Color has been the subject of study by some of mankind's greatest minds. Aristotle claimed that there were 7 primary colors, and in the Renaissance some artists tried to establish their exact sequence. Isaac Newton was able to prove that light is made up of different colors. Thanks to his experiment, the prototype of the so-called color circle appeared. The variety is great, and three of the colors in the circle are considered basic - red, green and blue. From the first letters of these three colors comes the name RGB. We guess you guessed that monitors work with these colors. This is also the reason that every design that is intended for a screen is prepared in this color model.
In case you are in doubt about the choice of colors when starting your business online, pay attention to the impressions made by each shade that forms your brand identity. Each of them affects the audience in a different way and carries its own semantics. The mixing of the pigment colors (the own colors of the objects around us) can be distinguished into three other basic colors - cyan, magenta and yellow. To make the palette denser, black is also added, which is also the main color for the printing industry. They call it "key" and thus we get the name CMYK.
Why does color choice matter when starting a brand?
What is the difference in a nutshell, in CMYK and RGB palettes and what to look out for when choosing colors for branding. The richer of the two palettes is RGB, it contains shades of color that will only be discernible on digital devices. And if you want to brand various promotional products such as mugs, t-shirts or pens, the color you choose may not be in the CMYK palette that is used for printing. In the image we have also shown the difference between the two palettes.
If you decide that your logo will be blue, you should also plan to use it not only on printed advertising materials, but also on the website. If you choose a color from the richer RGB palette, there is a danger that it cannot be reproduced when printed. At the same time, if you are preparing an image for screen only, you will be able to enhance the colors so that they "glow" on the screen.
What messages do website colors communicate?
A website’s visual identity can strengthen brand recognition and increase traffic. As part of the design, color can influence behavior and emotion at a subconscious level. Here are common associations for several key colors:
- Red — deeper shades suit restaurant or wine brands because dark red can stimulate appetite. Use it carefully when trust is the primary goal, as it can also suggest urgency, anxiety, or aggression.
- Orange — useful for calls to action and buttons. Orange accents can make services feel accessible, energetic, and approachable.
- Yellow — an effective choice for drawing attention to specific content or important information.
- Green– is associated with calmness and reliability. Usually this color is preferred by brands related to ecology and nature protection organizations or initiatives.
- Blue – this is the color of peace and security. The blue color has established itself in the design of global companies with the sole purpose of gaining the trust of consumers and convincing them of the quality of the services offered. Blue is definitely the color of business. The darker the shade, the more the feeling of stability and reliability of the brand is enhanced. Avoid the use of blue in the layout of a site with a culinary focus. This color suppresses the appetite and blocks the senses responsible for
the feeding process. - Purple— a natural fit for jewelry, cosmetics, and premium products. It suggests royalty, spirituality, mystery, and imagination, though it is not always the strongest choice for action-oriented buttons.
- Pink- globally, the color pink is a symbol of romance, innocence and youth. It can be said that it is a suitable choice for the graphic design of a personal blog, a fashion site or a site for beauty and cosmetic services. It can also be added as a colorful accent on a website for charitable causes, therapists, as well as children's sites.
- Black— should be used deliberately. It may feel too severe for healthcare, finance, or food, but it is a favorite of luxury fashion, automotive, and technology brands.
- White — associated with clarity, creativity, class, and elegance. Too much unstructured white, however, can make a website feel bland.
Why does color theory matter to your brand?
Understanding color theory helps you:
- shape messages for your customers;
- develop a stronger business concept;
- guide audience perception in the right direction;
- build an effective marketing strategy for sustainable growth;
- stand out from competitors and attract more website visitors.
Build your online presence and make your business easy to find so you can promote your services and become recognizable to future customers. If you have questions, request a free consultation.
