Color Theory Basics

Understanding the Difference Between RGB and CMYK: A Must-Know for Every Graphic Designer RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue, the primary colors of light. This model is additive, meaning colors are created by combining light in different intensities. When red, green, and blue lights are combined at full intensity, they create white light. RGB is used primarily in digital displays—your phone, computer monitor, television, and other screens all use the RGB model. Because it relies on light, RGB offers a broader and more vibrant color range. This is why images viewed on screen often appear more vivid than they do once printed. On the other hand, CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). This is a subtractive color model used in print media. Subtractive means that it starts with a white surface (like paper), and colors are created by subtracting brightness using ink. As inks are layered, they absorb (subtract) certain wavelengths of light and reflect others to produce the desired color. For example, combining cyan and yellow yields green, magenta and yellow create red, and so on. The black (key) ink is added to enhance depth and contrast. Because CMYK works by absorbing light rather than emitting it, the color range is more limited compared to RGB. This is why some colors, especially very bright or neon tones, don’t translate well from screen to print. One of the most common mistakes designers make is designing in RGB when the final output is intended for print. The result? The printed piece looks duller, muddier, or noticeably different than the digital proof. That’s because some RGB colors cannot be replicated exactly with CMYK inks. For example, bright blues and greens in RGB may come out flat or muted in CMYK. To avoid this, designers working on printed materials—flyers, posters, brochures, business cards, etc.—should always set their design software to CMYK mode from the beginning. Conversely, if you're designing for screens—social media graphics, websites, mobile apps, or anything viewed digitally—RGB is the appropriate choice. It allows for the full spectrum of vibrant colors and smooth gradients that modern screens can render. Using CMYK in a digital project may limit the visual impact of your work because it simply doesn’t offer the same range. Another important factor to consider is file export. When sending files for printing, professional printers often request files in CMYK format, usually as PDF, TIFF, or EPS. Some printers may convert RGB to CMYK themselves, but this can lead to unwanted color shifts. In summary, RGB is for screens, CMYK is for print. Understanding this distinction not only improves the quality and professionalism of your work but also saves time and prevents headaches when it's time to publish or print your designs. Always plan with the final medium in mind—this foresight is what separates amateur designs from professional ones.

🥗 The Power of Color in Design Color plays a key role in design, shaping emotions, interactions, and perception. Whether in branding, websites, or print, a well-chosen color palette enhances readability, directs attention, and strengthens messaging. 🥗 Color Balance for Harmony Using colors correctly creates a smooth, natural design. Without balance, a design can feel overwhelming or confusing. Key elements of color balance: • Proportion: Distributing dominant, secondary, and accent colors effectively. • Contrast: Ensuring colors complement rather than clash. • Saturation & Brightness: Adjusting intensity for the right visual impact. • Context: Choosing colors that suit the medium (print, digital, branding). 🥗 How to Achieve Good Color Balance? A simple guideline helps maintain harmony: • Main color (60-80%) – The base color that sets the tone. • Secondary color (15-30%) – A complementary color to add contrast. • Accent color (5-10%) – A highlight color used for emphasis. 🥗 Opacity Adjustments for Depth & Focus Varying opacity can soften backgrounds, enhance readability, and create a layered, visually appealing design. 🥗 Tinted Whites for Warmth & Coolness Instead of pure white, slight tints create a more refined and cohesive look, blending better with surrounding colors. 🥗 Muted and Darkened Tones for Subtle Contrast Softening or darkening colors maintains contrast without being too harsh, resulting in a more sophisticated, polished design. 🥗 The Minimalist Approach (When Less is More) A simple color palette can be just as powerful as a complex one. Monochrome or closely related colors create a timeless, elegant look that enhances clarity and professionalism.

One of the biggest mistakes I see analysts make when it comes to data viz is this: Using color like they are throwing a par-tay I used to do it too. I thought every category needed its own color, and more color = more engaging. Turns out the opposite is true. At best, poor color choices water down your message. At worst, they mislead your audience entirely. There are many nuances when choosing colors, but the following quick tips will get you 90% of the way there: --- 1. Use grayscale + one pop of color to spotlight the key category or trend You can also use a darker shade to draw attention. For example, all bars in a bar chart could be light blue, and the bar of interest (say, this quarter’s data) could be dark blue. --- 2. Use distinct colors only if each category is truly critical to the story But really, I mean TRULY all are critical. For example, you want to show product revenue for your top three performing products over the past six months. --- 3. Use sequential color palettes for ranges (low to high values) Say customers rated a product on a scale of “like it”, “love it”, or “gotta have it.”. Show “like it” in light blue (or whatever color you choose), “love it” in a slightly darker shade of blue, and “gotta have it” in the darkest blue. --- 4. Use diverging palettes for data with a neutral midpoint Imagine you have survey responses ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree. The disagree categories would be in orange, neutral category in gray, and agree categories in blue. --- 5. Consider color psychology & cultural connotations Colors carry meaning, and that meaning can shift depending on culture or context. For example, red can mean danger/caution OR luck/celebration. Using red to highlight a trend might trigger very different reactions depending on who’s looking. --- Want to see examples?  Click ‘View my newsletter’ at the top of this post to read this week’s issue: How to let color do the storytelling. -------- 👋🏼 I’m Morgan. I share my favorite data viz and data storytelling tips to help other analysts (and academics) better communicate their work.

