It plays a vital role in design and everyday life.

它在設計及日常生活中扮演著很重要的角色。

It can draw your eye to an image… evoke a certain mood or emotion…

它能把你吸引到一幅圖片上或是喚醒某種心情或情緒，

even communicate something important without using words at all.

甚至不需透過言語就能表達重要的事情。

So how do we know which colors look good together, and which ones don't?

那麼，我們是如何知道哪些顏色搭在一起好看，哪些不好看呢？

The answer is simple: Color theory.

答案很簡單：色彩理論

Artists and designers have followed color theory for centuries, but anyone can learn more about it.

幾世紀以來，藝術家及設計師都遵循著色彩理論，但其實任何人都可以深入去了解。

It can help you feel confident in many different situations, whether it's choosing colors for a design,

這可以讓你在很多情況下感到自信，無論是為設計挑選顏色

or putting together the perfect outfit.

或是搭配衣服。

All it takes is a little insight, and you'll be looking at color in a whole new way.

只需要一點小小的洞察力，你就能以全新的角度來看待色彩。

Let's start at the beginning—the very beginning—with a refresher on the basics.

讓我們從最基本的課程開始。

Remember learning about primary and secondary colors in school?

還記得在學校學的色彩三原色及三間色嗎？

Then you already have some knowledge of color theory.

那你已經有了色彩理論的部分知識。

Red and yellow make orange; yellow and blue make green; and blue and red make purple.

紅色加黃色會變成橘色、黃色加藍色會變成綠色而藍色和紅色會變成紫色。

If we mix these colors together, we get even more in-between shades, like red-orange and yellow-green.

如果將這些顏色混在一起，我們可以調出更多的中間色調，例如橘紅色，或是黃綠色。

All together, they form what's called a color wheel.

所有顏色在排一起，就是所謂的色環。

You can probably see where it gets its name.

你應該看得出它是如何得其名的。

Now, let's take it one step further with hue, saturation, and value.

讓我們進一步來聊聊色相、飽和度和明度吧！

These are terms you might never seen in daily life, but they're the key to understanding

你可能沒在日常生活裡聽過這些專業術語，但是它們是使你更理解

more nuanced colors—like all those little paint chips at the home improvement store.

顏色微妙差異的關鍵，就像那些家飾店裡頭的油漆色卡。

Hue is the easiest one; it's basically just another word for "color."

色相是最簡單的一個，它基本上就是「顏色」的同義詞。

Saturation refers to intensity—in other words, whether the color appears more subtle or more vibrant.

飽和度指的是強度，換句話說，就是顏色看起來是更柔和或是更鮮豔。

Value has to do with how dark or light the color is, ranging from black to white.

明度與顏色的深淺有關，從黑到白。

As you can see, this gives us many different shades, from a deep reddish brown… to light pastel pink.

正如你所見，它給了我們許多色調，從深棕色到淡粉色。

So how do we put this all together to create professional-looking color schemes?

那我們要如何把這些結合在一起，創造出看起來專業的配色方案？

There are actually tried and true formulas based on something called color harmony that can help.

事實上，有些常用的色彩調和公式能夠給點幫助。

All you need is the color wheel.

你所需要只是色環。

The easiest formula for harmony is monochromatic because it only uses one color or hue.

最簡單的色彩調和公式就是單色配色，只需使用一種顏色或色相。

Just pick a spot on the color wheel, and use your knowledge of saturation and value to create variations.

在色環上選一個點，運用你對飽和度及明度理解來創造顏色變化。

The best thing about monochromatic color schemes is that they're guaranteed to match.

關於單色配色，最好的一點就是它們絕對會很搭。

An analogous color scheme uses colors that are next to each other on the wheel, like

相似色配色方案則是挑選色環上相鄰的顏色，

reds and oranges... or cooler colors, like blues and greens.

例如，紅色和橘色...或者藍色和綠色這樣的冷色。

Don't be afraid to play with the palette and create your own unique interpretation.

放膽的使用調色盤去創造自己獨特的詮釋。

That's what these formulas really are: starting points to help guide and inspire you.

這就是這些公式真正的意義：引領你並激發你的開端。

Complementary colors are opposite each other on the wheel; for instance, blue and orange...

互補色就是色環相對位子上的顏色，例如藍色和橘色...

or the classic red and green.

