But in practice, all colors contain cool and warm tones – it’s part of what makes the world of color so rich and varied. Classifying Color Temperature Based on UndertonesĪs a general rule, greens, blues, and purples are cool colors. While blue, green, and purple are excellent relaxing colors, they can also be warm colors. They evoke a sense of calmness, harmony, stability, and relaxation. But it’s not that simple (we’ll get more into this later).Ī better (though less cut-and-dry) way to define cool colors is that cool colors are “passive” hues. The color wheel is split evenly between cool and warm colors.Īs children, we’re often told that blue, green, and purple are cool colors, and red, yellow, and orange are warm colors. In this article, we’ll go over the definition of cool colors (it’s more complex than you probably think), how to identify them, what their effects are, and how to skillfully use them in your work.
Harnessing the power of warm and cool colors is a crucial skill for anyone who frequently works with color.īut working with cool colors is about more than just using blues and greens and avoiding reds and yellows. Wanna learn what cool colors are and how to use them? Then you’ll appreciate reading this post!