When you’re working with graphs, be judicious about how you use colors. Color is one of those visual elements that can easily become a distraction if overused, or if not handled carefully. There are ideally 4 ways you should be using colors: 🖍️ Color Gradients: Use gradients / color intensity to direct the viewer’s eyes toward specific elements or specific areas of a chart. 🖍️ Color Isolation: Emphasize certain elements by setting them apart with a "unique" color. This contrast will immediately direct attention to the highlighted part. 🖍️ Color Saturation: Use highly saturated colors for elements you wish to highlight, while reserving less saturated colors for lesser important elements. 🖍️ Color Callouts: Use colored callout boxes or annotations to accentuate particular data points or elements. This will guide attention and provide additional context to the chart. Colors are not just arbitrary choices in design; they are powerful tools for communication. So you need to use them thoughtfully in ways that it can enhance the visual impact of a design without hurting the message and causing any confusion for the audience. As Lisa Charlotte Rost, a writer for Datawrapper very accurately mentioned - "In data visualization, color is not just a tool; it's a language.”

Small color palettes can have a BIG impact. But how do you build one? As a younger designer, color used to completely overwhelm me. I’d scroll endlessly through swatches, trying to find the perfect combo, only to end up with a rainbow mess or a bunch of colors that just didn’t sit right together. What helped me finally get the hang of it? Limiting my palette. Giving myself fewer options ironically gave me more freedom to focus on balance, contrast, and cohesion. Now, most of my palettes use just a handful of colors—and they feel stronger and more intentional because of it. Here are some tricks I use to build small but mighty palettes: 1. Use a color harmony rule Start with something simple like analogous (colors next to each other on the wheel) for harmony or complementary (opposite colors) for contrast and energy. 2. Vary hue, value and saturation A limited palette doesn’t mean everything should look the same—play with lightness/darkness (value) and intensity (saturation) to keep it interesting. 3. Choose one “hero” color Let one color lead, and support it with tints, shades, or muted neighbors. This keeps your palette feeling cohesive without being flat. 4. Test in grayscale If everything looks the same when converted to black and white, you probably need more contrast. This is a great trick for making sure your design still works visually without color. 5. Consider color psychology What mood are you aiming for? Colors carry emotional weight (think calm blues, energetic reds, or fresh greens), and your palette should reflect your message. Color doesn’t have to be intimidating. Start small, stay intentional, and you’ll be surprised how far a few well-chosen colors can take you!

The debate over colour in drawings often misses the point. The real question is: "Does the colour improve readability and reduce ambiguity for the end-user?"   Information that is difficult to interpret is a primary source of project risk. The human brain processes colour far faster than it deciphers dense linework. When used systematically, colour can instantly highlight critical information—new work vs. existing, fire-rated elements, or specific material types. This reduces cognitive load and the chance of misinterpretation.   A purposeful colour strategy is a key part of effective drawing management. It elevates a drawing from a passive record to an active communication tool that helps drive efficiency and reduces risk.   #DigitalStrategy #RiskManagement #InformationManagement #AEC #ConstructionTech #BIM

CMYK, RGB, and Spot Colors: A Comparative Overview Color Models ✅ CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black): * Subtractive Color Model: * Works by subtracting light from white light to create colors. * Used for printing. * Each color is created by combining varying percentages of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks. ✅ Users: * Printers * Graphic designers * Pre-press professionals ✅ RGB (Red, Green, Blue):✍️ * Additive Color Model: * Works by adding light to create colors. * Used for digital displays (monitors, TVs, smartphones). * Each color is created by combining varying intensities of red, green, and blue light. ✅ Users: * Web designers * Video editors * Photographers ✅ Spot Colors:✍️ * Premixed Inks: * Uses specific premixed inks for each color. * Often used for brand colors, metallics, or fluorescent colors that are difficult to achieve with CMYK. * The most common spot color system is Pantone Matching System (PMS). ✅ Users: * Brand managers * Packaging designers * High-end printing professionals ✍️ Choosing the Right Color Model✍️ 💥 Printing: Use CMYK for most printing projects. 💥 Digital Displays: Use RGB for websites, videos, and other digital content. 💥 Brand Colors, Metallic, or Fluorescent Colors: Consider spot colors for accurate and consistent color reproduction.

