NHS Designs

Graphic Design Color Theory

Tints, Shades & Neutrals

Tints, shades and neutrals are those colors which are not pure and vivid. They are created in different ways.

 

Tints

A tint is a color in which white has been added to a pure color. The more white, the lighter the tint. Tints are otherwise known as pastels.

 

Yellow

Orange

Red

Violet

Blue

Green

Pure color

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slightly tinted (a little white added)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavily tinted (a lot of white added)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shades

A shade is a color in which black has been added to a pure color. The more black, the darker the tint.

 

Yellow

Orange

Red

Violet

Blue

Green

Pure color

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slightly shaded (a little black added)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavily shaded (a lot of black added)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neutrals

A neutral is the combination of complementary colors. Complementary colors are those that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Neutrals are more natural colors and tend to be brownish.

 

Yellow

Violet

Pure color

 

 

Half-and-half neutral

 

 

Orange

Blue

Pure color

 

 

Half-and-half neutral

 

 

Red

Green

Pure color

 

 

Half-and-half neutral

 


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