或是經典的紅配綠。

To avoid complementary color schemes that are too simplistic, add some variety

為了避免互補色看起來太過單調，可以添加一些變化

by introducing lighter, darker, or desaturated tones.

例如，深淺或飽和度。

A split-complementary color scheme uses the colors on either side of the complement.

補色分割則是使用其互補色兩邊的顏色，

This gives you the same level of contrast, but more colors to work with

這可使你在同樣程度的對比下，有更多顏色可以運用

and potentially more interesting results.

並可以產生更有趣的結果。

A triadic color scheme uses three colors that are evenly spaced, forming a perfect triangle on the wheel.

三等色配色則是使用三種均勻間隔的顏色，在色環上形成完美的三角形。

These combinations tend to be pretty striking—especially with primary or secondary colors—

這些組合往往十分鮮明，特別是三原色或三間色，

so be mindful when using them in your work.

所以在作品中要謹慎使用。

Tetradic color schemes form a rectangle on the wheel, using not one but two complementary color pairs.

矩形配色會於色環上形成一個矩形，使用的是兩組而非一組的互補色

This formula works best if you let one color dominate while the others serve as an accent.

如果想使用一種顏色當主色、其他顏色當強調色的話，這是一個最好的配色公式。

There are a few classic do's and don'ts when it comes to color.

以下是一些關於顏色的經典注意事項。

For instance, have you ever seen colors that seem to vibrate when they're placed next to each other?

例如，你是否看過某些顏色放在一起後會有顫動的感覺？

The solution is to tone it down—literally—and there's a simple way do it.

解決的方法就是調暗它，而這有一個很簡單的辦法。

Start with one color, and try adjusting its lightness, darkness, or saturation.

從一個顏色開始，試著調整它的亮度、暗度或者飽和度。

Sometimes, a little contrast is all your color palette needs.

有時候，你的調色盤只是需要一點對比。

Readability is an important factor in any design.

易讀性是每個設計裡頭一個很重要的因素。

Your colors should be legible, engaging and easy on the eyes.

你所用的顏色應該要清晰、吸引人而且不刺眼，

Sometimes that means not using color—at least not in every little detail.

有時候這意味著不要使用顏色，至少不要用在每個小細節上。

Neutral colors like black, white, and gray can help you balance your design,

像黑、白與灰這樣的中性色可以幫助你平衡設計。

so when you do use color, it really stands out.

所以當你運用顏色時，就會很出眾。

Every color sends a message.

每個顏色都在傳遞訊息。

It's important to consider the tone of your project, and choose a color palette that fits.

考慮設計的基調並且選擇適合的調色是很重樣的。

For example, bright colors tend to have a fun or modern vibe.

舉例來說，明亮的顏色會散發出有趣及現代的氛圍。

Desaturated colors often appear more business-like.

低飽和度的顏色則是較有商業氣息。

Sometimes it just depends on the context—you'd be surprised how flexible color can be.

有時僅僅是取決於文字的描述，而你會驚訝的發現色彩的靈活性。

You can find ideas for color schemes in all kinds of interesting places, from advertising

你可在許多有趣的地方發現配色的技巧，例如廣告、

and branding to famous works of art.

品牌到著名的藝術作品。

You can even use a web resource to browse color palettes or generate your own.

你也可以使用網上資源來瀏覽或生成自己的色盤。

Even experienced designers take inspiration from the world around them.

即使是經驗豐富的設計師也會從生活中找尋靈感。

There's nothing wrong with finding something you like, and making it your own.

找到你喜歡的東西，並且把它變成自己的，這沒有什麼不對。

Everywhere you look, there's color, color, and more color.

放眼望去，全都是顏色、顏色以及更多的顏色！

It can be intimidating to use it in your work, but it doesn't have to be.

要將它運用在作品裡頭可能使你有點緊張，但你完全不需要緊張。

Just keep experimenting and remember what you've learned about color theory.

只要不斷嘗試，並且記得你學過的色彩理論。

Soon, choosing great-looking colors will feel like second nature.

很快地，你自然而然就會搭配好看的顏色了。

We hope you enjoyed learning the basics of color.

希望你會喜歡這堂基礎色彩課。

Check out the rest of our design topics, including typography, images, composition.

請去看看我們其他的設計主題課程，包含：排版、圖像及構圖。