Adobe Color is a web app that creates color themes using color theory modes or pulled from uploaded photos. There is also the Adobe color community where the color schemes others have created are available to use.

For this post I created 3 color schemes to explore the different color theory bases. Within the Adobe Color app a “base” color, is the one color that stays consistent when changing to different color theory modes. There are 9 color theory modes (+ “custom”).

The first color scheme started with the center tan color as the base color and used the COMPLIMENTARY color theory model. After a few minutes of adjusting, this is where I landed:

For the second color scheme, I kept the base color the same tan color, but changed the color theory model to SPLIT COMPLIMENTARY. The result shifted to this color scheme:

For the third color scheme, I went back to the first COMPLIMENTARY color scheme and changed the base color from the tan to the 4th slot, teal. I then changed the color theory from COMPLIMENTARY to the SPLIT COMPLIMENTARY Color Theory model used in the second color scheme. It may sound like a lot, but this new color scheme was created in just a few clicks in the Adobe Color app:

One big note about using the Adobe Color app for PowerPoint color schemes. Adobe Color creates a theme of 5 colors. Of course PowerPoints color scheme is based on 6 accent colors. So Adobe Color only goes so far when looking to create a PowerPoint color scheme – the 6th color will need to be figured out, outside of the Adobe Color app.

The EXPLORE area is great for looking at lots of ideas and finding preset color themes. Here I went to the EXPLORE tab and searched for “Teal” which created a mood board style layout of images, illustrations and preset Adobe Color color schemes.

Clicking any of the example color schemes (I clicked the one highlighted in the above image), gives all the details about the colors used.

The ACCESSIBILITY TOOLS are very interesting and currently provide feedback on a color scheme for Color Blind Safe color combinations and can run a contrast checker.

Go the Adobe Color app here.

Troy and Amber @ TLC