How to find the perfect color

Getting that just-right color is part art, part science. We will show you

How to find the perfect color

Hidden in your photo is the color palette you need. Here's how to get it out.

 

Look close, closer. closest

Every photo has a natural color palette. First step is to find it and organize it. Zoom in on your photo, and you'll be astonished by how many colors you see.

 

Pull out the colors

Now extract colors with the eyedropper tool. Work from the biggest color (the one you see most of) to the smallest. For contrast, pick up dark, medium and light pixels of each.

 

Try each one on

Place the photo on a swatch of each color. The results are pretty, aren't they What's fun is that this will always look good, because the colors you're using are already there.

 

Add to the colors

The next step is to add more colors. Select any of the colors, and locate it on the color wheel. The purpose of a color wheel is to show you a color's relationship to other colors.

Create color palettes

From your base color, you can now create an exciting range of coordinated color palettes. Values can mix. For example, medium blue works with light teal and dark violet.

 

Edit and apply

Design the page, and now it's time to make color choices. How to pick? The key is to think message. Weigh each against the original purpose by asking, which colors meet the goal?