It’s always good to be able to articulate design choices to your clients; why you put something where, why you chose the color scheme you did, etc. This knowledge is one of the biggest differences between a designer and a non-designer. But there is a lot to remember when it comes to the realm of graphic design – so much so that it’s pretty much impossible to remember everything from all the theories of graphic design, to web design best practices to Photoshop keyboard shortcuts.
With that in mind, I decided it would be useful for me to have all of the basics of color theory contained in one place – specifically, a cool infographic-esque poster. This way, I can quickly reference things that may have slipped to the back of my mind since design school. The end result is this: The Color Theory Quick Reference Poster for Designers.
The idea is that this graphic can be either printed out or used as a desktop wallpaper. During meetings, phone calls, or any other sort of client interaction, you can reference this poster if you need to – either for your own benefit, or to point something out to your client.
The graphic contains info on:
- the basic color wheel
- passive vs. active colors
- cool vs. warm colors
- subtractive vs. additive color
- color types
- color relationships
- meanings attached to colors
- basic terms pertaining to color
Hopefully this will be as useful to you as I’m hoping it will be to me. Here are the various files for download – please share, but don’t pass off as your own!
- Print-ready, PDF (11″ by 17″, 300DPI)
- Print-ready, white background, PDF (11″ by 17″, 300DPI – click to view)
- 1920X1200 Wallpaper
- 1680X1050 Wallpaper
- 1440X900 Wallpaper
- 1280X800 Wallpaper
- EPS file (if you want to make your own changes)
Enjoy!
Color Theory Quick Reference Poster…
A sweet infographic on color theory. Informative & nice to look at, this is a great tool for designers of any kind. Various files for download….
Trackback by designfloat.com — January 18, 2010 @ 9:49 am
Thank you! I’m putting it up on my desktop.
Comment by Karina Tweedell — January 18, 2010 @ 1:51 pm
Thank you for this great piece of imagery
Very nice!
Comment by Tom — January 18, 2010 @ 1:56 pm
No problem!
Comment by Jeff — January 18, 2010 @ 4:16 pm
I’ve been looking for something like this for the past couple weeks, it’s perfect! Thank you!
Comment by Breann — January 18, 2010 @ 6:31 pm
[...] Color Theory Quick Reference Poster (tags: color theory goodies) [...]
Pingback by links for 2010-01-19 « random thoughts and casual ruminations — January 19, 2010 @ 5:10 am
This is fantastic! Thank you so much.
Comment by Zachary McInchak — January 21, 2010 @ 3:05 am
Excellent resource thanks!
Comment by Jennifer Farley — January 21, 2010 @ 3:15 am
Very useful. Thank you for share.
Comment by Maicon Sobczak — January 21, 2010 @ 3:32 am
Cool. I’ll be having it printed to decorate my webdesign class.
Also very happy with the white background version, the other one might get outdated sooner.
Thx!
Comment by Moose — January 21, 2010 @ 4:10 am
As being synesthete I live a life in colors. Synesthesia means that I see colors when I see words and numbers. I transform this in paintings of names and birthdays. The color theory fascinates me always.
Comment by Artist — January 21, 2010 @ 8:00 am
Thank you! Putting it up on my wall now.
Comment by Wendy — January 21, 2010 @ 8:00 am
Excellent tool – and nice design! ..useful for showing clients as well.
Comment by Jacob — January 21, 2010 @ 8:07 am
Thanks for the compliments, guys & gals – I’m glad the graphic is proving useful to you!
Comment by Jeff — January 21, 2010 @ 8:21 am
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Pingback by Color Theory Quick Reference Poster | Design Newz — January 21, 2010 @ 8:31 am
Very interesting article, thank you:)
Comment by Ressources graphiques — January 21, 2010 @ 8:47 am
Thanks a lot for this one, really useful, will definitely print this poster.
Comment by alfiks — January 21, 2010 @ 9:46 am
Great teaching tool, thank you
Comment by retroeuropa — January 21, 2010 @ 9:58 am
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Pingback by Color Theory Quick Reference Poster « Sans/Serif — January 21, 2010 @ 10:07 am
[...] Color Theory Quick Reference Poster It’s always good to be able to articulate design choices to your clients; why you put something where, why you chose the color scheme you did, etc. This knowledge is one of the biggest differences between a designer and a non-designer. But there is a lot to remember when it comes to the realm of graphic design – so much so that it’s pretty much impossible to remember everything from all the theories of graphic design, to web design best practices to Photoshop keyboard shortcuts. (tags: color design reference cheatsheet pdf print) [...]
