Contrast, Contrast, Contrast!

We had a lovely color lecture in class recently, and let me tell you, I didn't realize how much thought goes into color usage in ads and how many ways there are to do it wrong. Jeez, it was a crazy class. Here are some of the more important rules and principles to follow!

This is an example of contrasting chroma.
See how the background is so faded but
her shirt is so bright? It makes the
composition pop!

Same deal with this picture. Contrasting
chroma for the win!

This would be an example of contrasting
hues. See the color differences there?
The same chroma (intensity), but very
different actual colors. It's nice. 

A rainbow is probably the best example of
contrasting hues I can think of. ALL of the
hues are there, and they all seemingly
harmonize, even if only for a minute. 

This would be an example of contrasting values.
Basically, colors in the same "family" that
are different shades of each other. Here is my
favorite color, blue! 

Orange contrasting values!