Contrasts and their effects

Here we show three examples of types of contrast that are relevant for colouring: colour contrasts, or contrasting shades. This occurs when two colours in their pure form are set adjacent to each other.

Cold-warm contrasts arise from the way we react to particular colours. Thus red-orange colours are perceived as the warmest, and blue-green as the coldest. You can use this perception of colour to create interesting effects in your picture.

To produce a highly colourful image, you can work amongst other things with contrasting complementary colours. They sit on opposite sides of the colour wheel from each other and are the most contrasting, i.e. yellow and violet, blue and orange, green and red.

When you’re colouring in a template, the most important thing is that it should help you relax. So you shouldn’t be wasting too much energy trying to achieve perfection. Use contrasts and other design techniques without over-thinking or over-planning it.

The bright effect of a colour contrast will perhaps be at the centre of your picture. If you then play selectively with warm-cold contrasts occasionally it will give your picture that certain something.