Pingback by links for 2010-01-21 « riverrun meaghn beta — January 21, 2010 @ 8:08 pm
[...] Friday Wallpaper: BOKEH January 22, 2010 by Jeff After the explosion in popularity of the Color Theory Reference Poster (and wallpaper), this Free Friday wallpaper has a tough act to follow. I’ve been dealing a lot [...]
Pingback by Free Friday Wallpaper: BOKEH — January 22, 2010 @ 7:01 am
[...] all of the basics of color theory contained in one place – specifically, a cool infographic-esque poster. Share and [...]
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Pingback by The Most Popular Articles of the Week in the Inspired Community | Inspired Magazine — January 24, 2010 @ 8:45 am
I’m in your debt; I’m a indie film dude who is in dire need of this knowledge. Thank you!
Comment by eddie — January 25, 2010 @ 7:58 am
[...] more cerebral like tips on how to be an efficient designer. Perhaps you made something, like a Color Theory Quick Reference Poster, that you think your designer peers might find [...]
Pingback by On Giving Back to the Design Community — January 25, 2010 @ 3:11 pm
[...] tutte. E’ per questo motivo che gli autori di Paper Leaf hanno creato un bellissimo poster con le nozioni base della teoria dei [...]
Pingback by Un poster sulla teoria dei colori — January 26, 2010 @ 12:06 am
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Pingback by Mes favoris du 25-01-10 au 26-01-10 » Gilles Toubiana — January 26, 2010 @ 2:02 am
This is FABULOUS-I was going to create one for my classroom-now I can just tweak this slightly-thank you SOOOOO much!
Comment by Maureen — January 27, 2010 @ 6:06 am
Glad you can use it, Maureen!
Comment by Jeff — January 27, 2010 @ 8:17 am
[...] imprimir, usar como fondo de pantalla o como repaso de las cuestiones básicas sobre los colores: Color Theory Quick Reference Poster. (¡Gracias por el enlace, [...]
Pingback by La teoría del color | Recolector.de Blogs — January 28, 2010 @ 1:02 am
[...] La teoría del color Publicado el Enero 28, 2010 por xoπ Para imprimir, usar como fondo de pantalla o como repaso de las cuestiones básicas sobre los colores: Color Theory Quick Reference Poster. [...]
Pingback by La teoría del color « La Trapaleta es lo de hoy — January 28, 2010 @ 9:28 am
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Pingback by Color Theory Quick Reference Poster « HiperEidon — January 28, 2010 @ 12:37 pm
[...] parete" un poster dedicato ai colori e al loro uso, pronto per il download ecco il link: Color Theory Quick Reference Poster ….e visto che di colori si parla accompagno il poster con un link interessante: Color Theory for [...]
Pingback by Color Theory Quick Reference Poster - Grafici Creativi — January 28, 2010 @ 3:59 pm
SWEET!!!! DESKTOP NOW!
Comment by Bamidala — January 29, 2010 @ 2:55 pm
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Pingback by Michele Maffucci » Blog Archive » Aggiornamenti settimanali del 2010-01-31 — January 31, 2010 @ 11:14 am
[...] Très pratique pour une vue d’ensemble des combinaisons de couleurs. A imprimer ou en fond d´écran: COLOR THEORY QUICK REFERENCE [...]
Pingback by La couleur en poster - //rescoast// — February 1, 2010 @ 12:42 pm
This is great!
Printing and putting on my wall.
Thank you.
Comment by Matt — February 2, 2010 @ 10:12 am
[...] guide, and I had yet to find one. Today, though, I found what I had been looking for – a color theory quick reference poster – available as a printable PDF and as wallpaper! Today’s link comes from the Paper [...]
Pingback by Color Theory « Photography, Technology & Stuff — February 2, 2010 @ 10:44 am
[...] Link [...]
Pingback by La teoría del color « Sphunks — February 2, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
We had just started working on a colour wheel today to explain to a client what their brand’s colour palette was and how complementary colours work. This is a great tool for both designers and clients! Thanks.
Comment by gunjan — February 8, 2010 @ 10:23 am
Thanks
Comment by Guest — February 9, 2010 @ 8:56 am
[...] Fullsize and Source [...]
