Color Theory
Complete color theory resource — the color wheel, harmony types, relationships, psychology, temperature and interactive tools to explore it all. Learn color theory by doing.
Interactive Color Theory Tools
Interactive Color Wheel
Click any hue and instantly see its harmonies. The foundational color theory tool.
Open Tool →Color Harmony Analyzer
See all six harmonies for any base color at once.
Open Tool →Color Relationships
Explore every relationship with labeled hue offsets.
Open Tool →Color Temperature Explorer
Explore warm vs cool colors across the full spectrum.
Open Tool →Color Wheel Generator
Generate custom color wheels with any number of segments.
Open Tool →Color Theory Tools
Browse every color theory tool in one hub.
Open Tool →Harmony Types
Complementary Colors
Colors 180° apart — maximum contrast for CTAs and attention.
Open Tool →Analogous Colors
Adjacent hues for calm, cohesive designs.
Open Tool →Triadic Colors
Three hues 120° apart — balanced and vibrant.
Open Tool →Tetradic Colors
Four colors in two complementary pairs — rich variety.
Open Tool →Split Complementary
Base + two neighbors of the complement — softer contrast.
Open Tool →Monochromatic Colors
One hue in multiple lightness values — elegant and minimal.
Open Tool →What Is Color Theory?
Color theory is the body of practical guidance for mixing colors and understanding their visual effects. It encompasses the color wheel, harmony rules (complementary, analogous, triadic, etc.), the psychological impact of color, color temperature, and accessibility principles like contrast ratios.
Designers, painters, photographers, marketers and developers all rely on color theory to make color decisions that are intentional rather than accidental. The tools above let you explore each dimension of color theory interactively — pick a hue and immediately see how it behaves in complementary, analogous, triadic and other relationships.
The Color Wheel
The color wheel is the foundational tool of color theory. It arranges hues in a continuous spectrum around a circle, showing their relationships. Traditional wheels use 12 steps (three primaries, three secondaries, six tertiaries); digital wheels use continuous hue (0-360°).
The Six Harmony Types
- Complementary (180°): Opposite colors, maximum contrast.
- Analogous (within ±60°): Adjacent colors, calm cohesion.
- Triadic (120°): Three colors, balanced vibrancy.
- Tetradic (90°): Four colors in two complementary pairs.
- Split-complementary (150° + 210°): Base plus two neighbors of the complement.
- Monochromatic: One hue with varying lightness.