Intentional color selection matters, particularly on dashboards. When we design dashboards, we think about more than how a color choice works for a single chart. Instead, we think about how to help our audience explore the data with ease. Sometimes that means using alerting colors like red or orange to focus attention on metrics that aren't performing well, but we're not always comparing results to a target. When I was working with the strategic information team at USAID, Aaron Chafetz, Tim Essam, Ph.D., and Karishma Srikanth did a refresh on the #dataviz style guide for the team, including revisiting colors used not just in one dashboard but across a whole suite of tools. Breaking down results and funding by agency was analytically valuable, but they didn't want to just pull the colors from logos. The colors needed to work for other data viz purposes too. So, in addition to having a dedicated set of colors (tested for contrast and other features), the guide included specific recommendations for categorical colors, like this set of colors by agency and color palettes for performing above or below goals. On charts with multiple agencies, the colors work well together. On a chart representing results for one agency with the option to filter, the color would change as the user filtered the dashboard to different slices of data, giving an added visual cue that the data had changed. The result? More consistency across dashboards and other visualizations, which can help stakeholders more quickly see patterns in information.

You’ve cleaned the data. You’ve built the visual. But something’s off. It doesn’t grab attention. It doesn’t tell the story. Here’s why: Your colours aren’t doing their job. 5 ways to fix that: 1. Categorical 🎯 Use distinct colours to separate categories. ↳Think: blue, orange, yellow = different leagues. 2. Sequential 📈 Use light-to-dark shades to show intensity. ↳ e.g. light blue = low xG, dark blue = high xG. 3. Diverging ↔️ Highlight differences from a middle point. ↳ e.g. red to blue with white at the midpoint. 4. Highlight 🌟 Make one value stand out. ↳ One bright bar = player of the match. 5. Alert 🚨 Flag what needs attention. ↳Red = error, risk, or poor performance. Colour isn’t just decoration. It’s communication. Use it well, and the message becomes obvious. Use it poorly, and the insight gets lost. Make the colours work for you. Which one do you rely on most in your visuals?

With the few jotters I’ve designed, I’ve had my fair share of CMYK vs. RGB dilemmas. Why would the colors of my print items be so faded??? 🥹🥲 When I first started designing print items, I had no idea that there were different color modes like CMYK and RGB. All I knew was that I loved creating – until I noticed something frustrating: the colors on my screen looked vibrant, but once printed, they appeared faded! 🥹 I couldn’t figure out why, so I asked a senior colleague for help. That’s when I discovered that the color modes we use on screen (RGB) are completely different from those used for print (CMYK). This was a game-changer for me! So, what’s the difference? ✨ CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key). This is the color mode used for printing. You’ll notice that CMYK colors aren’t as vibrant as RGB because it’s a subtractive process, meaning colors are created by removing light reflected off the paper. ✨ RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue, and is used for digital displays. It’s an additive process, where different combinations of these colors create a wide range of vibrant hues. So, if your design will only be displayed on a screen, RGB is your go-to. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁: If you attempt to print a design created in RGB, the outcome can be disappointing. The colors won’t appear as intended because printers rely on CMYK to accurately reproduce shades like yellow and darker tones. This was exactly what happened to my designs before I learned about the importance of selecting the correct color mode. So, remember: ➡️ RGB = digital (screens) ➡️ CMYK = print Pro tip: If color mixing and matching is stressing you out, it's a great idea to hire a professional designer (like me 😉) to ensure your prints come out perfectly! Oh, and I recently learned about the Pantone color system, which offers even more precise color matching! Anyone familiar with it? Whether you're a designer, content creator, or just love visuals, understanding these basics will help ensure your work looks its best – both on screen and in print. 😊 Happy mid week! Be so confident in all you do the rest of this week, putting your trust in God so you can do more great work! Don’t be uncertain, be confident!♥️✨ ———————— Here for the first time? 🎉 Evelyn Falaye here! I'm a Pharmacy Student, Visual Storyteller, and Advocate for Girls in STEM. Through my work in healthcare and design, I aim to create impactful solutions for now, and yhe future. Follow for insights on design, pharmacy, and empowering young girls in STEM.