Pingback by Color Theory Infographic « Information Design at Penn — February 12, 2010 @ 5:16 pm
[...] http://www.paper-leaf.com/blog/2010/01/color-theory-quick-reference-poster/ Tags: color theory, quick reference, www paper Комментариев [...]
Pingback by ColorTheory_Screen_White.jpg (JPEG Image, 1224×792 pixels) | Дизайн Блог! — February 12, 2010 @ 8:01 pm
[...] Color theory – quick reference poster – Link. [...]
Pingback by CSS Killswitch | WebDesignExpert.Me — February 12, 2010 @ 11:25 pm
[...] Color Theory Quick Reference Poster Hits: 2 Tags: Quick Post [...]
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[...] Posted in Uncategorized via paper-leaf.com [...]
Pingback by Color Theory Quick Reference Poster « just do something… anything — February 13, 2010 @ 6:18 am
[...] Paper Leaf [...]
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Pingback by Interessantes der KW 6 / 2010 | LanceBlog — February 14, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
[...] Originally from Paper Leaf. [...]
Pingback by Tom's Kit | Color Theory — February 15, 2010 @ 1:05 am
Thanks so much for the color theory wallpaper! I just updated my screensaver.Everyone could benefit by a lesson in color theory. I live it and breathe it.
Comment by Lisa Mackin — February 15, 2010 @ 3:49 pm
Thanks so much for this! I’m referring all my students to it!
Comment by Arcadia — February 15, 2010 @ 8:08 pm
No problem – good to hear!
Comment by Jeff — February 15, 2010 @ 8:52 pm
so wonderful, thank you!
Comment by gwen — February 15, 2010 @ 9:43 pm
[...] Paper Leaf Design in Edmonton designed this quick reference poster, to be printed out, or even used as a screen saver, with the whats and whys of color theory. Clever, practical and free. The trifecta of good design. [...]
Pingback by quick reference color theory « re:design — February 16, 2010 @ 5:16 pm
[...] Very useful! And it’s downloadable here [...]
Pingback by Color Theory and graphic design « — February 17, 2010 @ 1:36 am
[...] agency Paper Leaf has created this quick reference poster about color theory, intended as a tool for designers or for anyone who appreciates colors and color theory. The poster [...]
Pingback by Color Theory Quick Reference Poster « Color Theory — February 17, 2010 @ 2:01 pm
[...] handy. Click the image to zoom in. You can thank the good people at Edmonton-based design firm Paper Leaf. They were even generous enough to offer it as a pdf, desktop wallpaper, and even an EPS you can [...]
Pingback by TYPO-GRAPHICAL » Blog Archive » Color Theory — February 18, 2010 @ 8:02 am
[...] Color Theory Quick Reference Sheet [...]
Pingback by Color Theory Quick Reference Sheet at macchagraphic blog — February 18, 2010 @ 11:46 am
[...] Paper Leaf uraczył nas niedawno projektem, który prezentuje podstawowe zagadnienia z teorii koloru. Niby nic wielkiego, ale czasem cieszy. Dostępny jest on w formnie tapet 1920X1200, 1680X1050, 1440X900, 1280X800, dwóch plików PDF01, PDF02 (białe tło) oraz oryginalnego edytowalnego EPSa. [...]
Pingback by Teoria koloru | Love Logo - Polski Logo / Design Blog — February 19, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
[...] handy. Click the image to zoom in. You can thank the good people at Edmonton-based design firm Paper Leaf. They were even generous enough to offer it as a pdf, desktop wallpaper, and even an EPS you can [...]
Pingback by TYPO-GRAPHICAL » Blog Archive » Color Theory « Youngster's Blog — February 20, 2010 @ 11:25 am
Excellent resource. Thanks very much
Comment by John Harris — February 23, 2010 @ 1:09 am
[...] A tutorial on color theory (with a nice poster for reference here) [...]
Pingback by Graphic Design Studio » Some relevant links from today’s review — February 25, 2010 @ 10:33 pm
[...] all in the color; teal is a mix of blue & green. Blue = cold, green = growth (this is what the Color Theory Reference Poster tells us!): a good combination for the month of March, as we’re starting to sneak out of [...]
Pingback by March 2010 Desktop Calendar Wallpaper — March 1, 2010 @ 8:02 am
[...] Free Color Theory Quick Reference Poster [...]
Pingback by Love Colors | Rainbow Walk — March 8, 2010 @ 8:16 pm