The challenge of choosing a color scheme for your adult coloring book pages can be daunting – but with the right understanding, it can also open up limitless possibilities! There are several different types of color schemes you can use in your coloring pages to create stunningly beautiful artwork. Here is a guide to the most common types of color schemes:
Monochromatic Color Scheme
A monochromatic color scheme is the use of one single dominant color throughout your adult coloring book page. By using tints, tones, and shades of the same hue, it creates a harmonious palette that can be used to create an overall cohesive look and feel. A common example of a monochromatic color scheme would be the use of different shades of blue to color a page featuring an ocean scene.
Analogous Color Scheme
An analogous color scheme uses colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel as its base. It’s possible to create an almost endless combination of hues by combining them in different proportions to create an interesting yet balanced palette for your adult coloring book page.
Complementary Color Scheme
A complementary color scheme uses a pair of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green or yellow and purple. Using two contrasting colors helps create contrast and visual interest in your adult coloring book pages.
Split Complementary Color Scheme
A split complementary color scheme is similar to a complementary color scheme but with an added twist. Instead of using two colors from opposite sides of the color wheel, it uses one hue and then two colors that flank either side.
Compound Color Scheme
A compound color scheme combines two complementary or split-complementary color schemes. This type of color scheme can be used to create a vibrant and exciting look for your adult coloring book page by combining colors that, when used alone, create a more subtle look. An example of a compound color scheme would be a combination of yellow-green and red-violet.
Triadic Color Scheme
The triadic color scheme is based on three evenly spaced hues on the 12-hue color wheel, such as red, yellow, and blue or orange, green, and purple. This type of color scheme can be used to add visual interest to your adult coloring book page without overwhelming the eye with too many competing colors at once.
Square Color Scheme
A square color scheme is similar to a tetradic or rectangle color scheme, but with one less hue in its mix. It consists of three colors that are spaced equally apart from each other on the color wheel, creating an interesting yet balanced palette for your adult coloring book page. An example of a square color scheme would be a combination of yellow, blue, and green.
Rectangle (Tetradic) Color Scheme
A tetradic or rectangle color scheme is made up of four colors which are spaced equally apart from each other on the color wheel. This type of color scheme can be used to create a visually stimulating atmosphere and an almost limitless range of combinations for your adult coloring book page.