If you thought monochrome was boring, think again. Going for a monochromatic palette doesn’t mean you are only working with one color. In other words, monochrome doesn’t translate to monotone – and we’ll tell you why!
In this Chart, we guide you through the basics of monochrome styling for your design projects by using different tones, tints and shades of a single hue. We then move on to the Munsell Color System to explain the relationship between Color Value and Chroma.
WordLayout prides itself on being a valuable e-resource for educational material. Our extensive Color Wheel Series can be downloaded with just a single click!
Now, let’s go over our Chart in more detail:
Monochrome, Not Monotone
Monochromatic schemes use different color qualities of the same angle on the color wheel i.e. the same hue.
Color variance is created by adding black , white and gray to your base color, helping you create a more exciting color palette that packs more of a punch.
Consider you have to work with Red on a website. What options do you have for an accent color from the red family?
How about:
- A muted burgundy by adding shade (black)
- A soft, pastel pink by adding tint (white)
- A bright cadmium red by increasing saturation levels
These color variants help you create a more complex palette with plenty of depth and drama, while still retaining the visual calmness of a one-color approach.
Build Your Own Monochrome
Now, try to create similar combinations for any of the 12 primary, secondary and intermediate colors shown in our Chart using the blank templates provided.
Start by choosing a base color and then find 3 to 5 variations of your color from our wheel. Think about how your palette will pan out in your specific design and what role each color variation will play (say, one color for text, while another for creating shadows).
To help you perceive colors better, we divide the 12 colors into warm and cool, with each primary color capable of having both undertones:
- Cool red (purple + red)
- Warm red (orange + red)
- Cool yellow (green + yellow)
- Warm yellow (orange + yellow)
- Cool blue (green + blue)
- Warm blue (purple + blue)
Here’s a fun online tool where you can make your own beautiful monochrome color palettes with Toptal.
Why Use Monochrome In Your Design?
Monochrome schemes can be incredibly useful for a designer. Whether it’s photography, digital art, or home décor, they can help you create a visually cohesive look for your project.
Here are some practical ways to make the best of your monochromes:
Navigable layout for mobile apps
If you’re designing an app, different variants of a base color can help you distinguish between options, making it easier for users to navigate around the interface.
Single color overlays for photos
If you are editing photos, a monochrome gives you the option of a single color overlay, creating a different overall mood for your image (think black and white pictures for a retro effect).
Business branding
Monochromes are also an effective brand strategy for enhancing the impact and memorability of your designs (logos/packaging etc.).
Tranquil home decor
For a more minimalist approach to designing homes, monochromes are worth looking into. By minimizing contrast, a monochromatic room has no break in color from ceiling to floor, creating a simple yet sophisticated look.
Find more inspiration with these chic monochromatic looks when designing your own space!
Tints, Shades and Tones
In this part of our Chart, we see what happens to a color when you add gray, black and white to it.
Adding gray will change the tone of your color, leading to a more washed out and dull look. Adding black to your color darkens it, creating a new shade of your base hue. Lastly, adding white adds a tint to your color, resulting in a softer color output.
Feel free to check out our Chart on Hues, Tints and Schemes, where we discuss the terms shades, tones and tints in a little more detail.
Chroma and Value
In this part of our Chart, explore the dynamic relationship between two color qualities, chroma and value.
Value is directly linked to the amount of light a color reflects. In other words, it speaks to how light or dark a color is.
For example, black has a low value, while white has a high value. This can help you create spatial illusions and define form in your design.
Chroma, on other hand, speaks to the intensity or purity of a color. Colors with high chroma are bright and vivid, while colors with low chroma look more washed out and tend to recede in the background.
Reading a Munsell Scale Color Graph
The color graph shown in our Chart is based on the Munsell Color System – one of the most common ways to classify color. This scale defines color using three dimensions: Hue, Value, and Chroma. As you can see, there are 50+ colors here, but all of them are blue-hued colors.
Now, remember what we said earlier about color Value: white has the highest value, and black has the lowest.This means as you move up the y-axis, the color value increases and vice versa.
On the other hand, chroma values increase when you go from left to right, with low chroma colors on the left, and high chroma colors on the right.
Now compare each color to the neutral gray on the value pole in the same line, and see what chroma and color value works best for you.
When in doubt, ask yourself the following:
- What happens when colors of a certain value are laid down beside duller colors of the same value?
- What happens if colors are placed around a different color with the same chroma and value?
- What caught your eye first and why?
A monochromatic theme can really step up your design game. Whether you are using it for digital designs for social media, websites, or apps or choosing wall paints, sofa covers and area rugs for a physical space – with the right aesthetic sense, a monochrome palette can do wonders!
Our professionally designed Color Wheel Chart: The Monochrome Circle is downloadable in PDF and ADOBE formats. A blank version of the chart has also been provided to help you hone your own design or artistic skills.
Note that the combinations and schemes shown in these charts may vary significantly based on the medium used (e.g., watercolor, acrylic, digital) and the color model (e.g., CMYK, RGB, HSL).
In addition, display settings (such as night mode and resolution) can also affect color appearance. To avoid errors, always test colors in your specific context for more accurate results.
