Classic Color Schemes

Monochrome

Monochromatic themes use shades of a primary color to provide a soothing theme. Can lack emphasis and power

Analogous

Analogous themes use adjecent colors on the color wheel. Once color is dominant, while the others enrich the theme by adding variation. This theme is good for serene designs.

Complementary

The complementary color theme is comprised of two colors, opposite each other on the color wheel. This theme has alot of energy and tends to look best when a warm color is put ontop of a cool color.High contrast would be a better name for this scheme.

Split Complementary

Variation on the complementary theme, using one color, and then two colors adjacent to its opposite. This theme can provide energy without the tension of the high contrast complementary theme.

Triadic

Uses three colors equaly spaced around the color wheel.This theme offers strong visual contrast while retaining more balance then complementary themes.

Tetradic

The tetradic or double complementary theme uses two sets or complementary pairs. This theme offers alot of variation to a piece, but can cause it to become chaiotic and unfocused.