3 answers
Evaline
Student
Bothell, Washington
5
Questions
Updated
963 views
What are the best colors for Digital art?
I need some feedback from real people, not Google. What are the best colors for digital art, any type of digital art! Abstract, nature painted look, sketched look, I don't care!
3 answers
Kim Matthews
Graphic Production Designer and Sculptor
136
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Hi Evaline,
Here's the thing about color: there are no "bad" colors because color is relational--colors look different according to how much of each color is there and what's next to it. Colors are used to express feeling, so the "best" colors to choose would be those that express the idea or feeling you're trying to convey.
It's also important to know when working with color, colored light and colored pigment (in paints, inks, etc.) behave very differently--but you can tackle that later. I know you're focused on digital art, but you'll want to understand how color works in general, in any medium. Also, the universe of available colors on screen is far smaller than what you can achieve with paint or other media.
To keep things simple for now, try experimenting with various colors on screen or using colored papers and see, for example, what happens when you put complementary colors next to each other (colors that are opposite on the color wheel: blue/orange, red/green, yellow/violet), and what happens when you put analagous colors, such as red, orange, and yellow next to each other. How do these color combinations affect you?
Try experimenting with different amounts of color too--larger shapes with smaller shapes, triangles with circles, and so on. If you have a good museum nearby, maybe look at some paintings you like and try to figure out what's happening with the color in them. For example, many people love Matisse's paintings and paper cutouts because he used vibrant colors, alone and combined with others, often in very clear, strong, flat shapes to create a sense of joy.
There's an important book and course by painter and instructor Josef Albers, Interaction of Color, that has many basic color theory exercises in it and is still used for art school color and design courses. It might not be interesting to you now, but if you pursue art, design, or illustration studies, you'll need to understand how color works. If you're not ready for Albers, there are lots of short color theory tutorials for kids on YouTube, so you could start there.
Hope this helps!
Here's the thing about color: there are no "bad" colors because color is relational--colors look different according to how much of each color is there and what's next to it. Colors are used to express feeling, so the "best" colors to choose would be those that express the idea or feeling you're trying to convey.
It's also important to know when working with color, colored light and colored pigment (in paints, inks, etc.) behave very differently--but you can tackle that later. I know you're focused on digital art, but you'll want to understand how color works in general, in any medium. Also, the universe of available colors on screen is far smaller than what you can achieve with paint or other media.
To keep things simple for now, try experimenting with various colors on screen or using colored papers and see, for example, what happens when you put complementary colors next to each other (colors that are opposite on the color wheel: blue/orange, red/green, yellow/violet), and what happens when you put analagous colors, such as red, orange, and yellow next to each other. How do these color combinations affect you?
Try experimenting with different amounts of color too--larger shapes with smaller shapes, triangles with circles, and so on. If you have a good museum nearby, maybe look at some paintings you like and try to figure out what's happening with the color in them. For example, many people love Matisse's paintings and paper cutouts because he used vibrant colors, alone and combined with others, often in very clear, strong, flat shapes to create a sense of joy.
There's an important book and course by painter and instructor Josef Albers, Interaction of Color, that has many basic color theory exercises in it and is still used for art school color and design courses. It might not be interesting to you now, but if you pursue art, design, or illustration studies, you'll need to understand how color works. If you're not ready for Albers, there are lots of short color theory tutorials for kids on YouTube, so you could start there.
Hope this helps!
Thank you. That was really helpful, Kim
Evaline
You're so welcome. Here's another link for you: https://www.albersfoundation.org/learning/workshops/one-color-becomes-two
Even if you don't try any experiments, you'll be able see what I'm talking about right way when you look at the image at the top.
Kim Matthews
Tiphani Law
Filmmaker
5
Answers
Tucson, Arizona
Updated
Tiphani’s Answer
When creating digital art, there are two important things to know. First is the hardware, which is the electronic device that makes your digital art. It has some limits, especially when showing art on TVs. So, you need to use colors that are safe for broadcasting to make sure they look right on screen. The second thing is color space, which is a way to describe the range of colors your device can show. Some common color spaces are REC 2020, REC.709, Adobe RGB, and sRGB. So, the best colors to use are the ones your device can display!
Here's a fun fact: Digital art is made with light, and light is actually analog, not digital!
Here's a fun fact: Digital art is made with light, and light is actually analog, not digital!
Dr Fisch
Flight Attendant
86
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Dr’s Answer
To give a better answer, we need a bit more detail. Right now, the question is too broad, like asking which letter is best for writing a sentence. It really depends on what you want to express with your digital art and your personal style. A simple tip is to use colors that stand out from each other so lines are clear, unless you're aiming for a gradient or blurred effect. Also, if everyone used the same "best colors," things might get a bit dull.
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