Tips for Coloring

1. Bonus: 5 Tips On Colouring: Tip number one. Limit your color palette. A common mistake a lot people make is they will try combining lots of different colors together. But this can make your illustrations look messy and inconsistent. Try limiting yourself to three to five colors, this will make your work a lot more coherent and harmonious. This is really important when working for clients in editorial illustration, because it will show you are confident in the colors you choose. Tip number two. Avoid using neutral colors. When it comes to picking colors for your illustrations, there are no rules. Choosing unexpected colors can create a lot more interest in your work. For example, using the color blue for hair, yellow for plants, or even pink for the sky. Being more playful with your colors can completely change the mood and atmosphere of your illustration. Tip number three. Use color websites. A great website to check out is Callahan by Gal share. Callahan is an open platform where people can upload their own color palettes. Once you have found a pallet you like, either copy the codes or take a screenshot and import it into your canvas, then you can color pick from there. Play around with these colors on your own illustrations and see what you can come up with. Tip number four. Create contrast. Creating contrast is really important when you want your illustrations to pop. Sometimes when you have all the colors desaturated, your illustration can get lost and look quite flat. Do not be scared to use more saturated colors in your work. Try tweaking each element until you can see more contrast. This way you will create more impact and depth to your illustrations. Tip number five. Experiment and explore. I still struggle with colors and I do not always get it right the first time. This is fine because it is important to understand where you go wrong with your pallets. Always ask yourself those questions. Do these colors work? Are they contrasting enough? Are these colors rite for the mood I want to create? The only way to get better at something is to practice, and a great way to do this is by creating color thumbnails. The more you pay around with different color combinations, the more you start to find your own unique color palettes. This will also help you gain confidence in knowing what colors work well together.