Scrapbook Layout Design: Scrapbook Color Wheel

Considering color scheme and using a scrapbook color wheel can make the difference between a good design and one that truly attracts attention. Fortunately, choosing a color scheme is not as difficult as it sounds. In fact, the art world has already created a tool to help you do just that - The Color Wheel.

Before Sir Isaac Newton devised the first color wheel (Newton's Circle of Colors), only those scrapbook artists who had an "eye for color" tended to use this important technique to make eye-popping layouts. Today you will find that most local scrapbook stores carry a color wheel in stock and numerous articles have been written about how to use the scrapbook color wheel in layout design.

Traditionally colors are represented on a wheel of 12 colors: three primary colors, three secondary colors (created by mixing primary colors), and six tertiary colors (created by mixing the primary and secondary colors). Artists use a traditional color wheel based on the RYB model (red/yellow/blue) with secondary colors of orange, green, and purple. I won't go into the details of the scrapbook color wheel here, but if you want more information about

Now to the nuts and bolts of color in your layout. To use the color wheel, you must first pick your base color. The best way to find your base color is to look at the photos you plan to use in your layout. Is there a color that they all have in common? What color can you pull out of your photos that will make a good base color for your page? Picking a color can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. You can pick your favorite color out of your photos, or you can consider the feelings different colors evoke . Once you have your base color chosen, a scrapbook color wheel will help you bring your color scheme together very easily.

Harmonious colors are colors that work well together, that produce a color scheme that looks attractive; the color wheel can be used as a valuable tool for determining harmonious colors. However, the color wheel is simply a tool - ultimately it comes down to what you think looks appealing. Remember that Newton did not invent the idea of color harmony and color schemes, he simply invented the tool that allows us to see those relationships more easily. Color harmony is a natural phenomenon - like the Golden Ratio and Rule of Thirds . Artists for years have looked to nature to find what is naturally appealing and applied it to their art. Now, you can do the same with your scrapbook layout designs.

Once you have chosen your base color, find it on the scrapbook color wheel. Choosing a color scheme is as simple as finding the complementary, analogous, and triadic colors for that base color. Complementary colors are colors directly across from each other on the wheel.

When choosing your color scheme, look at all the different options and cross reference them with your photos. Remember how we said that color harmony is a naturally occurring phenomenon? Well, chances are you will find some complementary, analogous, and/or triadic colors for your base color in your photos. Because they are colors that naturally look good together and are appealing, they can be found in fashion, home decor, nature, and most likely, in your photos. If you look at all your harmonious color options next to your photos, chances are one color scheme will jump out at you.

Combinations of colors found in nature often work well as color schemes even if they don't fit specific patterns discussed above; examples of these schemes include "autumn colors" and "spring colors"

Analogous Colors

Any colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Typically harmonize well, but may not provide much contrast.
• purple and blue
• red and purple
• yellow and green
• red and orange
• orange and yellow

Complementary Colors

Colors that are directly opposite one another on the wheel. Typically produce strong contrast.
• red and green
• blue and orange
• purple and yellow

Split Complementary Colors

Colors on either side of the complementary colors. Provide contrast, but not as strong as complementary colors.
• red and blue-green or yellow-green
• blue and red-orange or yellow-orange
• yellow and red-purple or blue-purple

Triadic Colors

Any 3 colors that create a triangle on the wheel. Provide a balanced color scheme with reasonable contrast.
• red, yellow and blue
• purple, orange and green

First, you selected the one or two base colors from your photos. Then, you determined the possible color scheme relationships available using the color wheel. Now, once you have chosen your color scheme it's time to buy paper and embellishments that match your color scheme. This will be easiest if you take everything to the store with you...I know, I know it sounds like quite a hassle. Trust me, if you take your photos, scrapbook color wheel, and other elements you plan on using with you when you shop, you will help guarantee that the paper, stickers, etc that you are buying will create a great layout.

I suggest taking everything in a 12 x 12 paper holder. This will allow you to bring all the items you need in a compact and organized case. I like the Scrapfolio expandable case from Creative Visions.

Scrapfolio Expandable 12x12 Storage Case
From: Creative Visions

Most local scrapbook stores also have a work area that you can use as you shop. Feel free to spread yourself out and take the time to really get a feel for how all the elements of a given layout will work together before you buy.

For practice using your color wheel, check out DIY Network's Scrapbooking Page.

There are many different companies that make many different types of color wheels for artists of all kinds. A good color wheel features a spectrum of 12 colors in several different values as well as a guide to help you create successful color combinations for your scrapbook pages. Some examples are:

11" Color Wheel
From: Creative Visions

11" Tonal Selector Wheel
From: Creative Visions

Bazzill Monochromatic Color Wheel-9"
From: Creative Visions

You can also make your own color wheel using the paper you already have.

Be sure to use your color wheel for more than just choosing paper. When you purchase stickers, stamp pads, fibers, and other embellishments, be sure to consider where they fit in your color scheme.

You could even create a color wheel for your journaling pens like this one.

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Above all, Remember that there is no such thing as a perfect color combination, and there is more than one color combination that will work on any given page. However, using the color wheel to choose color combinations will improve the sense of balance to your scrapbook pages.

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