dk01 — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 14:51:10 +0000

I tend to use a whole lot of resources for color selections. Here are some of them:
http://www.hypermedic.com/color/index.php
http://www.colorschemer.com/online.html
http://easyrgb.com/index.html
http://design.geckotribe.com/colorwheel/
http://www.defencemechanism.com/color/
http://www.triplecode.com/munsell/
http://www.worqx.com/color/palette.htm
http://wellstyled.com/tools/colorscheme2/index-en.html
http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/tools/color-blend/
http://www.adampolselli.com/getthelook/chicsimplicity.php

And my fav method if possible:
http://www.mezzoblue.com/archives/2004/05/14/colour_schem/

timjpriebe — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 14:35:21 +0000

And gave me an idea for a web app...

Megan — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 13:16:27 +0000

I agree with that last point - it might be useful if a client is being very very picky but then again, you're still asking them to choose from a set of really bad colours. Better to start with a selection of good colours so they can choose something nice. Even if you could work with that limitation, you shouldn't try to deliberately force it on yourself, that's what I think. Limitations are always going to happen, and they will always be a challenge, which does make one a better designer. But that doesn't mean you should bring them on deliberately by inviting the client to choose a bad colour.

This did give me a good idea for a contest

timjpriebe — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 18:13:12 +0000

So you're saying you think the best colors were the inbetween values. Interesting thought. Personally, I'm fairly indifferent on that point. But I do think that site's presentation is somewhat lacking, but it has served its purpose in my work.

Maybe it's just the programmer in me, but I think you're much better at something if you can do it just as well with limitations as you can with no limitations. That's what I meant by "pull it off."

I do like Demonhale's link better, and use that myself. But when I have a client that is nitpicking on some color, I point them to that other page and have them start by pointing out which color is closest to what they want. And we go from there.

Megan — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 17:06:35 +0000

demonhale wrote: I still prefer this...

http://www.wellstyled.com/tools/colorscheme2/index-en.html

I use that site a lot too, although normally I plug in a hex code that I've already decided to use and find complimentary colours from there. Choosing right from the wheel - like choosing from the web safe pallete - might work as a general starting point (or if you really do want a very bright colour scheme) but those colours are generally too saturated to work for most projects. The pastel/dark pastel/light pastel choices are much more sophisticated looking.

Megan — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 16:54:18 +0000

timjpriebe wrote: Any adjustments to hue, saturation or lightness still result in a hexadecimal code.

Right, but not all hexidecimal codes are on that web safe list that you posted. It's a limited set - a set that happens to be very saturated (and ugly). So if you start by pointing them to a list of bright, garish, saturated hex codes then chances are they're going to pick something that will be hard to work with. Why not make your job easier by removing that limitation? I would probably be more likely to ask for a verbal description which keeps my doors open to choose something that is good looking, somewhat original, and appropriate for the project.

Sorry, I just realized I quoted that wrong above. That's what caused the confusion. I should have left out that last sentence about the 25/25/25 bit because I was not addressing that, i was addressing the web safe palette only.

Quote: Looks like we disagree on that. My opinion is that a good designer can pull off any color the client asks for. In a "real design."

My point is that you should try to start with a good colour if you can. Then you don't have to "pull it off". My approach is normally to keep as much power over colours for myself depending on the client and the project. Starting them weith the web safe selection is guaranteed to make my job harder.

ETA: And who wants to just "pull it off" anyway?? Better to have a good foundation to work with so you can do something really good, rather than having to settle for something that's not going to produce the best results.

timjpriebe — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 16:20:00 +0000

timjpriebe wrote:
Looks like we disagree on that. My opinion is that a good designer can pull off any color the client asks for. In a "real design."

I just reread my statement here and wanted to clarify. It's another issue entirely to pull off some oddball color SCHEME a client asks for. But if they give you one color, you should be able to pull off a scheme around it.

demonhale — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 16:03:33 +0000

jeez, somebody even dissed me before for using a ferrari red with dark grey as a combo although its a classic combo, he tells me im wrong, as if i dont understand colour theory... If he was paying at that time I would have kept my mouth shut and work on his limits, and finally convince him what works... since he was not, i gave him a lecture on colour theory, colour wheel, complimentary colours etc... i guess he just wanted to learn something that day....

timjpriebe — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 15:54:28 +0000

Megan wrote: Every hue possible that its.

Nope. Every hue possible, every saturation possible and every lightness possible is still at the most 25 Red, 25 Blue or 25 Green (or any combination) away from any of those colors.

Any adjustments to hue, saturation or lightness still result in a hexadecimal code.

Let me put it this way: Give me any color and I will tell you the color on there it's within the aforementioned limits of. You can give me a hex code, image or website address.

Megan wrote: I'd say that about 60% of those colours should never be used in a real design.

Looks like we disagree on that. My opinion is that a good designer can pull off any color the client asks for. In a "real design."

(Not to anyone else reading this: This thread is not meant to imply any disrespect on my part toward Megan. Quite the opposite. I respect and like her work greatly. I just happen to disagree with her on this point.)

Megan — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 15:37:44 +0000

timjpriebe wrote: Seriously!? That's literally an even spread of all colors possible (on the computer). Maybe the organization is just not pretty. But any color possible (not just web safe) is at the most 25 Red, 25 Blue or 25 Green (or any combination) away from any of those colors.

Every hue possible that its. If you want a bright, vibrant colour scheme that might work but in most cases you wouldn't want to limit yourself like that. For most designs a less saturated, more muted scheme is much better. Generally, they are all too bright and garish to be truly useful IMO.

timjpriebe wrote: (Would now be a bad time to mention that the maroon color on this very site is listed on that page?)

Right, there are a few in there that are half decent but most are way to bright and saturated to look good in a design. Coincidence, really. Try finding a complimentary colour from that list. (The colours for this site were chosen over 5 years ago - I wouldn't do the same if I were to start again actually).

I'd say that about 60% of those colours should never be used in a real design. Some of the darker range blues and reds are okay, and some paler greens and teals. The yellowish greens are truly hideous, same with most of the oranges and all those bright reds. There are so many bad colours in there that it's not even a useful starting point IMO.