Did You Know?.........color schemes for pictures

This series of Did you know? is going to focus on color. I LOVE color! Black and white pictures can be beautiful but color can really make an image POP!
When we get pictures taken, I sometimes stress about outfits. I want us to look just right! But sometimes, I  really can't afford to go out and buy ALL of us new outfits. This article might help you in picking out clothes that coordinate from everyone's existing wardrobe.

Firstly let's start with the Primary colors:
Red, Yellow, and Blue.

Now we should know from our time in Elementary school that when we combine these colors, we can get tons of different colors. So let me introduce the color wheel.

Every color on this wheel was born from the primary colors. When we combine 2 primary colors, a secondary color is made. When we combine a secondary color with a primary color, a tertiary color is made.
And the right side of the wheel is classified as "warm" and the left side as "cool".

Now on to color combos.

1. Monochromatic

This is using variations of a single hue. So if we take Blue and have everyone wear a different kind of blue, this would be Monochromatic. This type of harmony feels clean and elegant. You can switch it up by adding tints (hues created by adding white), shades (hues created by adding black), and tones (hues created by adding Grey).
So in the image below, I have taken blue and added white making a blue tint(the top part), and added grey making a blue tone(the middle part), and added black making a blue shade(the bottom part).
 

2. Analogous
 An Analogous harmony uses colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel, a tertiary.

3. Complimentary

A complimentary harmony is when you pair two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. This harmony adds vibrancy to photos. De-saturating one of the colors can really cause the other to "pop". Using tints, shades and tones will keep this scheme from being "trite" such as a Christmas Red and Green combo. So add some interest and diversity with shades, tints, and tones!

4. Split Complimentary Triad
This is variation on the complimentary scheme. This uses a color, then takes two colors adjacent to it's complimentary.

5. Tetradic
This harmony takes 4 colors that are complimentary pairs.

There you have it! A lesson on colors that can help you pick outfits from the wardrobe you already have! Now mind you that you can deviate from all of these harmonies using shades, tints, and tones. They can add a depth or a brightness. Now go out and experiment with your wardrobe!

info for this Did you Know? was gleaned from Cardigan Empire