost.
- Amber Colors – Goldenrod, amber and saffron yellows stand out well on black. But softer butterscotch tones do not.
- Violets – Rich purple tones like indigo and violet attract attention. Paler mauve and lilac shades do not.
- Earth Colors – Deep olive and forest greens and richer sepia and umbers work well. Muted mossy and khaki tones disappear on black.
The more clear and deeply saturated the tertiary color, the better it stands out on black. Dusty, light or greyed-out versions won’t show up well.
Warm vs. Cool Colors on Black
In general, warm colors create more contrast on black than cool ones. Here’s an overview:
- Warm Colors – Red, orange, yellow andmagenta shades tend to really pop on black. Their fiery hue stands out.
- Cool Colors – Blue, violet, green and teal can work, but muted shades disappear. Rich blues make the biggest impact.
Go for the boldest, most saturated version of any cool color for black paper. Warm colors naturally make a vibrant statement.
Monochromatic Colors on Black
Working in shades of one color (monochromatic) can create an elegant, sophisticated look on black paper. Here are some colors that look stunning:
- Shades of blue – Navy, cobalt, royal blue paired with sky blue and turquoise.
- Shades of purple – Eggplant, plum, lilac and lavender.
- Shades of green – Forest, mint, sage paired with lime green.
- Shades of red – Crimson, ruby, burgundy and pink.
Go for a combo of light and dark shades of the color for contrast. Avoid dull, muddy shades – go for colors with brightness and depth.
Neon & Fluorescent Colors
For an electric, eye-catching effect, you can’t go wrong with neon and fluorescent colors on black. They deliver maximum impact and visibility. Some top options include:
- Neon yellow
- Neon pink
- Neon orange
- Neon green
- Fluorescent yellow
- Fluorescent pink
These punchy shades are designed to be ultra-vibrant by nature. They’ll give a major burst of energy on the dark paper background.
Metallic Colors on Black
Metallic colors like silver, gold, copper and bronze can give a glamorous, elegant sheen on black paper. Opt for metallic shades with depth and dimension – this gives them enough presence to stand out well. Avoid flat metallic colors, which will just disappear on the dark background.
Pastel Colors on Black Paper
Soft, pale pastel shades are best avoided on black paper. Their muted effect washes out instead of contrasting well. However, you can actually still achieve a beautiful pastel effect by layering:
- Start with bright base layer in the pastel color you want – like neon pink, lime green, etc.
- Trace over it with white pencil, chalk or oil pastel to softly blend and mute the color.
- The color shows through for a pretty faded pastel effect against the black.
This creates enough initial vibrance for the pastel shade to stand out on black. The white overlay gives a soft finish.
Color Combinations That Pop on Black
Certain color pairings and combos create high contrast and visual excitement on black paper. Here are some of the best:
- Turquoise and tangerine
- Yellow and violet
- Lime green and navy blue
- Red and royal blue
- Pink and emerald green
- Neon yellow and purple
In general, combine bright, saturated versions of complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) for maximum contrast on black. The juxtaposition makes both pop.
How Different Media Looks on Black Paper
The visibility of colors on black paper also depends on the art media used. Here’s how some of the most popular types compare:
| Media | Visibility on Black Paper |
|---|---|
| Marker pens | High visibility, intense color |
| Colored pencils | Good visibility if heavily applied in layers for vibrancy |
| Watercolor | Can stain black surface for decent visibility in thick applications |
| Acrylic paint | Highly visible with thick, opaque applications |
| Glitter pens | Good sparkly visibility on top of black |
| Pastels | Challenging to get them opaque enough to show on black |
Go for opaque, buildable media like markers, acrylics and colored pencils for best results on black paper. Translucent media like pastels and some watercolors may struggle to make an impact.
Best Black Paper Options
Choosing the right black paper is key to getting the color results you want. Here are some top options:
- Cardstock – Smooth, heavy black cardstock in 80lb – 120lb weights works great. It stands up well to many media.
- Mixed media paper – Look for black mixed media paper labeled suitable for wet & dry media. Can handle paints, inks, markers, etc.
- Bristol paper – Smooth black bristol paper is ideal for pencil, markers, ink drawing. Get acid-free paper.
- Watercolor paper – For wet paints, choose black watercolor paper with 140lb+ weight to avoid buckling.
Avoid thin, flimsy black papers – go for quality brands and heavier paper weights. This gives colors the right foundation to really stand out.
Achieving Bright Color on Dark Paper
Here are some tips for getting the most vivid, eye-catching results:
- Choose the right colors – Stick with bright, saturated shades as described above.
- Use opaque media – Markers, paint pens, acrylics and colored pencils work better than translucent media.
- Apply colors heavily – Light layers will get lost, so go thick and vibrant for intensity.
- Blend and overlap – Layer colors on top of each other for a rich, dimensional effect.
- Outline in white – Adding white outlines helps colors pop off the page.
- Add neon accents – Use neon shades sparingly to make things stand out.
Conclusion
Black paper provides the perfect bold backdrop for vivid colors to take center stage. Stick with bright primary, secondary and tertiary shades for best results. Warm tones like red, yellow and orange naturally stand out on black. Cooler tones like blue and purple work if deeply saturated. Combining complementary colors creates exciting contrast. Opaque art media like markers and acrylics give the clearest color. With the right shades and techniques, black paper can showcase color in the most eye-catching way.