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I attended Mark Blateis' color workshop in Cincinnati last month, and so i've been trying to put my learnin' into practice.
The top image is based on a sign I made three years ago. The middle image is what I decided to do for this year. (The old sign is being retired, because too many people drove into it...) The bottom is for anybody who wants to color it in themselves and post it.
Now, here's my "whys and whats". The sign is for a group at Burning Man, so its in (what Mark calls) "carnival" colors. Its competing with a lot of stuff, in bright daylight, in the Nevada desert. I chose the aqua background because it seems "cool, refreshing, and sky". The orange is a triad to the aqua, and the violet outline is the last part of that triad. The orange ("joy"), being warmest, is supposed to "come forward". The violet is there to give some contrast because the value of the orange and blue seemed sort of close. Warm colors forward, cool colors back.
Actual sign is made in three layers (cut-out plywood letters, outline and back panel).
I'd love anybody's comments, suggestions, and the reasoning behind it.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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You are right on the money as far as cool colors receeding, and warm colors coming to the forefront. You also hit the nail on the head with a standard color scheme. Just "picking" colors does not work, there are acutual formulas to follow.
The lower pic shows with black outlines, not violet, but that works well because black is neutral, and high contrast in relation to the other colors. When you say violet, I picture a light purple tint. I do not think a light purple outline would have worked. A dark purple outline should do the trick, however. For added interest, you could do a double outline: black next to the orange, then violet, then backround.
It's too bad the full effect of the aqua is not revealed because of the gray backround. Maybe a black outline around the shape of the sign would add that extra touch. On the actual sign too...it gives it boundry definition.
Another option is to put a deep purplish/reflex blue backround with that orange. Outline with black then a very thin white...watch it POP!
-------------------- Stefanie Fox Fox Design Studio Atlanta, GA Posts: 181 | From: Atlanta GA, USA | Registered: May 2006
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